FILE NO 1-9945

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON  DC   20549

 


 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of February 2006

 

National Australia Bank Limited

ACN 004 044 937

(Registrant’s Name)

 

Level 24
500 Bourke Street
MELBOURNE   VICTORIA   3000
AUSTRALIA

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F  ý

Form 40-F  o

 

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  o

No  ý

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82

 

 



 

 
Group Corporate Affairs
500 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
 
 
 

ASX Announcement

 

www.nabgroup.com

 

Melbourne, Monday 27 February 2006

 

National Australia Bank corrects disclosures in 2005 Annual Financial Report

 

The National Australia Bank has identified classification errors in the 2005 Annual Financial Report that overstated the reported level of lending to the real estate construction sector.

 

In Note 16 on page 151 and Note 11 on page 144 covering industry sector concentrations in Australia it is incorrectly reported that loans and advances and customer acceptances to the construction sector total $5.7 billion.  These industry concentrations are also reported in the table on loans by industry sector on page 52.

 

In fact, based on subsequent review, the aggregate amount of loans and advances and customer acceptances to the real estate construction sector (including reclassified overdrafts), is $1.6 billion for 2005.  This compares to $1.1 billion for the prior year.

 

In Note 16 on page 151 it is also incorrectly reported that instalment loans to individuals and other personal lending (including credit cards) in 2005 total $21.6 billion.  This total includes $6.2 billion of overdrafts to entities that were incorrectly classified.

 

The data for Australia in Note 16 and Note 11 has been corrected for the 2004 and 2005 financial years and is included in the tables below.

 

However, the total amount disclosed in Notes 11 and 16 for loans and advances and customer acceptances is correct and the revisions do not affect reported earnings or the financial position of the company.

 

National Australia Bank auditor Ernst & Young has reviewed these new disclosures for 2005 and 2004 and have agreed the approach adopted.

 

National Australia Bank Director Finance and Risk, Mr Michael Ullmer said: “The core financial information systems of the company are sound and controlled effectively.  These misclassifications do not change reported earnings or the financial position of the company.

 

“The industry classifications are derived from ancillary systems, which require considerable manual processing.

 

“As noted on page 66 of the 2005 Annual Financial Report, there is a significant over-reliance on manual processes.  Steps are being taken to upgrade these systems to reduce the reliance on manual processes.

 

“All related disclosures in the 2005 Annual Financial Report will be reviewed by no later than the half year profit announcement.

 

“I believe it was important to correct the reported position with respect to Australian real estate construction sector as soon as reliable information was available,” he said.

 

 

National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937

 

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Note 11 Due from customers on acceptances
30 September 2005 & 30 September 2004

 

Australia - Group

 

 

 

Revised

 

As Reported

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

$m

 

$m

 

$m

 

$m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government and public authorities

 

44

 

33

 

44

 

9

 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining

 

2,939

 

1,699

 

2,945

 

1,892

 

Financial, investment and insurance

 

2,549

 

1,814

 

2,532

 

3,182

 

Real estate - construction

 

794

 

448

 

122

 

699

 

Manufacturing

 

2,056

 

1,516

 

1,959

 

1,043

 

Instalment loans to individuals and other personal lending

 

191

 

128

 

191

 

136

 

Other commercial and industrial

 

19,039

 

10,628

 

19,819

 

9,305

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

27,612

 

16,266

 

27,612

 

16,266

 

 

Note 16 Loans & advances
30 September 2005 & 30 September 2004

 

Australia - Group

 

 

 

Revised

 

As Reported

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

$m

 

$m

 

$m

 

$m

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government and public authorities

 

612

 

539

 

607

 

620

 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining

 

5,968

 

5,363

 

4,430

 

6,023

 

Financial, investment and insurance

 

5,676

 

4,748

 

5,093

 

6,102

 

Real estate - construction

 

794

 

673

 

5,587

 

1,728

 

Manufacturing

 

3,567

 

3,451

 

2,417

 

2,492

 

Real estate - mortgage

 

105,419

 

91,296

 

105,419

 

91,259

 

Instalment loans to individuals and other personal lending*

 

15,422

 

13,559

 

21,642

 

13,529

 

Lease financing

 

9,508

 

8,164

 

9,508

 

8,164

 

Other commercial and industrial

 

23,795

 

20,614

 

16,058

 

18,490

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

170,761

 

148,407

 

170,761

 

148,407

 

 


* including credit cards

 

Footnote to Note 16:

 

In relation to the commercial real estate sector in total (including real estate – construction), the percentage this represents of the total Australian loans and advances (including overdrafts) and customer acceptances disclosed above would be 13% for 2005 and 11% for 2004.

 

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For further information:

 

Brandon Phillips
Group Manager, External Relations
T 03 8641 3857
M 0419 369 058

 

Hany Messieh
Head of Investor Relations
T 03 8641 2312
M 0414 446 876

 

 

 

Kim Lovely
External Relations Manager
T 03 8641 4982
M 0406 035 243

 

 

 

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SIGNATURE PAGE

 

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 authorised.

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature:

/s/ Brendan T Case

 

Date: 27 February 2006

 

Name: Brendan T Case

 

 

Title: Associate Company Secretary

 

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