Dividends and earnings

Ordinary shareholders have received the following dividends in respect of each financial year:

Click icon for this table in Excel format	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994
Interim	3.4p	3.1p	2.75p	2.3p	1.9p
Final (1998 proposed)	11.0p	9.9p	9.0p	7.5p	6.1p
	14.4p	13.0p	11.75p	9.8p	8.0p
Basic earnings per ordinary share	26.7p	24.0p	27.3p	23.2p	19.9p
Ordinary shareholders living in selected countries outside the United Kingdom can have their dividends paid directly into their bank accounts in local currency. Any shareholders interested in this service, for which there is a small charge, should contact the registrar.