DividendsThe Board recommends a final dividend of 10.4 pence per share (2007: 10.0 pence per share, 2006: 7.6 pence per share) to shareholders, amounting to approximately £805 million (2007: £825 million, 2006: £631 million). This will be paid, subject to shareholder approval, on 15 September 2008 to shareholders on the register on 22 August 2008. When combined with the 2008 interim dividend of 5.4 pence per share, the total dividend proposed for 2008 is 15.8 pence per share, totalling £1,236 million (2007: £1,247 million, 2006: £993 million). This compares with 15.1 pence in 2007 and 11.9 pence in 2006, an increase of 5% and 27%, respectively.Dividends paid in 2008 were £1,241 million (2007: £1,053 million, 2006: £912 million) and have been presented as a deduction to shareholders’ equity.
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