Marks and Spencer 2010 Annual Report Download - page 121

Directors’ report p01 
Financial statements p82 
Other information 
To find out more, visit marksandspencer.com/annualreport2010 117
Shareholder information
Managing your shares
The Company’s register of shareholders is maintained by our Registrar,
Equiniti. Shareholders with queries relating to their shareholding
should contact Equiniti directly using the details overleaf.
Capital Gains Tax
For the purpose of Capital Gains Tax, the price of an ordinary share
on 31 March 1982 was 153.5p, which when adjusted for the 1 for
1 scrip issue in 1984, gives a figure of 76.75p. Following the capital
reorganisation in March 2002, HMRC has confirmed the base cost
for CGT purposes was 372.35p (81.43%) for an ordinary share and
68.75p (18.75%) for a B share.
American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)
The Company has a level 1 ADR program. This enables US
investors to purchase Marks & Spencer American Depository
Shares (ADS) in US dollars ‘over the counter’. The Company has
chosen to have the ADRs quoted on the OTC market’s highest tier,
International PremierQX.
For information on OTCQX go to otcqx.com
For Deutsche Bank email: [email protected]
ADR website: adr.db.com
Toll free callers within the US: 1 866 249 2593
For those calling outside the US: [phone]
Electronic Shareholder Communication
In 2007 we mailed 20,000 full Annual Reports (102 page
document) and 240,000 Annual Reviews (45 page document)
to shareholders. Since then, legislation has helped us reduce
this distribution to 5,000 copies of our Annual Report and
40,000 copies of our Annual Review. A huge saving, both
environmentally and financially, but we need our shareholders
to help us reduce these numbers further.
The change in legislation provided greater flexibility and
efficiencies when communicating with shareholders, allowing
companies to use their website as the primary method of
communicating messages. We call this ‘Electronic Shareholder
Communication’ and it allows global distribution of messages
in an instant.
Shareholders who register for this are more informed,
receiving emails notifying them when our results are released.
Paper versions of these results are not mailed to shareholders
unless they have specifically requested them, even then it’s only
our year end results which we mail.
Communicating with shareholders electronically provides
clear savings. Therefore, as a thank you to those who register,
we will give a voucher for 10% off when shopping online at
marksandspencer.com
Registering for electronic communication is very straight
forward, and is done via Shareview. Shareview is an internet
based platform provided by Equiniti, our Registrar, that allows
you to manage your shares online.
Go to marksandspencer.com/annualreport2010
to find out more and to read the terms and conditions.
Corporate website
Whether you are looking for information about our Heritage, our
Social, Environmental and Ethical responsibilities, our approach
to Governance or the latest Press releases, our Corporate website
provides a wealth of information for shareholders.
Furthermore, much of the information requested from our
shareholder helpline can be found in the investor section of our
website. Shareholders can also sign up for News Alerts to receive
an email when news on M&S is released. These include additional
financial news releases throughout the year, which are not mailed
to shareholders.
The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity
of the financial information on our website. The information has been
prepared under the relevant accounting standards and legislation.
Shareholder security
It sounds obvious, but if a stranger rings you out of the blue and
tries to sell you shares take great care. They may be part of a
financial scam. Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any
unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount, or offers of
free reports about the Company. If it sounds to good to be true,
it probably is. Go to moneymadeclear.org.uk to find out more.
ShareGift
Do you have a small shareholding which is uneconomical to sell?
You may want to consider donating it to ShareGift (Registered
charity no. 1052686) Find out more at sharegift.org or
call [phone].
Missing shareholders
Working with Prosearch, (an asset reunification company), we
continue to look for shareholders who have failed to keep their
details up to date. We have funds waiting to be claimed and we are
committed to doing what we can to pay these funds to their rightful
owner. Shareholders are reminded that if they move house they
must contact Equiniti and advise them of their new address.
Duplicate documents
Around 10,000 shareholders still receive duplicate documentation
and split dividend payments from having more than one account
on the share register. If you think you fall into this group and would
like to combine your accounts, please contact Equiniti.
Dividends
Paid in January and July each year. We encourage shareholders
to have dividends paid directly into their bank account to ensure
efficient payment and cleared funds on the payment date. Those
selecting this payment method receive an annual consolidated tax
voucher in January, showing both payments in the respective tax
year. However, we are able to send a tax voucher with each
payment, if preferred.
To change how you receive your dividends either log on to
shareview.co.uk or contact Equiniti.