Shareholder information
Shareholder services and helpline
Shareholders who change address, or who want to have their dividends paid directly into their bank account may do so on the following website www.capitaregistrars.com/shareholders, or can write to the Registrar, Capita Registrars, Northern House, Woodsome Park, Fenay Bridge, Huddersfield HD8 0GA. If they require other information about their holding shareholders can contact the Registrar on the dedicated Northern Foods shareholder information telephone line: 0871 664 0444 (calls cost 10p per minute, including VAT plus network extras) or email their enquiry, indicating that they are a Northern Foods shareholder, to northernfoods@capitaregistrars.com.
Shareholder information on the internet
The Northern Foods website www.northernfoods.com provides access to shareholder information, including our annual and half year reports, share price and recent share price trends, financial highlights and results presentations to analysts as well as a link to our Registrar www.capitaregistrars.com/shareholders.
The link to our Registrar allows shareholders to access their individual shareholder details. Shareholders will be required to pass an identity check to access their personal information. This link also allows shareholders to download stock transfer, dividend mandate and change of address forms.
E-communications
Shareholders may also now receive reports electronically by logging onto the Registrar’s website at www.capitaregistrars.com/shareholders and follow the instructions by clicking on Manage my eComms or simply follow the link from the Northern Foods website. If you have any problems registering or would like further information, please contact the Registrar’s helpdesk on 0871 664 0444 (calls cost 10p per minute, including VAT, plus network extras).
Electronic proxy voting
Shareholders wishing to appoint a proxy electronically via the internet should refer to the instructions contained in the circular sent to shareholders with this report.
Dividend mandates
Shareholders may choose to have dividends paid electronically into their United Kingdom bank or building society account, using the BACS system. This process ensures that the amount of the dividend is passed directly into their account, as cleared funds, on the date the payment is due. Confirmation of payment is contained in a dividend tax voucher which is posted to shareholders’ registered addresses at the time of payment. This voucher should be kept safely for future reference.
Any shareholder wishing to adopt this method of payment should complete a dividend mandate form, which can be found attached to the last dividend warrant. Alternatively, a form can be downloaded from the Registrar’s website or requested by calling the telephone helpline on 0870 664 0444 (calls cost 10p per minute, including VAT, plus network extras).
The following share dealing services are available through our Registrar.
Online and telephone Share Dealing
This service is provided by Capita Share Dealing Services and offers shareholders a quick and easy way to buy or sell Northern Foods plc ordinary shares at the latest price available on the London Stock Exchange. You can buy or sell shares by phone or online. The commission to deal online is just 1%, subject to a minimum charge of £20, and 1.5% to deal by phone with a minimum charge of £25. In addition stamp duty, currently 0.5%, is payable on purchases. There is no need to open an account in order to deal and you will be able to buy and sell at live prices during market hours. In addition there is a convenient facility to place your order outside of market hours. Up to 90 day limit orders are available for sales. To find out more or to use the service simply log on at www.capitadeal.com or call 0870 458 4577. Please have your share certificate to hand when you log-in or call, together with a bank debit card if you wish to purchase additional shares.
These services are offered on an execution only basis and terms and conditions will apply. This is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold shares in Northern Foods plc. Shareholders who are unsure of what action to take should obtain independent financial advice. Share values may go down as well as up which may result in a shareholder receiving less than he/she originally invested.
Capital gains tax
The base cost of a Northern Foods ordinary share at 31 March 1982 for capital gains tax purposes is 75.8 pence. This figure is the adjusted price to reflect the effect of the rights issue in January 1992, the one-for-one capitalisation issue in August of the same year, and the demerger of Express Dairies plc (now Arla Foods UK) on 30 March 1998.
Any gain arising on disposal may also need to be adjusted to take account of indexation allowances and, since these adjustments will depend on individual circumstances, shareholders are recommended to consult their financial advisers.
Boiler rooms
Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free company reports. These are typically from overseas based “brokers” who target UK shareholders offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. These operations are commonly known as “boiler rooms”.
If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:
- Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation;
- Check that they are properly authorised by the FSA before getting involved by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register;
- Report the matter to the FSA either by calling 0845 606 1234 or visiting www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk;
- If the calls persist, hang up.
If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you will not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml.
Details of any sharedealing facilities that the Company endorses will only be included in company mailings.
More detailed information can be found on the FSA website: www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk.