Annual report and financial statements 2009
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Notes to the Group financial statements
22 Called-up share capital
| Number of shares millions |
Share capital £m |
Share premium £m |
Total £m |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current year | ||||
| At 3 February 2008 | 2,686 | 269 | 57 | 326 |
| Shares purchased for cancellation | (58) | (6) | – | (6) |
| Share options exercised | 2 | – | 3 | 3 |
| At 1 February 2009 | 2,630 | 263 | 60 | 323 |
Prior year |
||||
| At 4 February 2007 | 2,677 | 268 | 41 | 309 |
| Share options exercised | 9 | 1 | 16 | 17 |
| At 3 February 2008 | 2,686 | 269 | 57 | 326 |
The total authorised number of ordinary shares is 4,000 million shares (2008: 4,000 million shares) with a par value of 10p per share (2008: 10p per share). All issued shares are fully paid.
The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at the meetings of the Company.
a) Potential issues of ordinary shares
Certain eligible employees hold options to subscribe for shares in the Company at prices ranging from 0p to 247p under the share option schemes approved by shareholders. Options on two million shares (2008: nine million) were exercised in the current financial year.
b) Preference shares
The 282,666 5¼% cumulative preference shares with nominal amount of £1, amounting to £0.3m have been classified as a current financial liability in accordance with IFRS 7 Financial instruments: Disclosures. These preference shares do not carry any voting rights.