Directors' pensions

The executive directors are members of one of the pension schemes provided by the Lloyds TSB Group with benefits either on a defined benefit or defined contribution basis. Those directors who joined the Lloyds TSB Group after 1 June 1989 and are members of a defined benefit scheme, have pensions provided on salary in excess of the earnings cap either through membership of a funded unapproved retirement benefits scheme (FURBS) or by an unfunded pension promise.

Retirement pensions accrue at rates of between 1/60 and 1/30 of basic salary.

Directors have a normal retirement age of 60. However, following the implementation of The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, they may now choose to delay their retirement until age 65. In the event of death in service, a lump sum of four times salary is payable plus, for members of a defined benefit scheme, a spouse’s pension of two-thirds of the member’s prospective pension. On death in retirement, a spouse’s pension of two-thirds of the member’s pension is payable. The defined benefit schemes are non-contributory. Members of defined contribution schemes are required to contribute.

Ms Dial elected to become a member of a pension scheme for life cover only. She joined the Lloyds TSB Group on 1 June 2005. She receives a salary supplement of 20 per cent of basic pay as an alternative to an employer contribution to a pension scheme.

Defined contribution scheme members

Mr Tate is a member of a defined contribution scheme. During the year to 31 December 2007, the employer has made contributions to the defined contribution scheme in respect of him totalling £120,000.

Mrs Weir is a member of a defined contribution scheme. During the year to 31 December 2007, the employer has made contributions to the defined contribution scheme in respect of her totalling £52,708.

Defined benefit scheme members

The disclosures in columns (a) to (d) are as required by the Companies Act 1985 Schedule 7A.

Columns (a) and (b) represent the deferred pension to which the directors would have been entitled had they left the Group on 31 December 2007 and 2006, respectively (ignoring the two-year requirement to qualify for a deferred pension).

Column (c) is the transfer value of the deferred pension in column (a) calculated as at 31 December 2007 based on factors supplied by the actuary of the relevant Lloyds TSB Group pension scheme in accordance with actuarial guidance note GN11. The basic method used to arrive at the factors has not changed during the year, but the underlying basis has been strengthened to allow for mortality improvements and a reduction in the long-term post-retirement investment return.

Column (d) is the equivalent transfer value, but calculated as at 31 December 2006 on the assumption that the director left service at that date.

Column (e) is the increase in pension built up during the year, recognising (i) the accrual rate for the additional service based on the pensionable salary in force at the year end, and (ii) where appropriate the effect of pay changes in ‘real’ (inflation adjusted) terms on the pension already earned at the start of the year.

Column (f) is the capital value of the pension in column (e).

The disclosures in columns (e) and (f) are as required by the UK Listing Authority listing rules. The requirements of the listing rules differ from those of the Companies Act. The listing rules require the additional pension earned over the year to be calculated as the difference between the pension accrued at the end of the financial year and the pension accrued at the start of the financial year less the increase in the pension earned over the year solely due to inflation. The transfer value in column (f) can differ significantly from the change in transfer value as required by the Companies Act because the additional pension accrued over the year calculated in accordance with the listing rules makes allowance for inflation and the change in the transfer value required by the Companies Act will be significantly influenced by changes in the assumptions underlying the transfer value calculation at the beginning and end of the financial year.

Members of the Lloyds TSB Group’s pension schemes have the option to pay additional voluntary contributions: neither the contributions nor the resulting benefits are included in the above table.

Major changes to the legislation governing the provision of pensions in the UK (known as pension simplification) came into effect in April 2006. Benefits from an approved pension scheme will be limited to the Lifetime allowance, currently £1.6 million which is equivalent to an annual pension of £80,000. Any benefit in excess of this amount will incur a tax charge for the individual. The Group has agreed that if an executive director has benefits in excess of the Lifetime Allowance they may cease to accrue benefits in the Scheme and receive a salary supplement as an alternative. This will not cost the Group more than the current arrangements. The Group will not compensate any individual in respect of any increased tax liability arising from pension simplification. To date, the executive directors affected have elected to continue to accrue benefits in the approved scheme.