Lloyds Banking Group (LYG)

Notes to the group accounts

22 Goodwill (continued)

The recoverable amount of Scottish Widows has been based on a value in use calculation. The calculation uses projections of future cash flows based upon budgets and plans approved by management covering a five-year period, and a discount rate of 11 per cent (gross of tax). The budgets and plans are based upon past experience adjusted to take into account anticipated changes in sales volumes, product mix and margins having regard to expected market conditions and competitor activity. The discount rate is determined with reference to internal measures and available industry information. Cash flows beyond the five-year period have been extrapolated using a steady 3 per cent growth rate which does not exceed the long-term average growth rate for the life assurance market. Management believes that any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions would not cause the recoverable amount of Scottish Widows to fall below its balance sheet carrying value.

The recoverable amount of Asset Finance has also been based on a value in use calculation using cash flow projections based on financial budgets and plans approved by management covering a five-year period and a discount rate of 10 per cent (gross of tax). Due to similarities in the risk profile and the funding model management believes that Asset Finance is closely aligned to Lloyds TSB Group; the discount rate represents the Group’s weighted average cost of capital. The cash flows for each of the businesses of Asset Finance beyond the five-year period are extrapolated using steady growth rates, in each case not exceeding 4 per cent nor the long-term average growth rates for the markets in which the respective businesses of Asset Finance participate. Management also believes that any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions on which the recoverable amount of Asset Finance is based would not cause the carrying amount of Asset Finance to exceed its recoverable amount.

The asset in the consolidated balance sheet and movement recognised in the income statement are as follows:

Gross value of in-force insurance and participating investment business

The movement in value of in-force business over 2006 contains effects from the introduction of the new valuation rules in the Financial Services Authority’s (‘FSA’s’) Policy Statement 06/14 and a revised allowance for risk. This reduced the amount of reserves required to be held for certain contract types. The value of in-force for these contract types is £429 million lower than it would have been if the FSA valuation rules had not changed. The reduction in the value of in-force business is more than offset by the lower reserves held under the new FSA valuation rules; the income statement impact of these changes is quantified in note 31, and further information on the Group’s life assurance business, including its available capital resources and regulatory capital requirements, the realistic value of its assets and liabilities and its capital sensitivities is given in note 31 and on pages 64 to 68.

The principal economic assumptions used in calculating the value of in-force business at 31 December 2005 were as follows:

Following the change in the methodology used to calculate the value of in-force business in 2006 the principal assumptions that it is necessary to make have changed.

The principal features of the methodology and process used for determining key assumptions used in the calculation of the value of in-force business at 31 December 2006 are set out below: