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    REPORT ON DIRECTOR'S REMUNERATION
   

The Report on directors’ remuneration is divided into the following sections:

REMUNERATION POLICY (NOT AUDITED)
  (i)
Constitution and process
  (ii)
Packages and financial year 2005/06 operation
  (iii)
Annual package – financial year 2006/07
  (iv)
Other matters
   
Executive share ownership
   
Pensions
   
Other benefits
   
Service agreements
   
Outside appointments
   
Non-executive directors’ letters of appointment
   
Non-executive directors’ remuneration
   
Directors’ service agreements and contracts of appointment
   
Directors’ interests
   
Performance graph
 
REMUNERATION REVIEW (AUDITED)
   
Directors’ emoluments
   
Former directors
   
Loans
   
Pensions
   
Share options
   
Share awards under long-term incentive schemes
   
Vesting of outstanding share awards and options
   
Deferred Bonus Plan
   
Share awards under the Employee Share Investment Plan (ESIP)
   
Operating Committee
 
REMUNERATION POLICY
This part of the Report on directors’ remuneration is not subject to audit.
(i) Constitution and process
The directors consider that BT has, thoughout the year, complied with the provisions set out in Section 1 of the 2003 Combined Code on Corporate Governance. Shareholders will be invited to approve this report at the company’s 2006 AGM. The Board is ultimately responsible for both the structure and amount of executive remuneration, but it has delegated prime responsibility for executive remuneration to the Remuneration Committee. The Committee is made up wholly of independent non-executive directors. The terms of reference of the Committee are available on the company’s website at www.bt.com/committees. The Committee’s role is to set the remuneration policy and individual remuneration packages for the Chairman and the senior management team, comprising the executive directors, members of the Operating Committee (OC) and other senior executives reporting to the Chief Executive. This includes approving changes to the company’s long-term incentive plans, recommending to the Board those plans which require shareholder approval and overseeing their operation. In this role the Committee also monitors the structure of reward for executives reporting to the senior management team and determines the basis on which awards are granted under the company’s executive share plans. The Committee met four times during the financial year 2005/06. Sir Anthony Greener has chaired the Committee since 18 July 2001. Other members of the Committee who served during the financial years 2004/05 and 2005/06 were:
  Matti Alahuhta (appointed 7 February 2006)
Maarten van den Bergh
Lou Hughes
Margaret Jay
Carl Symon.
    Lou Hughes stepped down from the Committee on 31 March 2006 when he left the Board.
     The Chairman and Chief Executive are invited to attend meetings. They are not present when matters affecting their own remuneration arrangements are considered. No director or executive is involved in any decision relating to his or her remuneration. Non-executive directors who are not members of the Committee are entitled to receive papers and minutes of the Committee. The Committee had access during the year to professional advisers, both from within the company and externally. Towers Perrin (Remuneration consultants) and Kepler Associates (Remuneration consultants), who were appointed by the company; Ben Verwaayen, Chief Executive; Hanif Lalani, Group Finance Director; Alex Wilson, Group HR Director and Larry Stone, Company Secretary, provided advice that materially assisted the Committee in relation to directors’ remuneration in the financial year 2005/06. Remuneration consultants provide a range of data and advisory services covering all aspects of executive pay, bonus arrangements, shares and benefits. The Committee agreed that its Remuneration consultants, Kepler Associates, may advise both the Committee and BT, and should be invited to attend meetings when major remuneration policy issues were discussed. Towers Perrin provides market data.
     BT’s executive remuneration policy is to reward employees competitively, taking into account individual line of business and company performance, market comparisons, and the competitive pressures in the information and communications technology industry as BT focuses on growth through transformation. Base salaries are positioned around the mid-market, with total direct compensation (basic salary, annual bonus – cash and deferred shares – and the expected value of any long-term incentives) to be at the upper quartile only for sustained and excellent performance. There are no plans to change this policy. A significant and increasing proportion of the total executive remuneration package is linked to line of business and/or corporate performance. Remuneration arrangements and performance targets are kept under regular review to achieve this.

(ii) Packages and financial year 2005/06 operation
The remuneration package is made up of some or all of the following:

Basic salary
Salaries are reviewed annually, but increases are made only where the Committee believes that adjustments are appropriate to reflect contribution, increased responsibilities and/or market pressures. No base pay changes were proposed or made for executive directors in 2005/06, save that the Committee agreed an increase in annual base salary effective from 1 August 2005 for Paul Reynolds to reflect his responsibility for delivering the 21st Century Network and a number of key productivity and process improvements.

Performance-related remuneration
Annual bonus
The annual bonus plan is designed to reward the achievement of results against set objectives.
     For the financial year 2005/06, on-target and maximum (requiring truly exceptional performance) bonus levels for executive directors and OC members, as a percentage of salary, were set at 87.5% and 175% respectively, with approximately 43% of any bonus payable in the form of deferred shares.
     The Committee last year increased the deferred share element of the Chief Executive’s annual bonus but not the cash element for the financial year 2005/06 and subsequent financial years, in order to make his total package more retentive and competitive with those of the leaders of the 30 largest companies in the FTSE 100. Both the cash and shares elements are determined by performance against corporate targets. Up to two-thirds of his bonus is paid in deferred shares which vest after three years. This had the effect of increasing his on-target bonus to 255% of salary, of which 85% would be paid in cash as previously and 170% of salary would be paid in deferred shares. His total bonus – cash and deferred shares – is subject to an overall cap of 300% of base salary in any one year.
     Under his contract, the Chairman is not entitled to a bonus.
     Corporate performance targets, set at the beginning of the financial year 2005/06 were weighted such that 40% of the bonus potential was based on earnings per share, 40% on free cash flow and 20% on customer satisfaction. Delivery against these operational targets is a key determinant of success and supports BT’s strategy for transformation and growth. The Committee agreed that in calculating earnings per share for purposes of the annual bonus, volatile items which would be reported under IFRS should be excluded. The impact of market movements in foreign exchange and financial instruments plus the net finance income relating to the group’s pension liabilities were excluded from the target.
     For the three line of business Chief Executives and other relevant executives, the importance of meeting these operational targets was recognised by linking 100% of their potential bonus to BT’s corporate performance. The Committee retains the flexibility to enhance or reduce bonus awards in exceptional circumstances.

Achievement against corporate targets in the financial year 2005/06:
 

Earnings per share –
weighting 40% of target
    Free cash flow –
weighting 40% of target
    Customer satisfaction – weighting 20% of target     Total % of target  

 
80
    80     0     160  

 
(Note – threshold reflects 50% of target; target is 100%; and stretch is 200%)
 
The deferred share element of the annual bonus is paid under the Deferred Bonus Plan (DBP). The shares vest and are transferred to the executive after three years if still employed by the company. There are no additional performance measures for the vesting of deferred share awards. The Committee considers that deferring a part of the annual bonus in this way also acts as a retention measure and contributes to aligning management with long-term shareholder interests.
     The deferred awards for Ben Verwaayen, Andy Green, Hanif Lalani, Ian Livingston and Paul Reynolds at the end of the financial year 2005/06 are contained in the Deferred bonus plan awards table. The initial values of the awards to be granted in respect of the financial year 2005/06 are given in the Directors' emoluments table.
     As a retention measure and given competitive market conditions, the Committee decided last year to introduce an additional special bonus arrangement for Andy Green, Chief Executive BT Global Services, linked to performance targets for that line of business. This bonus arrangement, payable in retention shares (see Retention shares) which will vest three years after grant, was applied to performance for the financial year 2005/06, and will be applied for 2006/07 and 2007/08. Awards will be linked to a sliding scale of BT Global Services’ performance, weighted equally around revenue growth, EBIT and cash generation. The target award is equivalent to 100% of salary, with a maximum of 150% of salary. The first award of retention shares with a value of £750,000 will be granted in June 2006 and will vest in June 2009 subject to continued employment.

Long-term incentives
The BT Equity Incentive Portfolio (the Portfolio) is designed to ensure that equity participation is an important part of overall remuneration. It comprises three elements: share options, incentive shares and retention shares. Incentive shares were used for equity participation in the financial year 2005/06. Retention shares are used only as a recruitment or retention tool. No options were granted in the financial year 2005/06.
     Under his service agreement, the Chairman is not entitled to receive annual grants of incentive awards or options.
     Normally, awards vest and options become exercisable only if a predetermined performance target has been achieved. The performance measure for outstanding awards and options is TSR (total shareholder return) compared with a relevant basket of companies. TSR for these purposes was calculated by New Bridge Street Consultants. TSR links the reward given to directors with the performance of BT against the shares of other major companies. For grants in the financial years 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04, the comparator group was the FTSE 100 at 1 April in each year. For grants in the financial year 2004/05 and in 2005/06, TSR was measured against a group of companies from the European Telecom Sector.

At 1 April 2005, the group contained the following companies:

BT Group
Belgacom
Cable & Wireless
Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications
Deutsche Telekom
France Telecom
Hellenic Telecommunications
O2
Portugal Telecom
KPN
    Swisscom
TDC
Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia Mobile
Telefonica
Telekom Austria
Telenor
TeliaSonera
Vodafone Group
 

The base price at the beginning of the performance period is calculated by averaging the share price of BT and other companies in the comparator group over the six months to 31 March prior to the grant of the award. However, for the awards granted in the financial year 2002/03, the period was from 19 November 2001 (the date of the O2 demerger) to 31 March 2002. The end price is the average of the share price over the six months to the end of the performance period, adjusted for all capital actions and dividend payments that occur during the performance period.

Incentive shares
For the financial year 2005/06, the Committee decided to grant incentive shares and to increase the annual bonus potential, payable in deferred shares, instead of the combination of share options and incentive shares granted in 2004/05. Incentive shares with a maximum value of 100% of salary were granted. The Committee determined, with advice from Towers Perrin, that the change of emphasis would increase the proportion of variable reward linked to annual performance targets. Incentive share awards remain a significant part of the package and, together with deferred shares, these modifications further aligned management with long-term shareholder interests.
     Awards of incentive shares vest after a performance period of three years, if the participant is still employed by BT and a performance measure has been met. For awards of incentive shares in the financial years 2004/05 and 2005/06, TSR at the end of the three year period must be in the upper quartile relative to the comparator group for all of the shares to vest. At median, 25% of the shares under award will vest. Below that point, none of the shares under award will vest. The proportion of shares that vests reduces on a straight-line basis between those points. There will be no re-testing, and no matching shares are being offered to any executive on vesting of the incentive shares.
     The details of incentive share awards held by Ben Verwaayen, Andy Green, Hanif Lalani, Ian Livingston and Paul Reynolds at the end of the financial year 2005/06 are contained in the share awards table.
 
Share options
No share options were granted in 2005/06.
     The price at which shares may be acquired under the Global Share Option Plan (GSOP) is the market price at the date of grant. Other than for new recruits, the size of option grant is based on corporate and individual performance. Options are exercisable after three years, subject to a performance target being met. The Committee would not normally expect the initial value of annual grants of options, based on the market price of a BT share, to exceed three times base salary. In the financial year 2004/05, the maximum option grant for executive directors and OC members was reduced to 1.5 times base salary (see Incentive shares above).
     For options granted subject to a TSR measure, BT’s TSR at the end of the three-year period must be in the upper quartile for all of the options to be exercisable. At median, 30% of the options will be exercisable. Below that point, none of the options may be exercised. The proportion of options that are exercisable reduces on a straight-line basis between those points. For options granted in the financial year 2002/03, if the performance measure is not met in full at the first measurement, it may be re-tested against a fixed base in years four and five, and for options granted in the financial year 2003/04, it may be re-tested in year five. If TSR has not reached the median at the end of the fifth year, previously unexercisable options will lapse. For options granted in the financial year 2002/03, TSR had reached 74th position at the first measurement relative to the FTSE 100, it had reached 73rd position on the second measurement and performance will be re-tested in the financial year 2006/07. For options granted in the financial year 2003/04, TSR had reached 85th position at the first measurement relative to the FTSE 100 and performance will be re-tested in the financial year 2007/08. If the performance measure is not met, the options will lapse.
     For options granted in the financial year 2004/05 there were no re-testing provisions, and the policy of the Committee is for there to be no re-testing for future equity awards.
     The option granted to Sir Christopher Bland on 22 June 2001 as part of his recruitment package is not subject to a performance measure as it matched a personal investment in BT shares of £1 million.
     The details of the options held by Sir Christopher Bland, Ben Verwaayen, Andy Green, Hanif Lalani, Ian Livingston and Paul Reynolds at the end of the financial year 2005/06 are contained in the share options table.

Retention shares
Retention shares are granted under the Retention Share Plan (RSP) to individuals with critical skills, as a recruitment or retention tool. As a result, shares currently under award are not generally linked to a corporate performance target. The length of the retention period before awards vest is flexible although this would normally be three years unless the Committee agreed otherwise. The shares are transferred at the end of the specified period if the individual is still employed by BT.
     Retention shares are used only in exceptional circumstances and, in the financial year 2005/06, 14 awards were made of which eight awards were made for recruitment purposes.
     In May 2005, an award of retention shares with an initial market value of £1 million was granted to Ian Livingston, to help secure his appointment and long-term retention as Chief Executive, BT Retail. This award will vest in two tranches in November 2006 and November 2007.
     Andy Green will be granted an award of retention shares in respect of BT Global Services’ financial performance in 2005/06 under a special bonus arrangement (see Annual bonus).
     The awards under the RSP held by Sir Christopher Bland and Ian Livingston at the end of the financial year 2005/06, or which vested during the year, are contained in the Vesting of outstanding share awards table.

Other share plans
The executive directors and the Chairman may participate in BT’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) approved all-employee share plans, the Employee Sharesave Scheme and Employee Share Investment Plan, on the same basis as other employees. There are further details of these plans in note 31 to the accounts.

(iii) Annual package – financial year 2006/07
The Remuneration Committee has determined that there will not be any general increase in base pay for executive directors in the financial year 2006/07. However, Ben Verwaayen’s base pay, which has not increased since he joined the company in 2002, will be increased to £750,000 per annum from 1 June 2006. Hanif Lalani’s base pay will be increased to £460,000 per annum from 1 June 2006, following his successful assumption of, and continuing performance in, the Group Finance Director’s role.

Long term reward
In the financial year 2006/07, incentive shares will again be granted for equity participation on the same terms as incentive shares in 2005/06. TSR will continue to be measured against a comparator group of companies from the European Telecom Sector.

Annual bonus plan
The bonus structure remains unchanged. However, in line with the Committee’s policy progressively to make a greater part of the remuneration packages variable, on-target and maximum (requiring exceptional performance) bonus levels for executive directors as a percentage of salary will be 105% and 192.5% respectively, with approximately 43% of any bonus payable in deferred shares. The bonus arrangements for the Chief Executive remain unchanged.
     The annual bonus plan will continue to focus on annual objectives and to reward the achievement of results against those objectives. Performance will again be against earnings per share, free cash flow and customer satisfaction measures and the weighting of those objectives will be the same as in 2005/06. As in the financial year 2005/06, for purposes of calculating earnings per share for the scorecard, volatile items reported under IFRS have been excluded from the target.
     Group performance targets for the financial year 2006/07 are believed by the Committee to be more challenging than the outturn of the financial year 2005/06.

Proportion of fixed and variable remuneration
The targeted composition of each executive director’s performance-related remuneration, excluding pension, for the financial year 2006/07, comprising annual and long-term incentives, will be:

      Fixed
Base Pay
    Variable     Total  

B. Verwaayen
    25%     75%     100%  
A. Green
    40%     60%     100%  
H. Lalani
    40%     60%     100%  
I. Livingston
    40%     60%     100%  
Dr. P. Reynolds
    40%     60%     100%  


Total remuneration comprises base salary, annual bonus – cash and deferred shares – and the expected value of awards under BT’s long-term incentive plans, excluding retention shares.

Openreach
In the Undertakings given to Ofcom on 22 September 2005, BT agreed that the incentive elements of the remuneration of executives within Openreach should be linked to Openreach performance rather than BT targets or share price. These incentives cannot be provided by way of BT shares.
     New arrangements have been agreed by the Committee and put in place which will give Openreach executives an opportunity to receive bonuses and long-term incentive awards of equivalent value to the bonuses and long-term incentives awarded to other BT executives. Long-term incentives will, however, be paid in cash instead of BT shares.
     For the financial year 2006/07, the annual bonus will continue to be linked to an annual scorecard but the scorecard targets will be those of Openreach alone.
     As required by the Undertakings a cash arrangement is also in place to enable Openreach executives to exchange, if they wish, in June 2006 their options and awards over BT shares for cash awards.
     Openreach executives will continue to participate in the BT HMRC-approved all-employee share plans on the same terms as other BT employees. In addition, there would be no changes to the pension arrangements of these executives.
     None of the executive directors will participate in the Openreach incentive plans.

(iv) Other matters
Executive share ownership
A mandatory shareholding programme was introduced for the financial year 2005/06 onwards. This is to encourage executive directors and certain other executives to build up a shareholding in the company over time by retaining shares received either as a result of participating in a BT employee share plan (other than the shares sold to pay a National Insurance or income tax liability) or from on-market purchases. The Chief Executive is required to build up a shareholding of 2 x salary and the remaining executive directors 1.5 x salary. Given that a large part of an executive’s remuneration is already variable, the requirement excludes the need to make a further personal investment to build up the shareholding should share plan awards not vest. Current shareholdings are set out on in the Directors' interests table. Progress towards meeting these targets has been made during the financial year 2005/06.

Pensions
Those directors and other employees, who joined the company prior to 1 April 2001, are members of the BT Pension Scheme, which is a defined benefit scheme. The benefits for the three executive directors who are members of the scheme are set out in the increase in the Accrued benefits table.
     The Committee reviewed the impact of the Lifetime Allowance under the pension simplification legislation which came into force from 6 April 2006. As a result, BT offered those members affected the option to opt out of future accruals of pensionable service and in its place to receive a cash allowance annually. This was broadly cash neutral for the company.
     BT closed the BT Pension Scheme to new members from 1 April 2001. From this date provision is generally made on a defined contribution basis. The company agrees to pay a fixed percentage of the executive’s salary each year which can be put towards the provision of retirement benefits. Additionally, a lump sum equal to four times salary is payable on death in service. The benefits for the three executive directors who are covered by this are set out in the Accrued benefits table.
     Pension provision for all executives is based on salary alone – bonuses, other elements of pay and long-term incentives are excluded.

Other benefits
Other benefits for the Chairman and the senior management team include some or all of the following: company car, fuel or driver, personal telecommunications facilities and home security, medical and dental cover for the director and immediate family, special life cover, professional subscriptions and personal tax planning and financial counselling. The company has a permanent health insurance policy to provide cover for the Chairman and certain executive directors who may become permanently incapacitated.

Service agreements
It is the policy for the Chairman and executive directors to have service agreements providing for one year’s notice. It may be necessary on recruitment to offer longer initial periods to new directors from outside BT, or circumstances may make it appropriate to offer a longer fixed term. All of the service agreements contain provisions dealing with the removal of a director through poor performance, including in the event of early termination of the contract by BT. Sir Christopher Bland’s contract expires at the conclusion of the AGM in 2007. On termination of his contract by BT before that date, he is entitled to payment of salary and the value of benefits for the period of 12 months from date of termination, or until the conclusion of the company’s AGM in 2007 if that period is shorter. Ben Verwaayen’s contract entitles him on termination of his contract by BT to payment of £700,000. The contracts of Andy Green, Hanif Lalani, Ian Livingston and Paul Reynolds entitle them on termination of their contract by BT to payment of salary and the value of benefits until the earlier of 12 months from notice of termination or the director obtaining full-time employment. If the contract of an executive director (other than that of the Chairman and Hanif Lalani) is terminated by BT within one year of BT entering into a scheme of arrangement or becoming a subsidiary of another company, he will be entitled to receive the higher of that current year’s on-target bonus or the previous year’s bonus, the market value of shares awarded under an employee share ownership plan or deferred bonus plan that have not vested, together with a year’s salary and the value of any benefits.
     The Committee has reviewed contracts taking into account the joint statement of best practice on executive contracts and severance by the Association of British Insurers and the National Association of Pension Funds, and other relevant guidelines, and believes that contract terms are generally in line with best practice. The clause described above dealing with termination following BT entering into a scheme of arrangement or becoming a subsidiary of another company will be excluded from contracts for new appointments, as was the case for Hanif Lalani.

Outside appointments
The Committee believes that there are significant benefits, to both the company and the individual, from executive directors accepting non-executive directorships of companies outside BT. The Committee will consider up to two external appointments (of which only one may be to the Board of a major company), for which a director may retain the fees. Ben Verwaayen as a non-executive director of United Parcel Service (UPS), receives an annual fee of US$75,000. On joining UPS’s Board on 17 March 2005, he received 336 shares of restricted UPS common stock amounting to US$25,000 and a further grant of 1,180 shares of restricted stock on 9 May 2005, amounting to US$85,043. Ian Livingston receives an annual fee of £38,000 as a non-executive director of Ladbrokes plc (formerly Hilton Group plc). Paul Reynolds, as a non-executive director of E-Access in Japan, receives an annual fee of ¥3,204,000 (approximately £15,600). He was granted an option over 250 shares at ¥76,565 (approximately £367) per share on 1 July 2005. Andy Green was appointed a non-executive director of NAVTEQ in the US on 16 March 2006. He is entitled to receive an annual fee of US$40,000, stock options to the value of US$60,000 and restricted stock units to the value of US$30,000.

Non-executive directors’ letters of appointment
Non-executive directors have letters of appointment. They are appointed for an initial period of three years. During that period, either party can give the other at least three months’ notice. At the end of the period the appointment may be continued by mutual agreement. Further details of appointment arrangements for non-executive directors are set out in the Report of the directors. The letters of appointment of non-executive directors are terminable on notice by the company without compensation.

Non-executive directors’ remuneration
Eight of the directors on the Board are non-executive directors who, in accordance with BT’s articles of association, cannot individually vote on their own remuneration. Non-executive remuneration is reviewed by the Chairman and the Chief Executive and discussed and agreed by the Board. Non-executive directors may attend the Board discussion but may not participate in it.
     The fees paid to non-executive directors were increased with effect from 1 January 2004 to reflect their increasing responsibilities and time commitments.
     The basic fee for non-executive directors is £40,000 per year. An additional fee for membership of a Board committee is £5,000 per year and a further £5,000 for chairing a committee. Sir Anthony Greener, Deputy Chairman and senior non-executive director, who also chairs both the Remuneration Committee and the Audit Committee, receives total fees of £115,000 per year. In recognition of the greater commitment required, during the year it was agreed that Maarten van den Bergh and John Nelson should receive an annual fee of £5,000 as members of the Pension Scheme Performance Review Group and Maarten van den Bergh should receive an additional £5,000 per annum as chairman of the Group. Carl Symon receives an annual fee of £50,000 as chairman of the Equality of Access Board (a Board committee), which was established on 1 November 2005.
     To align further the interests of the non-executive directors with those of shareholders, the company’s policy is to encourage these directors to purchase, on a voluntary basis, £5,000 of BT shares each year. The directors are asked to hold these shares until they retire from the Board. This policy is not mandatory.
     No element of non-executive remuneration is performance-related. Non-executive directors do not participate in BT’s bonus or employee share plans and are not members of any of the company pension schemes.
 

Directors’ service agreements and contracts of appointment
The dates on which directors’ initial service agreements/letters of appointment commenced and the current expiry dates are as follows:


Chairman and executive directors
    Commencement date     Expiry date of current service agreement or letter of appointment
Sir Christopher Bland
    1 May 2001     Sir Christopher Bland entered into a new service agreement on 29 August 2003 which terminates at the conclusion of the 2007 AGM, terminable on 12 months’ notice by either the company or the director before that date.
     
           
B Verwaayen
A Green
H Lalani
I Livingston
Dr P Reynolds
    14 January 2002
19 November 2001
7 February 2005
8 April 2002
19 November 2001
closing bracket   The contract is terminable by the company on 12 months’ notice and by the director on six months’ notice.
     
           
Non-executive directors
           
Sir Anthony Greener
M van den Bergh
C Brendish
Baroness Jay
J Nelson
C G Symon
    1 October 2000
1 September 2000
1 September 2002
14 January 2002
14 January 2002
14 January 2002
 closing bracket   Letters of appointment were for an initial period of three years. Appointments were extended for a further three years and are terminable by the company or the director on three months’ notice.
             
L R Hughes
    1 January 2000     Letter of appointment was for an initial period of three years. The appointment was extended for a further three years and three months. Terminated 31 March 2006.
           
M Alahuhta
P Hodkinson
    1 February 2006
1 February 2006  
closing bracket   Letters of appointment are for an initial period of three years and are terminable by the company or the director on three months’ notice. The appointment is renewable by mutual agreement.


There are no other service agreements or material contracts, existing or proposed, between the company and the directors. There are no arrangements or understandings between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which any director or executive officer was selected to serve. There are no family relationships between the directors.

Directors’ interests
The interests of directors holding office at the end of the year and their families in the company’s shares at 31 March 2006 and 1 April 2005, or date of appointment if later, are shown below:
 

    No. of shares  
   
 
Beneficial holdings
    2006     2005  

 
Sir Christopher Blandc
    674,257 b   674,183 b
B Verwaayenc
    951,497     902,001  
A Greenc
    152,645 b   120,002 b
H Lalanic
    14,360 ab   5,733 b
I Livingstonc
    313,110 ab   313,054 b
Dr P Reynoldsc
    98,050 ab   67,768 b
Sir Anthony Greener
    60,007     60,007  
M Alahuhta
    20,000     d
M van den Bergh
    12,040     7,540  
C Brendish
    30,920     23,920  
P Hodkinson
    4,622     d
L R Hughes
    6,800     6,800  
Baroness Jay
    8,214 e   5,572  
J Nelson
    50,000     50,000  
C G Symon
    15,069     10,069  

 
Total
    2,411,591     2,246,649  

 
a
During the period from 1 April 2006 to 15 May 2006, Paul Reynolds and Hanif Lalani each purchased 692 shares and Ian Livingston purchased 1,394 shares under the BT Group Employee Share Investment Plan.
b
Includes free shares awarded under the Employee Share Investment Plan.
c
At 31 March 2006, Sir Christopher Bland and each of the executive directors, as potential beneficiaries, had a non-beneficial interest in 24,809,976 shares (2005 – 27,733,138) held in trust by Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited for allocation to employees under the employee share schemes. They each also had a non-beneficial interest in 50,342 shares (2005 – 139,029) held in trust by Halifax Corporate Trustees Limited for participants in the Employee Share Investment Plan.
d
Matti Alahuhta and Phil Hodkinson joined the Board on 1 February 2006.
e
On 2 May 2006, Baroness Jay inherited 261 shares.

The directors, as a group, beneficially own less than 1% of the company’s ordinary shares.

 
Performance graph
This graph illustrates, as required by the Companies Act 1985, the performance of BT Group plc measured by TSR (adjusted for the rights issue and the demerger of BT’s mobile business in the financial year 2001/02) relative to a broad equity market index over the past five years. We consider the FTSE 100 to be the most appropriate index against which to measure performance for these purposes, as BT has been a constituent of the FTSE 100 throughout the five-year period and the index is widely used. TSR is the measure of the returns that a company has provided for its shareholders, reflecting share price movements and assuming reinvestment of dividends.

Total shareholder return

 

REMUNERATION REVIEW
This part of the Report on directors’ remuneration is subject to audit.

Directors’ emoluments
Directors’ emoluments for the financial year 2005/06 were as follows:

  Basic
salary and
fees
    Pension
allowance net
of pension
contributions
a
  Total salary and fees     Annual cash bonus     Expenses allowance     Other
benefits
excluding
pension
    Total 2006     Total 2005   Deferred Bonus Plan e
                                2006     2005  

 
  £000     £000     £000     £000     £000     £000     £000     £000     £000     £000  

 
Sir Christopher Blandc
500         500             32     532     532          
B Verwaayenbc
700     178     878     784         32     1,694     1,512     1,316     224  
A Greenc
500         500     400         30     930     684     300     102  
H Lalanicd
400         400     320         39     759     207     240     68  
I Livingstonbc
525     136     661     420     19     10     1,110     816     315     99  
Dr P Reynoldsbcf
433         433     360     19     22     834     653     270     107  
Sir Anthony Greener
115         115                 115     115          
M Alahuhta
8         8                 8              
M van den Bergh
59         59                 59     55          
C Brendish
50         50                 50     50          
P Hodkinson
8         8                 8              
L R Hughes
38         38                 38     21          
Baroness Jay
50         50                 50     50          
J Nelson
52         52                 52     50          
C G Symon
87         87                 87     50          

 
  3,525     314     3,839     2,284     38     165     6,326     4,795              

 
a
Balance or part of the pension allowance for the financial year 2005/06 – see ‘Pensions’ below. Retirement benefits are accruing to three directors under defined contribution arrangements and to three directors and one former director under defined benefit arrangements.
b
Expenses allowance in the above table includes a monthly cash allowance in lieu of a company car equivalent to £18,500 received by Ian Livingston and Paul Reynolds.
Ben Verwaayen was entitled to an annual housing allowance of £250,000 until 13 January 2005. In the financial year 2004/05, £196,000 was paid in respect of that year.
c
Other benefits includes some or all of the following: company car, fuel or driver, personal telecommunications facilities and home security, medical and dental cover for the director and immediate family, special life cover, professional subscriptions and personal tax planning and financial counselling. In addition, Paul Reynolds had an interest free loan – see ‘Loans’ below.
d
Hanif Lalani joined the Board on 7 February 2005.
e
Deferred annual bonuses payable in shares in three years’ time, subject to continued employment.
f
Paul Reynolds sacrificed £225,000 of his total bonus of £360,000 and the company paid an equivalent amount into the BT Pension Scheme to provide him with additional benefits on a defined contribution basis.

The annual salaries of the Chairman, Ben Verwaayen, Andy Green, Ian Livingston and Hanif Lalani remained unchanged during the financial year 2005/06. On 1 August 2005, the annual salary of Paul Reynolds was increased from £400,000 to £450,000. Following this year’s salary review, the Committee decided that there should be no general increase from 1 June 2006 in basic salaries, save that Ben Verwaayen’s annual salary will be increased from £700,000 to £750,000 and Hanif Lalani’s annual salary will be increased from £400,000 to £460,000, both on 1 June 2006.
     A special retention arrangement was established for Hanif Lalani on 1 July 2004, when he was CFO, BT Wholesale, under which he will receive a lump sum cash payment of £150,000 on 30 June 2006, provided he is still an employee of the company on that date. The award will be forfeited without compensation if Mr Lalani resigns or his employment is terminated by the company with cause before that date.
     Annual cash bonus awards in respect of the financial year 2005/06, which are not pensionable, to executive directors ranged from 80% to 112% of current salary (2005 – 38% to 64%).

Former directors
Sir Peter Bonfield received, under pre-existing arrangements, a pension of £352,153 payable in the financial year 2005/06 (2004/05 – £340,000).

Loans
Prior to the date of his appointment to the Board on 19 November 2001, Paul Reynolds had an interest-free loan of £300,000 from the company to assist with relocation. At 31 March 2006, he owed £200,000 (2005 – £230,000). During the financial year 2005/06, the maximum amount outstanding was £230,000. There are no outstanding loans granted by any member of the BT group to any other of the directors or guarantees provided by any member of the BT group for their benefit. The outstanding amount of a loan of £209,374 granted to a former director, Pierre Danon, was repaid during the year.

Pensions
Sir Christopher Bland is not a member of any of the company pension schemes, but the company matches his contributions, up to 10% of the earnings cap, to a personal pension plan. Company contributions of £10,560 were payable in respect of the financial year 2005/06. The earnings cap is a restriction on the amount of pay which can be used to calculate contributions and benefits due to a tax approved pension scheme.
     Ben Verwaayen is not a member of any of the company pension schemes, but the company has agreed to pay an annual amount equal to 30% of his salary towards pension provision. The company paid £31,680 into his personal pension plan, the maximum permitted by HMRC, plus a cash payment of £178,320 representing the balance of the pension allowance for the financial year 2005/06. BT also provides him with a lump sum death in service benefit of four times his salary.
     Ian Livingston is not a member of any of the company pension schemes, but the company has agreed to pay an annual amount equal to 30% of his salary towards pension provision. The company paid £21,120 into his personal pension plan, the maximum permitted by HMRC, plus a cash payment of £136,380 representing the balance of the pension allowance for the financial year 2005/06. BT also provides him with a lump sum death in service benefit of four times his salary.
     Andy Green is a member of the BT Pension Scheme. From 31 December 1997 the company has been purchasing an additional 203 days of pensionable service each year to bring his pensionable service at age 60 up to 40 years. A two-thirds widow’s pension would be payable on his death.
     Hanif Lalani is a member of the BT Pension Scheme. From 7 February 2005, the company has been purchasing an additional 27 days of pensionable service each year to bring his pensionable service at age 60 up to 40 years. A two-thirds widow’s pension would be payable on his death. He chose to opt out of future accrual of pensionable service from 1 April 2006 and, in its place, to receive a cash allowance of 30% of salary.
     Paul Reynolds is a member of the BT Pension Scheme. From 1 July 1996 the company has been purchasing an additional 109 days of pensionable service each year to bring his pensionable service at age 60 up to 40 years. A two-thirds widow’s pension would be payable on his death. He chose to opt out of future accrual of pensionable service from 1 April 2006 and, in its place, to receive a cash allowance of 30% of salary.

The table below shows the increase in the accrued benefits, including those referred to above, to which each director, who is a member of the BT Pension Scheme, has become entitled during the year and the transfer value of the increase in accrued benefits:

 

    Accrued pension

  Transfer value of accrued benefits

    Change in transfer value c-d less directors’ contributions

    Additional accrued benefits earned in the year

    Transfer value of increase in accrued benefits less directors’ contributions

 
      2006     2005     2006     2005     2006     2006     2006  
      £000 a   £000 b   £000 c   £000 d   £000     £000 e   £000 f

 
A Green
    157     131     2,448     1,848     570     23     331  
H Lalanih
    112     73     1,144     668     452     38     362  
Dr. P Reynolds
    140     123     1,995     1,578     391     14     178  

 

a-d
As required by the Companies Act 1985 Schedule 7A.
a-b
These amounts represent the deferred pension to which the directors would have been entitled had they left the company on 31 March 2006 and 2005, respectively.
c
Transfer value of the deferred pension in column (a) as at 31 March 2006 calculated on the basis of actuarial advice in accordance with Actuarial Guidance Note GN11. The transfer value represents a liability of the BT Pension Scheme rather than any remuneration due to the individual and cannot be meaningfully aggregated with annual remuneration, as it is not money the individual is entitled to receive.
d
The equivalent transfer value but calculated as at 31 March 2005 on the assumption that the director left service at that date.
e
The increase in pension built up during the year, net of inflation. The gross amount can be calculated by deducting the amount under column (b) from the amount under column (a).
f
The transfer value of the pension in column (e), less directors’ contributions.
g
Directors’ contributions in the financial year 2005/06 were as follows: Andy Green, £30,000.
(2005 – £26,625); Hanif Lalani £24,000 (2005 – £16,300) and Paul Reynolds, £26,000 (2005 – £24,000).
h
Hanif Lalani joined the Board on 7 February 2005.



Share options held at 31 March 2006

    Number of shares under option

                   
      1 April 2005     Granted     Lapsed     31 March 2006     Option price per share     Usual date from which exercisable     Usual expiry date  

 
Sir Christopher Bland
    314,244 a           314,244     318p     01/05/2004     01/05/2011  

 
B Verwaayen
    1,121,121 b           1,121,121     250p     01/04/2005     11/02/2012  
      935,830 c           935,830     187p     29/07/2005     29/07/2012  
      1,052,632 d           1,052,632     199.5p     24/06/2006     24/06/2013  
      546,875 e           546,875     192p     24/06/2007     24/06/2014  

 
      3,656,458             3,656,458                    

 
A Green
    568,190 c           568,190     187p     29/07/2005     29/07/2012  
      639,098 d           639,098     199.5p     24/06/2006     24/06/2013  
      332,032 e           332,032     192p     24/06/2007     24/06/2014  
      5,712 f           5,712     165p     14/08/2007     13/02/2008  

 
      1,545,032             1,545,032                    

 
H Lalani
    177,810 c           177,810     187p     29/07/2005     29/07/2012  
      210,527 d           210,527     199.5p     24/06/2006     24/06/2013  
      156,250 e           156,250     192p     24/06/2007     24/06/2014  
      5,346 g           5,346     173p     14/08/2006     13/02/2007  
      105,264 h           105,264     199.5p     24/06/2004     24/06/2013  

 
      655,197             655,197                    

 
I Livingston
    601,610 c           601,610     187p     29/07/2005     29/07/2012  
      676,692 d           676,692     199.5p     24/06/2006     24/06/2013  
      351,563 e           351,563     192p     24/06/2007     24/06/2014  
      7,290 i           7,290     227p     14/08/2007     13/02/2008  

 
      1,637,155             1,637,155                    

 
Dr P Reynolds
    534,760 c           534,760     187p     29/07/2005     29/07/2012  
      601,504 d           601,504     199.5p     24/06/2006     24/06/2013  
      312,500 e           312,500     192p     24/06/2007     24/06/2014  
      4,555 j           4,555     218p     14/02/2007     13/08/2007  

 
      1,453,319             1,453,319                    

 
Total
    9,261,405             9,261,405                    

 
 
All of the above options were granted for nil consideration. No options were exercised during the year.
a
Options granted under the GSOP on 22 June 2001. The option is not subject to a performance measure. It was a term of Sir Christopher Bland’s initial service contract that (i) he purchased BT shares to the value of at least £1 million; and (ii) as soon as practicable after the purchase of the shares (‘invested shares’), the company would grant a share option over shares to the value of at least £1 million. Sir Christopher Bland was the legal and beneficial owner of the invested shares on 1 May 2004, so the option became exercisable on that date.
b
Option granted under the GSOP on 11 February 2002. The exercise of the option is subject to a performance measure being met. The performance measure is relative TSR compared with the FTSE 100 as at 1 April 2002. BT’s TSR must be in the upper quartile for all of the option to become exercisable. At median, 40% of the option will be exercisable. Below that point, none of the option may be exercised. On 31 March 2005, BT’s TSR was at 74th position against the FTSE 100 and on 31 March 2006, BT’s TSR was at 73rd position against the FTSE 100. As a result, the option did not become exercisable. The TSR will be re-tested against a fixed base on 31 March 2007.
c
Options granted under the GSOP on 29 July 2002. The exercise of options is subject to a performance measure being met. The performance measure is relative TSR compared with the FTSE 100 as at 1 April 2002. BT’s TSR must be in the upper quartile for all of the options to become exercisable. At median, 30% of the options will be exercisable. Below that point, none of the options may be exercised. On 31 March 2005, BT’s TSR was at 74th position against the FTSE 100 and on 31 March 2006, BT’s TSR was at 73rd position against the FTSE 100. As a result, the options did not become exercisable. The TSR will be re-tested against a fixed base on 31 March 2007.
d
Options granted under the GSOP on 24 June 2003. The exercise of options is subject to a performance measure being met. The performance measure is relative TSR compared with the FTSE 100 as at 1 April 2003. BT’s TSR must be in the upper quartile for all of the options to become exercisable. At median, 30% of the options will be exercisable. Below that point, none of the options may be exercised. On 31 March 2006, BT’s TSR was at 85th position against the FTSE 100. As a result, the options did not become exercisable. The TSR will be re-tested against a fixed base on 31 March 2008.
e
Options granted under the GSOP on 24 June 2004. The exercise of options is subject to a performance measure being met. The performance measure is relative TSR compared with a group of companies from the European Telecom Sector as at 1 April 2004. BT’s TSR must be in the upper quartile for all the options to become exercisable. At median 30% of the options will be exercisable. Below that point none of the options may be exercised.
f
Option granted on 25 June 2004 under the Employee Sharesave Scheme, in which all employees of the company are eligible to participate.
g
Option granted on 27 June 2003 under the Employee Sharesave Scheme, in which all employees of the company are eligible to participate.
h
Option granted under the GSOP (Special Incentive Award) on 24 June 2003, prior to Mr Lalani’s appointment as a director. This option is not subject to a performance measure as the grant was linked to personal performance.
i
Option granted on 25 June 2002 under the Employee Sharesave Scheme, in which all employees of the company are eligible to participate.
j
Option granted on 21 December 2001 under the Employee Sharesave Scheme, in which all employees of the company are eligible to participate.

The market price of a share at 31 March 2006 was 222p (2005 – 205.5p) and the range during the financial year 2005/06 was 196.5p – 235p.

     From 31 March 2006, two thirds of Hanif Lalani’s option granted on 24 June 2003 was exercisable giving an unrealised gain as at that date of £15,790. There were no further unrealised gains on the above share options at 31 March 2006 (2005 – £2,105), based on the market price of the shares on 31 March 2006.

Share awards under long-term incentive plans held at 31 March 2006
Details of the company’s ordinary shares provisionally awarded to directors, as participants under the ISP and RSP are as follows:

      1 April 2005     Awarded a   Dividends
re-invested
    Vested e   Lapsed     Total number of award shares 31 March 2006    


Expected vesting date

    Price on grant     Market price at vesting     Monetary value of vested
award
£000

Sir Christopher Bland
                                                           
RSP 2003
    299,753         15,032             314,785     2007
f
  182p            

B Verwaayen
                                                           
ISP 2004
    252,798         12,677             265,475     31/03/07     193.42p            
ISP 2005
        307,354     15,413             322,767     31/03/08     227.75p            

A Green
                                                           
ISP 2004
    153,484         7,696             161,180     31/03/07     193.42p            
ISP 2005
        219,538     11,008             230,546     31/03/08     227.75p            

H Lalani
                                                           
ISP 2004
    72,224         3,621             75,845     31/03/07     193.42p            
ISP 2005
        175,631     8,807             184,438     31/03/08     227.75p            

I Livingston
                                                           
ISP 2004
    162,512         8,149             170,661     31/03/07     193.42p            
ISP 2005
        230,515     11,559             242,074     31/03/08     227.75p            
RSP 2002b
    183,698             183,698             20/05/05     273.5p     212.25p     390
RSP 2002c
    123,307             123,307             20/05/05     202.0p     212.25p     262
RSP 2005d
        511,169     25,634             536,803     09/11/07     213.25p            

Dr P Reynolds
                                                           
ISP 2004
    144,456         7,244             151,700     31/03/07     193.42p            
ISP 2005
        175,631     8,807             184,438     31/03/08     227.75p            

 
The number of shares subject to awards granted during the financial year 2005/06 was calculated using the average middle market price of a BT share for the three days prior to the grant.
a
Awards under the ISP were granted on 3 August 2005. The awards will vest, subject to meeting a performance target, on 31 March 2008. The performance target is relative TSR compared with a group of companies from the European Telecom Sector. BT’s TSR must be in the upper quartile for all of the awards to vest. At median, 25% of the shares will vest. Below that point, none of the shares will vest.
b
In accordance with his service agreement, an award of 493,601 shares with an initial value of £1,350,000 was granted on 30 May 2002 to Ian Livingston under the RSP. This award vested in three equal tranches on the first three anniversaries of his joining BT.
c
Ian Livingston purchased BT shares with a value of £300,000 on 20 May 2002 and was granted an award on that date under the RSP with a value of £300,000, which vested on the third anniversary of the date of purchase of his purchased shares.
d
Ian Livingston was granted an award under the RSP on 31 May 2005. The award will vest in two tranches, 50% on 10 November 2006 and 50% on 9 November 2007.
e
Vesting of RSP awards is not subject to a performance target being met.
f
The award under the RSP granted to Sir Christopher Bland on 1 September 2003 will vest, subject to continued employment, at the conclusion of the 2007 AGM.

Vesting of outstanding share awards and options
Details of options granted under the GSOP in the financial years 2002/03 and 2003/04, which would vest based on BT Group’s TSR compared with the other companies in the FTSE 100 for the relevant performance periods up to 31 March 2006, and details of options granted under the GSOP in the financial year 2004/05 and awards of shares under the ISP in the financial years 2004/05 and 2005/06, which would vest based on BT Group’s TSR compared with a group of companies from the European Telecom Sector for the relevant performance periods up to 31 March 2006, are as follows:

          31 March 2006

  31 March 2005

 
      Expected vesting date     TSR position     Percentage of shares vesting     TSR position     Percentage of shares vesting  

 
GSOP 2002a
    29/07/05     73         74      
GSOP 2003
    24/06/06     85         84      
GSOP 2004
    24/06/07     9     44%     11      
ISP 2004
    31/03/07     9     40%     11      
ISP 2005
    31/03/08     8     55%          

 
a
The options are not exercisable because the performance target has not been met, see note c to the Share options table.



Deferred Bonus Plan awards at 31 March 2006
The following deferred bonuses have been awarded to the directors under the Deferred Bonus Plan. These shares will normally be transferred to participants at the end of the three-year deferred period if those participants are still employed by BT Group.
 
      1 April 2005     Awardeda     Vestedb     Dividends
re-invested
    Lapsed     Total number
of award
shares
31 March
2006
    Expected vesting date     Price at grant     Market price at vesting     Monetary value of vested award
£000

B Verwaayen
    84,009         84,009                     202.0 p   225.5 p   189
      464,390             23,289         487,679     01/08/06     199.5 p      
      232,625             11,665         244,290     01/08/07     193.42 p      
          98,461         4,937         103,398     01/08/08     227.75 p      

A Green
    55,268         55,268                     202.0 p   225.5 p   125
      83,799             4,202         88,001     01/08/06     199.5 p      
      91,087             4,567         95,654     01/08/07     193.42 p      
          44,731         2,243         46,974     01/08/08     227.75 p      

H Lalani
    12,985         12,985                     202.0 p   225.5 p   29
      26,396             1,322         27,718     01/08/06     199.5 p      
      27,339             1,370         28,709     01/08/07     193.42 p      
          29,957         1,502         31,459     01/08/08     227.75 p      

I Livingston
    92,291             4,627         96,918     01/08/06     199.5 p      
      87,967             4,411         92,378     01/08/07     193.42 p      
          43,440         2,177         45,617     01/08/08     227.75 p      

Dr P Reynolds
    49,740         49,740                     202.0 p   225.5 p   112
      78,868             3,954         82,822     01/08/06     199.5 p      
      79,985             4,010         83,995     01/08/07     193.42 p      
          46,774         2,345         49,119     01/08/08     227.75 p      

 
The number of shares subject to awards granted during the financial year 2005/06 was calculated using the average middle market price of a BT share for the three days prior to the grant.
a
Awards granted on 3 August 2005 in respect of the financial year 2004/05.
b
Awards granted on 24 June 2002 vested on 1 August 2005.
 
Details of deferred bonus awards in respect of the financial year 2005/06 are given in the Directors' emoluments table. Awards in respect of the deferred bonuses will be granted in June 2006. The number of shares subject to the awards will be calculated using the average middle market price of a BT share for the three days prior to the grant.

Share awards under the Employee Share Investment Plan (ESIP) at 31 March 2006
 
      1 April 2005     Awarded     Vested     Total number of award shares 31 March 2006    
 Expected vesting date
 

Sir Christopher Bland                    
ESIP 2003
    186             186     05/08/08  
ESIP 2004
    116             116     04/08/09  
ESIP 2005
        56 a       56     27/06/10  

 
      302     56           358        

 
A Green
                               
ESIP 2002
    130             130     14/08/07  
ESIP 2003
    186             186     05/08/08  
ESIP 2004
    116             116     04/08/09  
ESIP 2005
        56 a       56     27/06/10  

 
      432     56         488        

 
H Lalani