Financial calendar

Ex-dividend date for 2002 final dividend	30 April 2003
Record date for 2002 final dividend	2 May 2003
Annual general meeting, International Convention Centre, Birmingham	12 May 2003
Final dividend payment date	18 June 2003
2003 interim results announced	31 July 2003
Interim dividend payment date	12 November 2003

 

Centrica shareholder helpline

Centrica’s shareholder register is maintained on our behalf by Lloyds TSB Registrars who are responsible for making dividend payments and updating the register, including details of changes to shareholders’ addresses and purchases or sales of Centrica shares. If you have a question about your shareholding in Centrica, you should contact:

Centrica shareholder helpline: 0870 600 3985
Text phone: 0870 600 3950
Write to: Lloyds TSB Registrars
The Causeway, Worthing
West Sussex BN99 6DA

Frequent shareholder enquiries

If you change your address

Please notify Lloyds TSB Registrars, in writing. If shares are held in joint names, the notification must be signed by the first named shareholder. The form is also available to download from our website.

If you change your name
Please notify Lloyds TSB Registrars in writing and enclose a copy of your marriage certificate or change of name deed as evidence.

Lost Centrica share certificate
If your share certificate is lost or stolen, you should call the Centrica shareholder helpline immediately. A letter of indemnity will be sent to you to sign. Lloyds TSB Registrars will charge for this service.

Duplicate shareholder accounts

Shareholders who receive more than one copy of Centrica communications may have shares registered inadvertently in at least two accounts. This happens when the registration details of separate transactions differ slightly. If you wish to combine your accounts, call the Centrica shareholder helpline to request an account combination form.

Buying and selling shares in the UK

If you wish to trade in Centrica shares, you will need to use a stockbroker or High Street bank which trades on the London Stock Exchange. There are many telephone and online services available. If you are selling, you will need to present your share certificate at the time of sale.

Transferring Centrica shares

Transferring shares to someone else requires the completion of a stock transfer form. This form, and details of the procedure you need to follow, are available from the Centrica shareholder helpline. Stamp duty is not normally payable if the transfer is to a relative or if there is no money being paid in exchange for the shares.

Direct dividend payments

The two dividends each year (see Financial calendar) can be paid automatically into your bank or building society account. This service has a number of benefits:

• there is no risk of the dividend cheque going missing in the post;
• the dividend payment is received more quickly as the cash is paid directly into the account on the payment date without the need to pay in the cheque and wait for it to clear; and
• a single consolidated tax voucher is issued at the end of the tax year in March, in time for your self-assessment tax return.

Arranging your dividend payment in this way also helps Centrica improve its efficiency by reducing postage and cheque clearance costs. If you wish to register for this service, call the Centrica shareholder helpline to request a direct dividend payment form.

The Centrica website

The Centrica website at www.centrica.com provides news and details of the company’s activities, plus information on the share price and links to our brand sites.

The investor information section of the website contains up-to-date information for shareholders including the company’s latest results and key dates such as dividend payment dates. It also holds details such as past dividend payment dates and amounts, and a comprehensive share price information section. Visit www.centrica.com/investors.

Electronic communications

Shareholders who prefer to receive communications from Centrica electronically are encouraged to register their email address via the investor section of our website. The company’s annual report is available on the Centrica website and, by registering, shareholders will receive an electronic notification when the company’s annual reports and notices of general meetings become available. Shareholders are also able to complete and return voting papers for the company’s AGM electronically. Registration is free and easy to complete. All that is required for registration is the shareholder reference number which is shown on your tax vouchers and share certificates. Once you are registered, you may also look up a range of information including the number of Centrica shares you hold, the registered name and address details and information held for dividend payment instructions.

Share price information

The Centrica share price, and historical details, may be viewed here. Shareholders can find share prices listed in most national newspapers. Ceefax and Teletext pages also display share prices that are updated regularly throughout the trading day. For an accurate buying or selling price, you should contact a stockbroker or High Street bank.

ShareGift

ShareGift is a charity share donation scheme for shareholders administered by the Orr Mackintosh Foundation. It is especially for those who may wish to dispose of a small parcel of shares whose value makes it uneconomic to sell on a commission basis. Further information can be obtained at www.sharegift.org or from the Centrica shareholder helpline.

Useful historical information

Demerger

Centrica plc traded on the London Stock Exchange for the first time on 17 February 1997, the date of demerger from British Gas plc. Shares were acquired in Centrica on the basis of one Centrica share for every British Gas plc share held at demerger. Shares in Centrica, acquired at demerger, are treated as having a base cost for Capital Gains Tax purposes (calculated in accordance with taxation legislation) of 64.25 pence each.

Share capital consolidation

On 10 May 1999, the ordinary share capital of Centrica was consolidated on the basis of nine new ordinary shares of 5 5/9 pence for every ten ordinary shares of 5 pence held on 7 May 1999. The consolidation was linked to the payment of a special dividend of 12 pence per share on 23 June 1999.

Shareholder benefits

A series of updated benefits on selected products and services from across the group has recently been introduced. Our major brands British Gas, Scottish Gas, The AA, Goldfish and One.Tel are all featured in these offers.

To request a brochure, please call the Centrica shareholder helpline or visit the shareholder centre section of our website. If you have not previously registered, you will be asked to give your shareholder reference number in order to participate.

Overseas dividend payments

A service has been established to provide shareholders in over 30 countries worldwide with the opportunity to receive Centrica dividends in their local currency. For a small flat rate fee, shareholders can have their dividends automatically converted from Sterling and paid into their bank account, normally within five working days of the dividend payment date. For further details, please contact the Centrica shareholder helpline on +44 (0)121 415 7061.

American Depositary Receipts

Centrica has an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programme. The ADRs, each of which is equivalent to 10 ordinary Centrica shares, trade under the symbol CNTCY. For enquiries, please contact:

ADR Depositary
The Bank of New York
Investor Relations
PO Box 11258, Church Street Station
New York, NY 10286-1258

email: shareowner-svcs@bankofny.com
or via www.stockbny.com

Telephone: 1 888 BNY ADRs in the US or 00 1 601 312 5315 from outside the US.

www.adrbny.com

Analysis of shareholders at 31 December 2002