Dividend information

The Company declares its dividends in US Dollars and fixes the UK Sterling equivalent at the time that it announces its preliminary results, whether final or interim. Any currency election or payment instruction form received following the declaration of a dividend will not be implemented until after that dividend has been paid. In other words, your instruction will only become effective in respect of the first undeclared dividend following receipt of your form(s). Please note that any instruction(s) which you give, either in relation to currency election or payment instruction, will remain in force until such time as you decide to change them by submitting new form(s).

Dividend policy

It is the Company’s current policy to pay an interim and final dividend in respect of each financial year, with approximately one third of the full year’s dividend being payable as an interim dividend and two thirds as a final dividend. Dividends may be paid to shareholders in either UK Sterling or US Dollars.

Dividend process

Dividends will be paid in UK Sterling unless a shareholder elects to receive them in US Dollars, in which case a Currency Election Form must be completed and returned to Capita Registrars. If you wish to receive your dividends in UK Sterling, there is no need to complete a Currency Election Form.

Dividends in US Dollars will be paid by cheque. Dividends in UK Sterling can be paid either by cheque or directly into your bank or building society account. If you wish to have your dividends paid direct into your account, you need to complete and return a Dividend Payment Instruction Form to Capita Registrars.

Forthcoming dividend

An interim dividend of 17.40 cents per share (2010: 13.80 cents), an increase of 26.1%, will be paid on 21 October 2011 to eligible shareholders on the register at 23 September 2011. Shareholders who have not elected to receive dividends in US dollars will receive a Sterling equivalent of 10.54 pence per share.

Dividend history