HIGHLIGHTS
Strong profit growth underpinning improving shareholder returns
Underlying profit before tax increased by 10.2% to £134.7 million (2014: £122.2 million)
Statutory profit before tax increased by 9.3% to £134.2 million (2014: £122.8 million)
Earnings per share increased 11.3% to 35.5p (2014: 31.9p)
Return on underlying tangible equity improved to 12.1% ‡ (2014: 11.5%) (11.4% including start-up losses attributable to Paragon Bank (2014: 10.9%))
Total dividend for the year increased by 22.2% to 11.0p per share (2014: 9.0p), taking dividend cover ratio to 3.2 times
Share buy-back programme to be extended into 2016, by up to £50.0 million
