Notes to the Group accounts

Share capital and control

There are no restrictions on the transfer of shares in the Company other than as set out in the articles of association and:

– certain restrictions which may from time to time be imposed by law and regulations (for example, insider trading laws); and

– pursuant to the UK Listing Authority’s listing rules where directors and certain employees of the Company require the approval of the Company to deal in the Company’s shares; and

– pursuant to the rules of some of the Company’s employee share plans where certain restrictions may apply while the shares are subject to the plans.

Where, under an employee share plan operated by the Company, participants are the beneficial owners of shares but not the registered owners, the voting rights are normally exercised by the registered owner at the direction of the participant. All of the Company’s share plans contain provisions relating to a change of control. Outstanding awards and options would normally vest and become exercisable on a change of control, subject to the satisfaction of any performance conditions at that time.

In addition, the Company is not aware of any agreements between shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities and/or voting rights.

Information regarding significant direct or indirect holdings of shares in the Company can be found in the Information for shareholders section.

The directors have authority to allot and issue ordinary and preference shares and to make market purchases of ordinary shares in accordance with the articles of association. The authority for the Company to purchase, in the market, 571,750,770 of its shares, representing some 10 per cent of the issued share capital, expires at the annual general meeting. Shareholders will be asked, at the annual general meeting, to give similar authorities.

Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show of hands at a general meeting of the Company every holder of shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote has one vote and on a poll every member present and entitled to vote has one vote for every share held. Further details regarding voting at the annual general meeting can be found in the notes to the notice of the annual general meeting.

Ordinary shares

The holders of ordinary shares (excluding the limited voting ordinary shares), who held 98.60 per cent of the total share capital as at 31 December 2007, are entitled to receive the Company’s report and accounts, attend, speak and vote at general meetings and appoint proxies to exercise voting rights. Holders of ordinary shares (excluding the limited voting ordinary shares) may also receive a dividend (subject to the provisions of the Company’s articles of association) and on a winding up may share in the assets of the Company.

Limited voting ordinary shares

The limited voting ordinary shares are held by the Lloyds TSB Foundations (’the Foundations’). The holders of the limited voting ordinary shares, who held 1.38 per cent of the total share capital as at 31 December 2007, are entitled to receive copies of every circular or other document sent out by the Company to the holders of other ordinary shares. These shares carry no rights to dividends but rank pari passu with the ordinary shares in respect of other distributions and in the event of winding up. These shares do not have any right to vote at general meetings other than on resolutions concerning acquisitions or disposals of such importance that they require shareholder consent, or for the winding up of the Company, or for a variation in the class rights of the limited voting ordinary shares. In the event of an offer for more than 50 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company, each limited voting ordinary share will convert into an ordinary share and shall rank equally with the ordinary shares in all respects from the date of conversion. Lloyds TSB Group plc has entered into deeds of covenant with the Foundations, under the terms of which the Company makes annual donations to the Foundations equal, in total, to 1 per cent of the Group’s pre-tax profits (after certain adjustments) averaged over three years. The deeds of covenant can be cancelled by the Company at nine years’ notice. This donation is payable on or before the last day of February in each year (’the payment date’). In the event of conversion of the limited voting ordinary shares, the Foundations shall be entitled to receive a donation, on the same basis as set out above, on the payment date following conversion.

Issued and fully paid preference shares

Throughout 2006 and 2007, the Company has had in issue 400 6 per cent non-cumulative redeemable preference shares of 25p each. The shares, which are redeemable at the option of the Company at any time, carry the rights to a fixed rate non-cumulative preferential dividend at a rate of 6 per cent per annum; no dividend shall be payable in the event that the directors determine that prudent capital ratios would not be maintained if the dividend were paid. Upon winding up, the shares rank equally with any other preference shares issued by the Company. The holders of the 6 per cent non-cumulative redeemable preference shares held less than 0.1 per cent of the total share capital as at 31 December 2007. In accordance with IFRS, these shares are reported within liabilities.

In addition, during 2006 the Company issued 600,000 Fixed/Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Callable Preference Shares of 25 pence each with a liquidation preference of £1,000 per share and 1,000,000 Fixed/Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Callable Preference Shares of 25 cents each with a liquidation preference of US$1,000 per share. Both issues of preference shares are perpetual, although the two issues can be redeemed at the option of the Company on or after 25 August 2015 and 14 November 2016 respectively and carry the right to non-cumulative dividends which are fixed until those first redemption dates. The terms of these two issues of preference shares are such that the Company cannot declare and pay a dividend on any other junior class of share (including the mandatory dividend on the 400 6 per cent non-cumulative redeemable preference shares mentioned above) until the coupon has been paid on these preference shares. As the Company is effectively committed to the payment of a coupon on these shares they are classified as liabilities on the balance sheet in accordance with IFRS (see note 38). The holders of the fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares, who held less than 0.1 per cent of the total share capital as at 31 December 2007, do not have the right to receive notice of, attend, speak or vote at any general meetings other than on resolutions relating to the variation or abrogation of any of the rights or restrictions attached to the preference shares or the winding up or dissolution of the Company or if, at the date of the notice of meeting, the dividend payable at the immediately preceding dividend payment date has failed to be declared and paid in full. Upon winding up, the fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares shall rank equally with the most senior class of preference shares and any other class of shares which are expressed to rank equally.

Any repayment of the fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares would require prior notification to the Financial Services Authority. The sterling fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares can be redeemed at the option of the Company on or after 25 August 2015; at this call date, dividends will be reset at a margin of 1.28 per cent over 3 month LIBOR. The US dollar fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares can be redeemed at the option of the Company on or after 14 November 2016; at this call date, dividends will be reset at a margin of 1.035 per cent over 3 month LIBOR. In certain circumstances, the fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares may be mandatorily exchanged for qualifying non-innovative tier 1 securities and in certain circumstances and subject to compliance with certain requirements, the fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares may be redeemed by the Company at certain times in the event that the FSA makes a decision that the preference shares can no longer qualify as non-innovative tier 1 capital. The Company may declare no dividend or a partial dividend on these preference shares; notwithstanding this discretion, in certain circumstances, the dividends on the fixed/floating rate non-cumulative callable preference shares will be mandatorily payable if the preference shares cease to be eligible to qualify as regulatory capital and the Company is in compliance with relevant FSA regulations regarding capital adequacy. Dividends may be reduced if the distributable profits of the Company are insufficient to cover the payment in full of the dividends and also the payment in full of all other dividends on shares issued by the Company. These securities were issued during 2006 primarily to finance the development and expansion of the business of the Group.