The Board adopts a dividend policy based initially on a dividend cover of 2.5 times underlying earning, with the intention of moving towards 2.0 times dividend cover over time.

The dividend policy is aimed at ensuring that shareholders continue to benefit from the successful growth and strong cash flows of the Group.

Description Dividend Rate
(pence per share)		 Ex Dividend Date Record Date Payment Date
Interim 4.26p  26/10/2017 27/10/2017 30/11/2017
Final 8.4p 27/04/2017 28/04/2017 08/06/2017
Interim 4.1p 20/10/2016 21/10/2016 02/12/2016
Final 8.4p 28/04/2016 29/04/2016 03/06/2016
Interim 4.1p 22/10/2015 23/10/2015 04/12/2015
Final 8.2p 30/04/2015 01/05/2015 05/06/2015
Interim 4.0p 22/10/2014 25/10/2014 05/12/2014
Final 7.9p 30/04/2014 2/05/2014 06/06/2014
Interim 3.7p 23/10/2013 25/10/2013 06/12/2013
Final 7.8p 13/03/2013 15/03/2013 07/06/2013
Interim 3.4p 24/10/2012 26/10/2012 07/12/2012
Final 6.7p 02/05/2012 04/05/2012 08/06/2012
Interim 2.9p 26/10/2011 28/10/2011 08/12/2011
Final 5.8p 04/05/2011 06/05/2011 09/06/2011
Interim 2.5p 27/10/2010 29/10/2010 7/12/2010
Final - N/A N/A N/A
Second Interim 5.0p 10/03/2010 12/03/2010 1/04/2010
Interim 2.5p 28/10/2009 30/10/2009 7/12/2009
Final - N/A N/A N/A
Interim 7.75p 22/10/2008 24/10/2008 5/12/2008
Final 15.5p 30/4/2008 2/5/2008 5/6/2008
Interim 7.75p 24/10/2007 26/10/2007 5/12/2007
Final 14.5p 25/4/2007 27/4/2007 5/6/2007
Interim 7.25p 1/11/2006 3/11/2006 5/12/2006
Final 12.2p 3/5/2006 5/5/2006 6/6/2006
Interim 6.1p 2/11/2005 4/11/2005 5/12/2005
Final 11.0p 4/5/2005 6/5/2005 2/6/2005
Interim 5.5p 3/11/2004 5/11/2004 2/12/2004
Final 9.0p 5/5/2004 7/5/2004 3/6/2004
Interim 3.5p 5/11/2003 7/11/2003 4/12/2003
Final 5.8p 7/5/2003 /5/2003 5/6/2003
Interim 2.9p 6/11/2002 8/11/2002 4/12/2002