Cost Savings etc

National Grid Group PLC 22 April 2002 National Grid Announces Cost Savings, Board Change and Final Dividend Further to today's joint announcement by National Grid Group plc ('National Grid') and Lattice Group plc ('Lattice') that the Boards of both companies have unanimously agreed the terms of a recommended merger of equals to form National Grid Transco, National Grid announces: UK Cost Savings At its preliminary results in May 2001, National Grid announced that it would aim to reduce controllable costs in its UK Transmission Owner business by 20% in real terms over the term of its price review which ends in March 2006, modestly outperforming the targets set by Ofgem. Following an extensive review of the UK business processes, National Grid is now able to increase this target to 30% delivering a further £80 million of cost savings over the current price review period. Steve Holliday, Group Director Europe said, 'This is further proof of our ability to continue to cut costs after the excellent record over the last ten years. I look forward to working with Lattice to exchange best-practice abilities in this area.' Board Change The Board announces Stephen Box's intention to retire, through reasons of ill health, as a Director of National Grid on completion of the merger between National Grid and Lattice. James Ross said, 'I would like to thank Stephen on behalf of all at National Grid for his enormous contribution to the Group's success. We will be sad to see him leave and we wish him all good fortune on his retirement.' Final Dividend The Board is recommending a final dividend of 9.58 pence per share to be paid on 15 August 2002 to shareholders on the register on 7 June 2002. This brings the total dividend for the year to 16.04 pence per share in line with our target to increase dividends by 5 per cent real in each year to March 2006. Cautionary statement This announcement contains certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historic information. These statements are 'forward looking statements' within the meaning of the safe-harbour provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Because these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the companies' ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants and the actions of governmental regulators. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this announcement include: the ability to integrate Lattice successfully within the National Grid Group or to realise synergies from such integration or the failure to retain key management and other risk factors detailed in National Grid's reports filed with the SEC or in material furnished to the SEC by National Grid or Lattice. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. The companies do not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement. ENQUIRIES: National Grid: Investors Marcy Reed +44 (0)20 7312 5779 +44 (0)7768 490807(m) Terry McCormick +44 (0)20 7312 5785 +44 (0)7768 045139(m) Louise Clamp +44 (0)20 7312 5783 +44 (0)7768 555641(m) Media Clive Hawkins +44 (0)20 7312 5757 +44 (0)7836 357173(m) Citigate Dewe Rogerson: +44 (0)20 7638 9571 Anthony Carlisle +44 (0)7973 611888(m) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
Investor Meets Company
UK 100