Notes to the Financial Statements

6 Basic and diluted earnings per share

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated on the profit on ordinary activities after taxation and on the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year as shown below:

   
2005
2004
    Weighted
average
number of
shares
m
Profit
after
taxation
£m
  Weighted
average
number of
shares
m
Profit
after
taxation
£m
Earnings per share – Basic 509.2 58.7   488.1 171.5
  – Diluted 519.2 58.7   519.0 179.3
Adjusted earnings per share – Basic 509.2 202.0   488.1 180.6
  – Diluted 519.2 202.0   519.0 188.4
Underlying earnings per share – Basic 509.2 178.0   488.1 154.3
  – Diluted 519.2 178.0   519.0 162.1

The basic weighted average number of shares has changed as a result of the conversion on or before 30 July 2004 of the 6% Irredeemable Convertible Bonds.

Adjusted earnings per share are calculated by excluding the post tax profit adjustment of £17.3m (2004: £9.1m) which is the capital allowance effect of FRS 19 which is not expected to arise, as described in note 22, in addition to the post tax effect of £126m of the exceptional item described in note 5.

Underlying earnings per share is calculated by taking the underlying profit before taxation (disclosed in note 3) and adjusting for related taxation (2005: credit £3.2m; 2004: credit £4.9m).