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.

Dividend history

Description

Results and
dividend announced

Dividend paid

Dividend cents per share     

Dividend pence per share  

Final 2005 16 Mar 2006 31 May 2006 1.87 1.07
Interim 2006 18 Sept 2006 27 Oct 2007 2.40 1.28
Final 2006 5 Mar 2007 17 May 2007 6.43 3.30
Interim 2007 6 Sept 2007 26 Oct 2007 4.90 2.44
Final 2007 10 Mar 2008 19 May 2008 11.50 5.71
Interim 2008     27 August 2008 24 October 2008 7.50 4.09