Annual report and financial statements 2008

Shareholder information

Ordinary shares

As at 29 March 2008, there are 223,128 holders of ordinary shares whose shareholdings are analysed below. We also have a further 38,000 investors holding shares via our Corporate nominee.

  Number of shareholders Percentage
of total
shareholders		 Number of
ordinary shares		 Percentage of
ordinary shares
Size of shareholding        
1 – 500 110,900 49.70 22,118,506 1.39
501 – 1,000 45,179 20.25 33,575,904 2.12
1,001 – 2,000 34,569 15.49 49,132,796 3.10
2,001 – 5,000 23,065 10.34 70,303,326 4.43
5,001 – 10,000 5,848 2.62 40,471,985 2.55
10,001 – 100,000 2,907 1.30 68,418,477 4.31
100,001 – 1,000,000 472 0.21 165,817,566 10.45
1,000,001 – Highest 188 0.09 1,136,639,863 71.65
Total 223,128 100.00 1,586,478,423 100.00
         
Shareholders are further analysed as follows    
         
Type of owner        
Private holders 212,856 95.40 334,217,456 21.07
Institutional and corporate holders 10,272 4.60 1,252,260,967 78.93
Total 223,128 100.00 1,586,478,423 100.00

 

Financial calendar

Record date to be eligible for the final dividend 30 May 2008
AGM – Royal Festival Hall, London 9 July 2008
Final ordinary dividend for the year to 29 March 2008 to be paid 11 July 2008
Half year results to be announced 4 November 2008*
Record date to be eligible for the interim dividend 14 November 2008*
Interim ordinary dividend to be paid 9 January 2009*

*provisional dates

 

Further information on many of the topics covered in these pages can be found under the ‘Investor’ section of our website.

Shareholder vouchers

We currently send a booklet of discount vouchers to our shareholders each year. At present there is no minimum holding requirement to receive these, you just need to be a shareholder at the qualifying date, which is normally the dividend record date prior to mailing. The vouchers for 2007/08 were distributed in January and were valid throughout February and March 2008.

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Dividends

Shareholders are able to choose how they receive their dividends:

  • direct to their bank account;†
  • paid in foreign currencies;
  • reinvested in M&S shares; or
  • paid by cheque.

†M&S preferred option

The quickest and most efficient way to receive your dividends is to have them paid direct to your bank account. It saves waiting for funds to clear and reduces the paper and postage we use. Those selecting this payment method receive a consolidated tax voucher at their registered address each January. 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.

 

Company website

In July 2008 we will be launching our new corporate website. This will provide a number of interactive features and a greater wealth of information. Shareholders can be kept up-to-date with the latest news, as well as watch recordings of past AGMs and our financial results presentations. Our AGM is again being broadcast live on the internet and details of how to view this are included in the Notice of Meeting. The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the financial information on our website. This information has been prepared under relevant accounting standards and legislation. We welcome feedback on the website. Please email comments to chairman@marks-and-spencer.com

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Electronic communication

Registering for online communication gives shareholders more control of their shareholding. The registration process is via our registrars’ secure website shareview.com. Once registered shareholders are able to:

  • elect how we communicate with them;
  • amend their details;
  • amend the way dividends are received; and
  • buy or sell shares online.

This doesn’t mean shareholders can no longer receive paper copies of documents. We are able to offer a range of services and tailor communication to meet our shareholders’ needs, mailing hard copy documents to those who request them. Informed choices, aligned to new technology will reduce the amount of paper, print and postage we use. Together, we can minimise waste and our impact on the environment. For further information go to the Investor section of our website at marksandspencer.com/thecompany.

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Electronic shareholding

Shareholders can hold shares electronically in our Corporate nominee account. This:

  • gives increased security for personal details;
  • removes the need for a share certificate; and
  • provides share dealing at competitive rates.

For further information please contact our registrars, Equiniti.

Half year results

Our half year results will be available on our website in November 2008.

Lost shareholders

As announced at last year’s AGM we are taking a more pro-active approach to return unclaimed funds to shareholders who have failed to keep their details up to date. We launched a search programme with Trust Research Services (TRS), who specialise in reuniting people with their unclaimed assets.

Working closely with TRS and our registrars, Equiniti, we have been able to return unclaimed dividends amounting to over £1m, and put these shareholders or beneficiaries back in touch with 2 million shares. Further information can be found on our website.

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Shareholder security

Shareholders are advised to be wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount, or offers of free reports about the Company. Details of any share dealing facilities that the Company endorses will be included in Company mailings or on our website. More detailed information can be found at fsa.gov.uk/consumer

ShareGift

Shareholders with a small number of shares, the value of which makes it uneconomical to sell, may wish to consider donating them to the charity ShareGift (Registered charity no. 1052686). The Company and its shareholders are active supporters of ShareGift donating over £200,000 to date. Find out more about ShareGift at sharegift.org or by telephoning ShareGift on +44 (0)20 930 3737.

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American Depositary Receipts (ADRs)

The Company has a Level 1 ADR programme. This enables US investors to purchase Marks & Spencer American Depository Shares (ADS) in US Dollars ‘over the counter’. Each ADS represents two ordinary shares. In February 2008 we changed our ADR sponsor from JP Morgan Chase Bank NA to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. For further information, please contact Deutsche Bank
email: DB@amstock.com
website: adr.db.com
Toll-free for callers within the US: 1 866 249 2593
For those calling outside the US: +1 (718) 921 8137

How we do business

An update on Plan A, our five-year ‘eco plan’ to address key social and environmental challenges facing M&S, is available to download.

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Unsolicited mail

The Company is obliged by law to make its share register publicly available should a request be received. As a consequence, some shareholders may receive unsolicited mail. To limit the amount of unsolicited received, please contact:

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS)
DMA House, 70 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SS

Alternatively, register online at mpsonline.org.uk or call the MPS Registration line on 0845 703 4599.

The mailing preference service is an independent organisation which offers a free service to the public within the UK. Registering with them will help stop most unsolicited consumer advertising material.

Registered office and Head office

Waterside House, 35 North Wharf Road, London W2 1NW
Registered in England and Wales (No. 4256886)
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7935 4422

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Group Secretary and Head of Corporate Governance

Graham Oakley

Registrars

Equiniti Limited,
Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing,
West Sussex BN99 6DA

Telephone: 0845 609 0810
and outside the UK: +44 (0)121 415 7071

Further information

For additional copies of the Annual report or Summary financial statements go to the Download centre.

Alternatively, call 0800 591 697

For large print and audio files go to the Download centre.

Contact us

email us at chairman@marks-and-spencer.com
Customer queries: 0845 302 1234
Shareholder queries: 0845 609 0810
(outside the UK) +44 (0)121 415 7071

 

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