Blueprint
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.20549
 
 
FORM 6-K
 
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
18 May 2018
 
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
 
5th Floor
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HN
United Kingdom
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
Form 20-F..X..     Form 40-F 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Yes         No ..X..
 
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b): 82- ________
 
 
Index to Exhibits
 
 
Item
 
 No. 1 Regulatory News Service Announcement, dated 18 May 2018
        re: Sale of Irish Residential Mortgage Portfolio
 
 
 
18 May 2018
 
 
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP ANNOUNCES SALE OF ITS IRISH RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO
 
Lloyds Banking Group plc (the 'Group') announces today that it has agreed the sale of its Irish residential mortgage portfolio to Barclays Bank plc, for a cash consideration of around £4 billion at current exchange rates.
 
The transaction will generate approximately 25 basis points of CET1 capital upon completion, slightly better than originally expected, and will complete in the second half of 2018. The transaction will also generate a pre-tax loss on sale of c.£110 million, recognised in the first half results.
 
The gross assets subject to the transaction are c.£4.3 billion, of which £0.3 billion are impaired, and in the year to 31 December 2017 generated a pre-tax loss of c.£40 million.
 
The sale is in line with the Group's strategy of becoming a low risk, UK focused bank. Following the transaction the Group will have minimal exposure to Ireland and the total outstanding run-off portfolio will be around £4 billion, less than 1 per cent of the Group's loans and advances to customers.
 
The sale proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.
 
- END -
 
For further information:
 
Investor Relations
Douglas Radcliffe                                                                                    +44 (0)20 7356 1571
Group Investor Relations Director
douglas.radcliffe@lloydsbanking.com
 
 
Corporate Affairs
Matt Smith                                                                                                +44 (0)20 7356 3522
Head of Corporate Media
matt.smith@lloydsbanking.com
 
 
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This document contains certain forward looking statements with respect to the business, strategy, plans and /or results of Lloyds Banking Group and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Lloyds Banking Group's or its directors' and/or management's beliefs and expectations, are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will or may occur in the future. Factors that could cause actual business, strategy, plans and/or results (including but not limited to the payment of dividends) to differ materially from forward looking statements made by the Group or on its behalf include, but are not limited to: general economic and business conditions in the UK and internationally; market related trends and developments; fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, exchange rates, stock markets and currencies; the ability to access sufficient sources of capital, liquidity and funding when required; changes to the Group's credit ratings; the ability to derive cost savings and other benefits including, but without limitation as a result of any acquisitions, disposals and other strategic transactions; changing customer behaviour including consumer spending, saving and borrowing habits; changes to borrower or counterparty credit quality; instability in the global financial markets, including Eurozone instability, instability as a result of the exit by the UK from the European Union (EU) and the potential for other countries to exit the EU or the Eurozone and the impact of any sovereign credit rating downgrade or other sovereign financial issues; technological changes and risks to the security of IT and operational infrastructure, systems, data and information resulting from increased threat of cyber and other attacks; natural, pandemic and other disasters, adverse weather and similar contingencies outside the Group's control; inadequate or failed internal or external processes or systems; acts of war, other acts of hostility, terrorist acts and responses to those acts, geopolitical, pandemic or other such events; changes in laws, regulations, accounting standards or taxation, including as a result of the exit by the UK from the EU, or a further possible referendum on Scottish independence; changes to regulatory capital or liquidity requirements and similar contingencies outside the Group's control; the policies, decisions and actions of governmental or regulatory authorities or courts in the UK, the EU, the US or elsewhere including the implementation and interpretation of key legislation and regulation together with any resulting impact on the future structure of the Group; the ability to attract and retain senior management and other employees and meet its diversity objectives; actions or omissions by the Group's directors, management or employees including industrial action; changes to the Group's post-retirement defined benefit scheme obligations; the extent of any future impairment charges or write-downs caused by, but not limited to, depressed asset valuations, market disruptions and illiquid markets; the value and effectiveness of any credit protection purchased by the Group; the inability to hedge certain risks economically; the adequacy of loss reserves; the actions of competitors, including non-bank financial services, lending companies and digital innovators and disruptive technologies; and exposure to regulatory or competition scrutiny, legal, regulatory or competition proceedings, investigations or complaints. Please refer to the latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of certain factors together with examples of forward looking statements. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the forward looking statements contained in this document are made as of today's date, and Lloyds Banking Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements. The information, statements and opinions contained in this document do not constitute a public offer under any applicable law or an offer to sell any securities or financial instruments or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or financial instruments.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Signatures
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP plc
 (Registrant)
 
 
 
By: Douglas Radcliffe
Name: Douglas Radcliffe
Title: Group Investor Relations Director
 
 
 
 
 
Date: 18 May 2018