National Housebuilder Bellway p.l.c. Today, Tue...
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England, October 14 /PRNewswire/ -- HIGHLIGHTS
- Completed sales of 6,556 homes against record high of 7,638 in 2007
- Average price achieved GBP169,700 (2007:GBP173,300)
- Total Group turnover of GBP1,149.5m (2007:GBP1,354.0m)
- Profit before taxation GBP165.7m * (2007:GBP234.8m)
- Earnings per ordinary share of 104.2p * (2007:146.1p)
- Total dividend for the year 24.1p (2007:43.1p)
- Increase in social housing completions of 49% to 1,337 homes
- Gearing of 23.7%, with only 42.5% of the Group's GBP512m
bank facilities utilised
- Total write down of land stocks of GBP130.9m, equating to
8.0% of stocks at 31 July 2008
- Secured forward order book at 30 September of GBP342m, 50%
to housing associations
- Redundancy and rationalisation programme resulting in GBP8m savings
- Divisions reduced from 18 to 13 without compromising coverage and
growth potential
- Tight control on costs, every new release to construct only
proceeds if production matched by sales
- Priority to reduce borrowings from GBP218m to further lower gearing
* Before exceptional items
Chairman Howard Dawe said "The current state of the housing
and mortgage markets has been well documented and the speed of the
deterioration is unprecedented. nevertheless, the group completed the sale of
6,556 homes, a fall of 14.2% from last year's record level of 7,638."
He concluded. "The Board has a clear strategy, aimed primarily
at conserving cash and reducing the cost base, whilst maintaining the
essential operational fabric and protecting shareholder value so that growth
may commence when the market returns to more normal conditions."
Note to Editors:
Bellway plc is one of the country's top four housebuilding
companies. With headquarters in the North East of England, the Group's
operations stretch the length and breadth of the county. Bellway provides a
wide range of house types covering one, two and three bedroom apartments;
terraced housing; three storey houses; semi-detached houses and three, four
and five bedroom detached properties. The Group is active in major
regeneration schemes across the country and is a leading provider of
affordable homes. Over 80% of its homes are constructed on brown-fields land.
High resolution photographs are available to the media free of charge
at http://www.newscast.co.uk
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Bellway today announces its results for the year ended 31 July 2008.
Results
The current state of the housing and mortgage markets has been
well documented and the speed of the deterioration is unprecedented.
Nevertheless, the Group completed the sale of 6,556 homes, a fall of 14.2%
from last year's record level of 7,638. The average price achieved for these
sales was GBP169,729, down 2.1% from GBP173,300 in 2007, resulting in housing
turnover reducing by 15.9% from GBP1,323.7 million to GBP1,112.7 million.
Other turnover increased from GBP30.3 million to GBP36.8 million, resulting
in total turnover for the Group of GBP1,149.5 million, compared to GBP1,354.0
million in 2007.
Operating margins have come under increasing pressure as the
market rapidly contracted and, in response to this, more incentives were
used. As a consequence, the operating margin, as mentioned in the Trading
Update on 14 August, has fallen from 18.7% in 2007 to 16.1%, before any
exceptional charge. This has resulted in operating profit falling from
GBP253.1 million to GBP185.0 million.
The net interest charge for the period is GBP19.1 million, up
from GBP17.9 million, mainly reflecting changes in interest rates. Gearing,
as at 31 July 2008, was 23.7%, with 42.5% of the Group's GBP512 million bank
facilities having been utilised.
In light of ongoing adverse market conditions, the Group
considered it prudent to review its stocks by applying current expectations
of revenues, dependent upon location and product. The Group has also written
down costs incurred on sites, not yet purchased, where the likelihood is that
we will not conclude a purchase under current contractual terms. In addition,
our stock of unsold part exchange properties has been written down by 10%.
The total exceptional charge created by these actions is GBP130.9 million
equating to 8.0% of stocks at 31 July 2008.
The net profit before tax and after exceptional items was
GBP34.8 million giving earnings per ordinary share of 23.6p, compared to
146.1p in 2007. Net assets per ordinary share at 31 July 2008 were 871p
compared to 903p at 31 July 2007.
Dividend
The Board recognises the importance of cash dividends to
shareholders and, consequently, despite the current instability in the
financial markets and the resultant effects on the general economy, has
decided to propose a final dividend of 6p per ordinary share. This results in
a total dividend for the year of 24.1p, representing 56% of last year's
payment of 43.125p. The Board believes this level of dividend for the year is
an appropriate reduction, given current trading conditions. Future dividend
payments will be quantified with reference to cash generation. The dividend
will be paid on Wednesday 21 January 2009 to all ordinary shareholders on the
Register of Members on Friday 12 December 2008. The ex-dividend date is
Wednesday 10 December 2008.
People
In these extremely testing times our employees,
sub-contractors, suppliers and partners have contributed more than ever to
the production of these results and the Board is extremely grateful to all of
them, including those who have now, sadly, left the business.
The Board
Leo Finn, our Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, steps
down at the forthcoming AGM on 16 January 2009 and will not seek re-election.
Leo has given thirteen years of sterling service to the Group and the Board
would like to thank him for all his efforts on behalf of Bellway. He is to be
replaced on 1 February 2009 by Mike Toms whose current directorships include
the role of non-executive director of UK COAL PLC and whose past
directorships include the role of executive director of BAA plc. We wish Mike
every success in his new role, which will incorporate the chairmanship of the
Board Committee on Executive Directors' Remuneration. Peter Johnson will
become Senior Independent Director from 16 January 2009.
Outlook
In its long experience, the Board has never witnessed such a
swift change in the housing market as has been seen in the last twelve
months. The Board has a clear strategy, aimed primarily at conserving cash
and reducing the cost base, whilst maintaining the essential operational
fabric and protecting shareholder value so that growth may commence when the
market returns to more normal conditions.
H C Dawe
Chairman
13 October 2008
Chief Executive's Operating Review
The Group's policy of forward selling resulted in the company holding a
strong forward sales position of GBP594 million on 1 August 2007. As the
events of the last twelve months unfolded, this order book stood us in good
stead to weather the initial changes in the market. From Easter onwards,
however, customers cancelled at an increasing rate and our divisional sales
teams did well to hold on to sales they had achieved, resulting in a year on
year fall in total completions of 14.2% to 6,556. This number was underpinned
by an increasing proportion of social housing where completions rose by 49%
to 1,337 homes. The Group has sold 144 properties to first time buyers
through initiatives promoted by English Partnerships and the Housing
Corporation. Private sales fell by 22.5% to 5,219 homes, reflecting the swift
change in consumer confidence. Completions are divided almost equally between
the northern and southern regions.
Regional Performance
Northern Region
During the year, the then nine northern divisions sold 3,348 homes, a
decrease from the previous year's 4,168 homes. Of this total, 339 homes, some
10%, were sold to housing associations compared to 431 the previous year.
Overall the average selling price in the north is marginally reduced at
GBP157,000. The effect of the slowing economy and the erosion of consumer
confidence hit our markets in the north much earlier in the financial year
with the Manchester and Yorkshire divisions being particularly hard hit.
Conversely, the South Midlands division managed to increase output benefiting
from new outlets opening as part of the North Solihull regeneration project.
The West Scotland division maintained output of 500 homes without any
exposure to social housing and the West Lancashire division, with an average
selling price of only GBP126,000, continued to build on several developments
in and around the Liverpool Pathfinder area which led to the completion of
528 homes, of which some 19% were sold to housing associations.
Southern Region
The Southern divisions sold 3,208 homes, a decrease of only 7.5% from the
previous year's total of 3,470. This relatively small reduction was achieved
by more than doubling sales to housing associations from 469 to 998 homes.
Primarily due to this increased exposure to social housing, the overall
average selling price for the region fell from GBP191,000 to GBP183,000. The
Thames Gateway area demonstrated the greatest resilience, with the Thames
Gateway North division, established in 2005, virtually doubling volumes to
203 homes. Its much larger neighbour, Thames Gateway South, also benefited
from strong demand, especially from developments in the London boroughs of
Tower Hamlets and Greenwich, helping to increase output to 759 homes.
Sales Incentives and Cost Control
During the year the average cancellation rate gradually increased,
finishing at an annualised rate of 26%, a level not previously experienced.
Sales incentives have therefore been employed on a regular basis to support
the targeted selling rate. Typically these incentives included cash
discounts, part exchange and other incentives determined by our divisions.
Mortgage and stamp duty subsidies, for example, were widely advertised and
utilised. For the second time buyer, part exchange was a popular sales aid
and was used in 10% of transactions. The Group sold 560 part exchange homes
during the year and ended it with a stock of 331 part exchange properties
valued at GBP40.6 million, after the exceptional write down. Since the year
end, the stock has been reduced to GBP29 million. Tight controls continue to
be operated in relation to the part exchange scheme in these markets. These
incentives have been a major reason in the operating margin falling from
18.7% to 16.1%.
In response to the reduction in workloads, we have seen a curtailment in
labour rate increases and in sub-contract tender prices, where recent tenders
have fallen by up to 6%, particularly in areas such as foundations and road
and sewer works. Approximately 30% of production last year used timber frame
systems where the price of timber has fallen by up to 10%. National
agreements with major suppliers should reduce ongoing costs by a further GBP5
million per annum. The overall build cost per home, therefore, should
continue to fall, helping, in part, to offset sales incentives currently
being offered.
Overhead Reduction and Company Structure
With little prospect of an immediate recovery, the primary operational
focus of the Group has changed during the course of the year to cost control
and cash management. At the beginning of May, the Group commenced a
redundancy and rationalisation programme which resulted in job losses
amounting to 35% of the workforce. The vast majority of these people have,
sadly, already left the organisation. This should result in a net overhead
saving of GBP8 million in the financial year ending 31 July 2009.
The number of divisions has been slimmed down from eighteen to thirteen.
This now leaves the Group much leaner as most of the affected divisions have
been amalgamated with adjoining 'neighbours'. We feel nationwide coverage has
not been compromised and the Group's growth potential remains intact.
Bellway continues to focus on cost control and cash management. Every new
release to construct is now assessed centrally on a plot by plot basis and
only proceeds if production is matched by sales. The result of these actions
should lead to a reduction in the number of active sites, which presently
stands at around 210.
Land
The Group has been cautious over the last twelve months, but particularly
in 2008 with regard to land acquisition, with very little new investment in
land with planning permission. During the year, 5,556 plots were acquired and
land held with planning permission reduced to 22,500 plots, compared with
23,500 in the previous year. Land owned, contracted or under option currently
awaiting planning permission has decreased to 14,400 plots, a fall of 1,400
as we allowed contracts that we deemed no longer viable to expire. The Group
has 36,900 plots as part of its short and medium term holdings. These
holdings exclude long term land, representing a combination of greenfield and
regeneration opportunities, amounting to around 4,850 plots.
Due to the weaknesses in the market and, in particular, selling prices,
the holding cost of stock has been reviewed. Whilst markets currently vary,
dependent upon product and geography, selling prices since 31 July 2008 have
fallen. This has resulted in a total write down of stocks of GBP130.9
million, including around GBP15 million of fees and option costs already
incurred on land transactions that are unlikely to proceed and GBP3 million
in relation to part exchange stocks.
Environment
The grant of planning permission is often perceived by local politicians
and communities as damaging to the environment, however, with the grant of
planning permission, substantial benefits often accrue which are not always
apparent to the broader community. During the year, through a variety of
legal agreements, the Group's developments will generate an estimated GBP17
million of benefits with the majority of its contributions going towards
education and sporting facilities. Other benefits include car clubs,
especially in and around London, which aim to reduce the number of car
journeys made by residents from each development.
Running costs of new homes will come down as the industry embraces new
technology. During the year 5% of our production incorporated some form of
renewable energy technology, utilising features such as solar and
photovoltaic panels and biomass heat units. In Halstead in Essex, for
example, construction is about to commence using air source heat pumps and a
heat recovery system which should reduce the carbon footprint of each home by
about 40%. Additionally, almost 20% of homes built were constructed to
EcoHomes standards. With the imposition of higher gas and electricity bills,
the purchase of a new Bellway home will certainly reap rewards for our
purchasers, as well as directly benefiting the environment.
An increasing element of the whole construction process incorporates
recycled materials such as plasterboard, timber flooring and lightweight
blocks. All timber now comes from accredited managed sources. With the cost
of landfill waste increasing on an annual basis we have, during the year,
recycled almost 2,900 tonnes of plasterboard and, in addition, 106,000 tonnes
of demolition material has been crushed and reused on site.
Health and Safety
The Group is pleased to report that the number of lost time reportable
accidents declined during the year from 48 to 46. The number of reportable
accidents resulting from falls from height declined from 11 to 8. The Group
is currently enforcing best practice on its sites by targeting and supporting
a nationwide ladder safety campaign. Site based employees, including those
employed by sub-contractors, attend regular health and safety meetings to
raise awareness on this most serious of subjects.
During the year, the Manchester division (now part of the North West
division) received a silver award from the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents (RoSPA) for the second year running in recognition of its high
standards in managing and maintaining health and safety awareness. In
addition, 93% of employees have now received a Construction Skills
Certification Scheme (CSCS) card and site managers are being trained to NVQ
Level 3.
Customer Care
At Bellway, we pride ourselves in providing a first-class
service, guiding our customers through every step of the purchasing process.
The latest independent survey, carried out on a quarterly basis, confirmed
that 80% of our customers are prepared to recommend Bellway to a friend - a
marginal improvement on last year's 79%. The Group must continue to improve
its performance in this area and the recent Office of Fair Trading
investigation into the housebuilding industry will result in a new customer
code being agreed and implemented in the near future.
Looking Forward
The Group had secured an order book at 30 September 2008 of
GBP342 million with almost 50% of these sales to housing associations. There
is clearly, at present, great uncertainty regarding future transaction
levels, selling prices and profitability. Therefore, the Group's priorities
are to target the sale of stock properties and strictly control work in
progress and land expenditure, with a view to reducing borrowings from the
year end position of GBP218 million, thus further lowering gearing. The Group
is, and wishes to remain, in a strong position to recommence its organic
growth model as and when more normal market conditions return.
J K Watson
Chief Executive
13 October 2008
GROUP INCOME STATEMENT
For the year ended 31 July 2008
Notes 2008 2008 2008 2007
Pre- Exceptional Total Total
exceptional item
item
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
Revenue 3 1,149,541 - 1,149,541 1,354,022
Cost of sales 5 (905,745) (130,905) (1,036,650) (1,042,102)
Gross profit 243,796 (130,905) 112,891 311,920
Administrative expenses (58,761) - (58,761) (58,844)
Operating profit 185,035 (130,905) 54,130 253,076
Finance income 3,631 - 3,631 5,050
Finance expenses (22,683) - (22,683) (22,961)
Share of losses of
associates (315) - (315) (315)
Profit before taxation 165,668 (130,905) 34,763 234,850
Income tax expense 4 (46,159) 38,399 (7,760) (68,136)
Profit for the year
(all attributable to
equity holders of the
parent) 119,509 (92,506) 27,003 166,714
Earnings per ordinary
share - basic 7 104.2p (80.6)p 23.6p 146.1p
Earnings per ordinary
share - diluted 7 104.1p (80.6)p 23.5p 144.7p
Dividend per ordinary
share 6 24.1p - 24.1p 43.125p
GROUP Statement of Recognised Income and Expense
For the year ended 31 July 2008
2008 2007
GBP000 GBP000
Actuarial (losses) /
gains on defined benefit pension scheme (14,351) 5,268
Tax on items taken directly to equity 4,018 (1,475)
Net (expense) / income recognised directly in equity (10,333) 3,793
Profit for the year 27,003 166,714
Total recognised income (all attributable to
equity holders of the parent) 16,670 170,507
GROUP BALANCE SHEET
At 31 July 2008
Notes 2008 2007
GBP000 GBP000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 11,559 12,671
Investment property 4,092 2,417
Investments in subsidiaries, associates
and jointly controlled entities 126 -
Other financial assets 5,607 5,201
Deferred tax assets 7,871 7,826
29,255 28,115
Current assets
Inventories 5 1,503,936 1,537,874
Trade and other receivables 54,496 45,252
Cash and cash equivalents 109,313 25,381
1,667,745 1,608,507
Total assets 1,697,000 1,636,622
LIABILITIES
Non-current liabilities
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 295,000 77,000
Retirement benefit obligations 12,709 1,986
Land payables 51,306 47,875
359,015 126,861
Current liabilities
Interest bearing loans and borrowings 52,000 60,554
Trade and other payables 284,901 380,895
Current tax liabilities - 32,498
336,901 473,947
Total liabilities 695,916 600,808
Net assets 1,001,084 1,035,814
EQUITY
Issued capital 9 14,372 14,337
Share premium 9 116,928 115,484
Other reserves 9 1,492 1,492
Retained earnings 9 868,358 904,567
Total equity attributable to equity
holders of the parent 1,001,150 1,035,880
Minority interest 9 (66) (66)
Total equity 1,001,084 1,035,814
GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the year ended 31 July 2008
Notes 2008 2007
GBP000 GBP000
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit for the year 27,003 166,714
Depreciation charge 2,858 3,102
Loss / (profit) on sale of property,
plant and equipment 140 (188)
Profit on sale of investment properties (151) -
Finance income (3,631) (5,050)
Finance expenses 22,683 22,961
Share based payment charge 1,685 2,580
Income tax expense 7,760 68,136
Decrease / (Increase) in inventories 33,938 (103,875)
Decrease / (Increase) in trade and other receivables 13,322 (17,151)
(Decrease) / Increase in trade and other payables (101,688) 46,584
Cash from operations 3,919 183,813
Interest paid (17,419) (19,382)
Income tax paid (62,874) (63,867)
Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities (76,374) 100,564
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,096) (3,090)
Acquisition of investment property (1,858) (704)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 376 1,224
Proceeds from sale of investment properties 334 -
Interest received 4,557 3,988
Net cash inflow from investing activities 1,313 1,418
Cash flows from financing activities
Increase / (Decrease) in bank borrowings 253,000 (67,000)
Proceeds from the issue of share capital on
exercise of share options 1,479 3,666
Purchase of own shares by employee share option plans (568) (2,431)
Dividends paid (51,364) (41,695)
Net cash inflow / (outflow) from financing activities 202,547 (107,460)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents 127,486 (5,478)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year (18,173) (12,695)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 8 109,313 (18,173)
NOTES
1. Basis of preparation
The financial information set out above has been prepared in
accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of International
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU (Adopted IFRSs).
The financial information set out above does not constitute
the company's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 July 2008 or 2007.
The financial information for 2007 is derived from the statutory accounts for
2007 which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors
have reported on the 2007 accounts; their report was (i) unqualified, (ii)
did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditors drew
attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did
not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act
1985. The statutory accounts for 2008 will be finalised on the basis of the
financial information presented by the directors in this preliminary
announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies in due
course.
2. Changes in accounting policies
The Group adopted IFRS 7 'financial instruments' disclosures'
on 1 August 2007 and the related amendment to IAS 1 'Presentation of
Financial Statements - Capital Disclosures '. The adoption of these standards
has had no material effect on the information disclosed in the preliminary
announcement for either the current or prior year.
3. Revenue / segmental analysis
The Group uses business as the basis for primary segmentation.
Operations are carried out within one business segment which is
housebuilding. No additional business segment information is required to be
provided. The Group's secondary segment is geography. It operates in one
geographical segment, the United Kingdom, therefore no additional
geographical segment information is required to be provided.
4. Taxation
The effective rate of tax for the year is 22.3% (2007 -
29.0%). The reduction in the effective rate is due to reduced profit before
tax (after an exceptional charge of GBP130.9 million (2007 - GBPnil)) and a
current tax adjustment in respect of the prior years totalling GBP4.4m.
The adjustment in respect of prior year's current tax has been
applied to the pre-exceptional charge.
5. Exceptional items / inventories
Exceptional items are those which, in the opinion of the
Board, are material by size or nature, non-recurring, and of such
significance that they require separate disclosure on the face of the income
statement.
A full review of inventories has been performed and write
downs have been made where cost exceeds net realisable value. Net realisable
value represents the estimated selling price (in the ordinary course of
business) less all estimated costs of completion and overheads. Estimated
selling prices have been reviewed on a site by site basis and selling prices
have been reduced, based on local management and the Boards assessment of
current market conditions. These site reviews have resulted in write downs
totalling GBP112.5 million.
In addition option costs and related fees have been written
down by GBP15.4 million to their net realisable value.
The Board has also reassessed the net realisable value of
currently unsold part exchange properties and has written down stock by 10%
totalling GBP3.0 million.
The above has resulted in an exceptional charge of totalling
GBP130.9 million.
6. Dividends on equity share
2008 2007
GBP000 GBP000
Amounts recognised as distributions to
equity holders in the year :
Final dividend for the year ended
31 July 2007 of 26.675p per share
(2006 : 20.2p) 30,541 23,103
Interim dividend for the year ended
31 July 2008 of 18.1p per share
(2007 : 16.45p) 20,765 18,813
51,306 41,916
Proposed final dividend for the year
ended 31 July 2008 of 6.0p per share
(2007 - 26.675p) 6,912 30,810
The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the
Annual General Meeting on 16 January 2009 and, in accordance with IAS 10,
has not been included as a liability in these financial statements.
7. Earnings per ordinary share
Basic earnings per ordinary share is calculated by dividing
earnings by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during
the year (excluding the weighted average number of ordinary shares held by
the employee share ownership plans which are treated as cancelled).
Diluted earnings per ordinary share uses the same earnings
figure as the basic calculation except that the weighted average number of
shares has been adjusted to reflect the dilutive effect of outstanding share
options allocated under employee share schemes where the market value exceeds
the option price. It is assumed that all dilutive potential ordinary shares
are converted at the beginning of the accounting period. Diluted earnings per
ordinary share is calculated by dividing earnings by the diluted weighted
average number of ordinary shares.
Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of
shares used in the calculations are outlined below:
Earnings Weighted Earnings Earnings Weighted Earnings
average per average per
number of share number of share
ordinary ordinary
shares shares
2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007
GBP000 p GBP000 p
Pre-exceptional
item
For basic
earnings per
ordinary share 119,509 114,615,661 104.2 166,714 114,108,350 146.1
Dilutive effect
of options and
awards 245,743 (0.1) 1,140,376 (1.4)
For diluted
earnings per
ordinary share 119,509 114,861,404 104.1 166,714 115,248,726 144.7
Post-exceptional
item
For basic
earnings per
ordinary share 27,003 114,615,661 23.6 166,714 114,108,350 146.1
Dilutive effect
of options and
awards 245,743 (0.1) 1,140,376 (1.4)
For diluted
earnings per
ordinary share 27,003 114,861,404 23.5 166,714 115,248,726 144.7
8. Analysis of net debt
At 1 August Cash At 31 July
2007 flows 2008
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
Cash and cash equivalents 25,381 83,932 109,313
Bank overdrafts (43,554) 43,554 -
Net cash and cash equivalents (18,173) 127,486 109,313
Bank loans (74,000) (253,000) (327,000)
Preference shares redeemable after
more than one year (20,000) - (20,000)
Net debt (112,173) (125,514) (237,687)
9. Reconciliation of movements in capital and reserves
Attributable to equity holders of the parent
Ordinary Share Other Retained
share premium reserves earnings
capital
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
At 1 August 2006 14,252 111,903 1,492 775,919
Total recognised income
and expense - - - 170,507
Dividends on equity shares - - - (41,916)
Shares issued 85 3,581 - -
Charge in relation to share
options and tax thereon - - - 2,488
Purchase of own shares - - - (2,431)
At 31 July 2007 14,337 115,484 1,492 904,567
Total recognised income
and expense - - - 16,670
Dividends on equity shares - - - (51,306)
Shares issued 35 1,444 - -
Charge in relation to share
options and tax thereon - - - (1,005)
Purchase of own shares - - - (568)
At 31 July 2008 14,372 116,928 1,492 868,358
(Continued)
Total Minority Total
interest equity
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
At 1 August 2006 903,566 (66) 903,500
Total recognised income and expense 170,507 - 170,507
Dividends on equity shares (41,916) - (41,916)
Shares issued 3,666 - 3,666
Charge in relation to share options
and tax thereon 2,488 - 2,488
Purchase of own shares (2,431) - (2,431)
At 31 July 2007 1,035,880 (66) 1,035,814
Total recognised income and expense 16,670 - 16,670
Dividends on equity shares (51,306) - (51,306)
Shares issued 1,479 - 1,479
Charge in relation to share options
and tax thereon (1,005) - (1,005)
Purchase of own shares (568) - (568)
At 31 July 2008 1,001,150 (66) 1,001,084
Within retained earnings are amounts relating to ordinary shares held
by the employee share ownership plans. The number of shares held within
these plans at 31 July 2008 was 197,858 (2007: 337,089) which are held
within the financial statements at a value of GBP1,872,000 (2007:
GBP3,239,000).