Interim results - 6 months ended 30 June 2007
Operating and financial review
Dividends
Ordinary dividends
The Board has recommended a 10% increase in the interim dividend to 11.90 net pence per share (2006: 10.82 pence) payable on 16 November 2007 to shareholders on the register on 21 September 2007.
Please note that these dates differ from the provisional dates announced on 9 November 2006.
Preference dividends
8 3/8% cumulative irredeemable preference shares of £1 each
The Board has recommended a dividend of 4 3/16% per share for the six month period ending 30 September 2007 payable on 30 September 2007 to preference shareholders on the register on 1 September 2007.
8 3/4% cumulative irredeemable preference shares of £1 each
The Board has recommended a dividend of 4 3/8% per share for the six month period ending 31 December 2007 payable on 31 December 2007 to preference shareholders on the register on 1 December 2007.
