Year ended 31 July 2006
7. Dividends
| 2006
£m |
2005
£m |
|
|---|---|---|
| Final paid for the year ended 31 July 2005 of 17.6 pence per share (year ended 31 July 2004: 16.0 pence) | 104 | 94 |
| Interim paid for the year ended 31 July 2006 of 9.85 pence per share (year ended 31 July 2005: 8.8 pence) | 58 | 5 |
| Total 27.45 pence per share (2005: 24.8 pence) | 162 | 145 |
| Proposed final for the year ended 31 July 2006 of 19.55 pence per share (year ended 31 July 2005: 17.6 pence) | 128 | 104 |
The final dividend will be authorised by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and is not included as a liability in these financial statements. The final dividend is based on an anticipated 657 million shares in issue on 6 October 2006, an increase of 59 million shares on the shares in issue as at 31 July 2006 due to a proposed placing.
