e20vf
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company
report
For the transition period from
to
Commission file number: 001-14958
NATIONAL GRID PLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
England and Wales
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH, England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Helen Mahy
011 44 20 7004 3000
Facsimile No. 011 44 20 7004 3004
Company Secretary and General Counsel
National Grid plc
1-3 Strand London WC2N 5EH, England
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934:
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Title of each class |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Ordinary Shares of 11 17/43 pence each
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The New York Stock Exchange* |
American Depositary Shares, each representing five
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The New York Stock Exchange |
Ordinary Shares of 11 17/43 pence each |
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6.625% Guaranteed Notes due 2018
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The New York Stock Exchange |
6.30% Guaranteed Notes due 2016
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The New York Stock Exchange |
Preferred Stock ($100 par value-cumulative): |
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3.90% Series
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The New York Stock Exchange |
3.60% Series
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The New York Stock Exchange |
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* |
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Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares
representing Ordinary Shares pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934: None.
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934: None.
The number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital or common stock as
of March 31, 2011 was
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Ordinary Shares of 11 17/43 pence each
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3,648,339,475 |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act: Yes þ No o
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is
not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Yes o No þ
Note Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under
those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted
pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files):
Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated
filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer þ | |
Accelerated filer o | |
Non-accelerated filer o |
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the
financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP o International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board þ Other o
If Other has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which
financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 o Item 18 o
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
As used in this Annual Report, unless the context requires otherwise,
National Grid, the Company, we, us or our refers to National Grid plc
and its
subsidiaries.
Cautionary Statement
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains certain statements that are neither reported
financial results nor other historical information. These statements are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). These statements include
information with respect to our financial condition, our results of operations and businesses,
strategy, plans and objectives. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans,
believes, seeks, estimates, targets, may, will, continue, project and similar
expressions, as well as statements in the future tense, identify forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to
assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially
from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions,
risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond our ability to control or estimate
precisely, such as changes in laws or regulations and decisions by governmental bodies or
regulators; breaches of, or changes in, environmental, climate change and health and safety laws or
regulations; network failure or interruption, the inability to carry out critical non-network
operations and damage to infrastructure; performance against regulatory targets and standards,
including delivery of costs and efficiency savings; customers and counterparties failing to perform
their obligations to us; and unseasonable weather affecting energy demands. Other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this document include
fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates, commodity price indices and settlement of hedging
arrangements; restrictions in our borrowing and debt arrangements; changes to credit ratings of the
Company and its subsidiaries; adverse changes and volatility in the global credit markets; our
ability to access capital markets and other sources of credit in a timely manner and other sources
of credit on acceptable terms; deflation or inflation; the seasonality of our businesses; the
future funding requirements of our pension schemes and other post-retirement benefit schemes, and
the regulatory treatment of pension costs; the loss of key personnel or the ability to attract,
train or retain qualified personnel, new or revised accounting standards, rules and
interpretations, including changes of law and accounting standards that may affect our effective
rate of tax; incorrect assumptions or conclusions underpinning business development activity and
any restructuring or reorganization of the Company and its subsidiaries, and any unforeseen
significant liabilities or other unanticipated or unintended effects of such activities
restructuring or reorganization and the performance of the Companys subsidiaries. In addition the
Companys reputation may be harmed if consumers of energy suffer a disruption to their supply. For
a more detailed description of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties, together with any other
risk factors, please see Items 3 and 5 of this report (and in particular Risk factors under Item
3). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any
obligation to revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the
date of this report. The effects of these factors are difficult to predict. New factors emerge from
time to time and we cannot assess the potential impact of any such factor on our activities or the
extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from
those contained in any forward-looking statement.
The inclusion of our website address in this annual report does not, and is not intended to,
incorporate the contents of our website into this report and such information does not constitute
part of this annual report.
ii
PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
The selected financial data set out below are derived, in part, from the Companys
consolidated financial statements. The selected data should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and with the Operating and Financial Review and Prospects in Item 5. The
consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with accounting
policies that are in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted
by the European Union and IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Selected financial data
Amounts in accordance with IFRS1:
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2011 |
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2010 |
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2009 |
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2008 |
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2007 |
Revenue2 |
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£m |
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14,343 |
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14,007 |
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15,687 |
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11,498 |
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8,778 |
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Total operating profit |
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£m |
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3,745 |
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3,293 |
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2,623 |
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2,964 |
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2,513 |
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Profit for the year from continuing operations |
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£m |
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2,163 |
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1,389 |
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922 |
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1,575 |
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1,310 |
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Profit for the year |
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£m |
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2,163 |
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1,389 |
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947 |
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3,193 |
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1,396 |
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Basic earnings per share from continuing operations3 |
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Pence |
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63.9 |
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48.4 |
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31.8 |
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51.3 |
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41.0 |
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Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations3 |
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Pence |
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63.6 |
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48.2 |
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31.7 |
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51.1 |
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40.8 |
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Basic earnings per share3 |
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Pence |
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63.9 |
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48.4 |
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32.7 |
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104.2 |
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43.7 |
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Diluted earnings per share3 |
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Pence |
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63.6 |
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48.2 |
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32.5 |
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103.7 |
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43.5 |
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Number of shares basic4 |
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Millions |
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3,378 |
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2,864 |
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2,886 |
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3,062 |
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3,188 |
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Number of shares diluted4 |
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Millions |
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3,397 |
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2,877 |
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2,902 |
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3,077 |
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3,206 |
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Total assets |
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£m |
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46,375 |
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43,553 |
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44,467 |
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37,771 |
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28,389 |
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Net assets |
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£m |
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9,069 |
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4,211 |
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3,984 |
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5,374 |
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4,136 |
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Total parent company shareholders equity |
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£m |
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9,060 |
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4,199 |
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3,970 |
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5,356 |
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4,125 |
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Dividends per ordinary share: paid during the year |
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Pence |
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37.74 |
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36.65 |
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33.94 |
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29.5 |
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26.8 |
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Dividends per ordinary share: approved or proposed during the year |
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Pence |
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36.37 |
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38.49 |
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35.64 |
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33.0 |
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28.7 |
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Dividends per ordinary share: paid during the year |
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US |
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$ |
0.592 |
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0.579 |
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0.523 |
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0.593 |
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0.513 |
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Dividends per ordinary share: approved or proposed during the year |
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US |
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$ |
0.571 |
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0.608 |
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0.549 |
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0.663 |
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0.549 |
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1 |
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Since the implementation of IFRS by the
Company, there have been no significant changes in accounting standards,
interpretations or policies that have had a material financial impact on the
selected financial data. |
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The selected financial data incorporates businesses acquired in the period
from the date of their acquisitions, principally KeySpan Corporation acquired
in August 2007 and our Rhode Island gas distribution operations acquired in
August 2006. Comparatives for 2008 have been restated for the finalization of
the fair value exercise on the acquisition of KeySpan Corporation. |
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Items previously reported for 20072010
separately as other operating income have been included within revenue. |
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Items previously reported for 2007 -
2010 have been restated to reflect the impact of the bonus element of the
rights issue and as a result of the additional shares issued as scrip
dividends. |
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Comparative Earnings Per Share data have
been restated to reflect the impact of the additional shares issued as scrip
dividends |
1
Dividends
The information set forth under the headings
Financial Calendar on
page 188 of the Companys Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1
is incorporated herein by reference.
Exchange Rates
The following table sets forth the history of the exchange rates of one pound sterling to US
dollars for the periods indicated and as at 9 June 2011.
As
at 9 June 2011 1.6366
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High |
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Low |
June 2011* |
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1.6452 |
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1.6334 |
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May 2011 |
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1.6543 |
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1.6118 |
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April 2011 |
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1.6648 |
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1.603 |
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March 2011 |
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1.6387 |
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1.5973 |
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February 2011 |
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1.6265 |
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1.5994 |
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January 2011 |
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1.6160 |
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1.5464 |
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December 2010 |
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1.5857 |
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1.5391 |
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Average** |
2010/11 |
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1.56 |
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2009/10 |
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1.58 |
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2008/09 |
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1.54 |
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2007/08 |
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2.01 |
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2006/07 |
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1.91 |
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* |
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For the period to 9 June 2011. |
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The average for each period is calculated by using the average of the
exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period. |
Risk Factors
The information set forth under the heading
Risk factors on pages 91 to 93 of the Companys
Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1 is incorporated
herein by reference.
Item 4. Information on the Company
History and development of the Company
National Grid plc was incorporated on 11 July 2000. The Company is registered in England and
Wales, with its registered office at 1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH (telephone +44 20 7004 3000). The
Companys agent in the United States is National Grid USA, Attn: General Counsel, 40 Sylvan Road,
Waltham, MA 02451.
Business overview
Organizational structure
2
Property, plant and equipment
United Kingdom
Our corporate centre operates principally from offices at 1-3 Strand, London. These offices,
of approximately 25,000 square feet, are held on a 15-year lease from 24 June 2002. We also have
major offices in Warwick. The Company sold and leased back our Warwick offices during fiscal year
2007. The Warwick offices, of approximately 235,884 square feet, are now held on a 20-year lease
from 2 February 2007 with a one-time tenant only break option (i.e. Company lease termination
right) exercisable during the 15th anniversary of the lease. At present, environmental issues are
not preventing the businesses from utilising any material operating assets in the course of their
business.
UK electricity and gas transmission. We own the freehold of the majority of all sites
associated with our UK electricity and gas transmission business in England and Wales. The
remainder are held on long-term leaseholds, including all the transmission offtake sites in the
service areas of the UK gas distribution networks sold on 1 June 2005. In Scotland, we own the
majority of our gas transmission sites outright through a disposition purchase. The remainder are
owned through a feudal disposition where purchase was subject to various rights retained by the
previous owner, for example mineral or forestry rights. In addition, we have three principal
commercial lettings, at St Fergus to Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, and at Theddlethorpe (in
England) to ConocoPhillips. The electricity transmission business does not own any sites in
Scotland.
We own and operate the gas National Transmission System (NTS) in the UK which is a gas
transmission network comprised of high pressure transmission pipelines connecting to eight gas
distribution networks and to third party independent systems for onward transportation of gas to
end consumers. Agreements with landowners or occupiers are only required for those pipes that cross
private land. These agreements largely comprise perpetual easements in England and Wales and deeds
of servitude in Scotland. Any land issues impacting on normal agricultural activity local to
pipelines and their associated easement or servitude are covered by national agreements with the
National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association of England and Wales and the
Scottish Landowners Association.
We own and operate the national electricity transmission system for England and Wales
consisting of overhead transmission lines and underground cable . Agreements with landowners or
occupiers are required for the overhead lines and underground cables, which make up our electricity
network in England and Wales. The majority of agreements are in the form of terminable wayleaves.
The remainder are in the form of perpetual easements under which rights have been granted in
perpetuity in return for a lump sum payment. The sites at which we have electricity substations are
split between freehold and leasehold. Of the leasehold sites, the large majority are substations
located on the premises of generators and are held on long-term leases for nominal rental payments.
Of the remaining sites, most are held as ground rents (market price payable for land only) from the
respective landlords. We own the freehold of our electricity control centre in Berkshire.
UK gas distribution. We own and operate four of the eight regional gas distribution networks
in the UK. Agreements with landowners or occupiers are only required for those pipes that cross
private land. These agreements largely comprise perpetual easements. Any land issues impacting on
normal agricultural activity local to pipelines and their associated easement are covered by
national agreements with the National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association
of England and Wales.
We own the freeholds of the substantial majority of the operational sites where there are
larger operational plant and gas storage facilities used in our UK gas distribution business. The
vast majority of office buildings, depots and stores used by UK gas distribution are leased from
another company within National Grid.
United States
We either own in fee (i.e. freehold) or lease the office buildings that comprise our principal
US business premises located in New York and New England. We own in fee the office buildings
located in Westborough and Northborough, Massachusetts and in Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo and
Hicksville, New York. We lease approximately 254,000 square feet of office space in the MetroTech
Building in Brooklyn, New York, pursuant to a lease that expires on 28 February 2025. We also
lease approximately 312,000 square feet of office space in the Reservoir Woods Office Park in
Waltham, Massachusetts, pursuant to a twenty year, five month lease that commenced on 15 May 2009.
In addition to our principal US offices, we maintain other offices and facilities in various
locations throughout our US service territory in New York and New England. In addition, we lease
office equipment, vehicles and power operated equipment necessary to meet our current and expected
business requirements and operational needs.
In addition to the US property described above, with respect to our US electric distribution,
transmission and gas distribution businesses located in northeastern US (more fully described
below), we either own property in fee or hold necessary property rights pursuant to municipal
consents, easements, or long-term leases and licenses. The Company has recently retired a number of
its legacy company mortgage indentures; however, mortgage indentures remain with respect to the
following legacy companies: Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (upstate New York); Colonial Gas
Company (eastern Massachusetts); and The Narragansett Electric Company (only with respect to assets
related to its gas business in Rhode Island). Each of the referenced indentures constitute a
direct lien on substantially all current and after-acquired gas and electric properties (as
applicable) presently owned by each of the respective companies and used or useful in the operation
of that companys properties as an integrated system. At present, environmental issues are not
preventing our US businesses from utilising any material operating assets in the course of their
business. We continually
3
examine our real property and other property for contribution and relevance to our US
businesses and when it is determined that such properties are no longer productive or necessary for
the operation of our business, they are disposed of as promptly as possible. With respect to leased
office space, we anticipate no significant difficulty in leasing alternative space at reasonable
rates in the event of the expiration, cancellation or termination of a lease.
US electricity transmission. We own and operate a US electricity transmission network
spanning upstate New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont consisting of
transmission and sub-transmission lines located within right-of-way corridors that traverse both
public and private property. Statutory authority, legislative charters, tariff provisions and
municipal franchise grants and agreements generally provide our US companies with the rights
required to locate transmission and sub-transmission facilities within and across public ways.
Right-of-way corridors that cross privately owned land have generally been acquired in fee or
pursuant to grants of perpetual easements. Transmission and sub-transmission substation facilities
are principally located on properties that are owned in fee.
US electricity and gas distribution. We own and operate a US electricity and gas distribution
systems located on rights-of-way in Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island and a
gas distribution pipelines located on rights-of-way in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Rhode Island. Statutory authority, legislative charters, tariff provisions and municipal franchise
grants and agreements generally provide our US distribution operations with the rights required to
locate facilities within and across public ways. Right-of-way corridors that cross privately owned
land have principally been acquired in fee or pursuant to grants of perpetual easements. Electric
distribution substations and gas distribution regulator stations are principally located on
properties owned in fee, or pursuant to grants of perpetual easements, or pursuant to legislative
charters and municipal franchise grants.
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
There are no unresolved staff comments required to be reported under this Item 4A.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
We negotiate with recognised unions. It is our policy to maintain well-developed
communications and consultation programmes and there have been no material disruptions to our
operations from labour disputes during the past five years. National Grid believes that it can
conduct its relationship with trade unions and employees in a satisfactory manner.
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
Major shareholders
As
at 9 June 2011, we had been notified of the following holdings in voting rights of 3% or
more in the issued share capital of the Company:
4
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Number of
Ordinary |
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% of
Outstanding |
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Shares |
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Share Capital* |
Black Rock Inc. |
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182,630,798 |
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5.21 |
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Legal and General Group plc |
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138,503,443 |
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3.99 |
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Crescent Holding GmbH |
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149,414,285 |
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4.31 |
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Capital
Group Companies, Inc. |
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176,730,831 |
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5.04 |
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* |
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This number is calculated in relation to the issued share capital at the time the holding was disclosed. |
No further notifications have been received.
As
at 9 June 2011, 136,990,580 shares are held in treasury. Treasury shares do not receive dividends and
do not have voting rights. All ordinary shares have the same voting rights.
Approximately
..0172% of National Grids ordinary shares, are held beneficially by persons in the
US, and there are approximately 3,578 US
holders on the ordinary share register. There are approximately 17,800 registered holders of ADSs. BNY Mellon, as custodian
of the Companys ADR programme, held approximately 9% of the Companys ordinary shares of
1117/43 pence each at 9 June 2011,
as nominee. The total number of ADRs outstanding at 9 June 2011 was 65,629,177 which represents approximately
328,145,867 ordinary shares.
The information set forth under the heading
Note 29 Related party transactions on page 153
of the Companys Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1
is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. Financial Information
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
Price history
The following table sets forth the highest and lowest intraday market prices for our ordinary
shares and ADSs for the periods indicated.
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Ordinary Share |
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(Pence) |
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ADS ($) |
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High |
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Low |
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High |
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Low |
2010/11 |
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666.00 |
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474.80 |
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51.00 |
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36.72 |
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2009/10 |
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685.50 |
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511.00 |
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56.59 |
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38.25 |
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2008/09 |
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754.00 |
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515.00 |
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74.89 |
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36.64 |
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2007/08 |
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863.00 |
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686.00 |
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86.58 |
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69.22 |
|
2006/07 |
|
|
797.50 |
|
|
|
552.00 |
|
|
|
78.81 |
|
|
|
48.83 |
|
2005/06 |
|
|
613.50 |
|
|
|
489.25 |
|
|
|
53.45 |
|
|
|
44.48 |
|
2004/05 |
|
|
549.50 |
|
|
|
421.25 |
|
|
|
52.06 |
|
|
|
37.59 |
|
2010/11 Q4 |
|
|
598.31 |
|
|
|
521.50 |
|
|
|
48.41 |
|
|
|
42.29 |
|
Q3 |
|
|
600.50 |
|
|
|
536.50 |
|
|
|
48.88 |
|
|
|
42.76 |
|
Q2 |
|
|
565.00 |
|
|
|
480.30 |
|
|
|
44.17 |
|
|
|
36.72 |
|
Q1 |
|
|
666.00 |
|
|
|
474.80 |
|
|
|
51.00 |
|
|
|
36.77 |
|
2009/10 Q4 |
|
|
685.50 |
|
|
|
619.50 |
|
|
|
55.13 |
|
|
|
46.85 |
|
Q3 |
|
|
683.50 |
|
|
|
572.50 |
|
|
|
56.59 |
|
|
|
46.13 |
|
Q2 |
|
|
628.00 |
|
|
|
529.50 |
|
|
|
52.00 |
|
|
|
43.05 |
|
Q1 |
|
|
617.00 |
|
|
|
511.00 |
|
|
|
50.25 |
|
|
|
38.25 |
|
June 2011* |
|
|
607.00 |
|
|
|
586.00 |
|
|
|
49.95 |
|
|
|
48.20 |
|
May 2011 |
|
|
639.00 |
|
|
|
607.00 |
|
|
|
52.18 |
|
|
|
49.65 |
|
April 2011 |
|
|
617.42 |
|
|
|
583.50 |
|
|
|
51.43 |
|
|
|
47.65 |
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Share |
|
|
|
|
(Pence) |
|
ADS ($) |
|
|
High |
|
Low |
|
High |
|
Low |
March 2011 |
|
|
598.31 |
|
|
|
541.50 |
|
|
|
48.41 |
|
|
|
43.41 |
|
February 2011 |
|
|
575.99 |
|
|
|
533.00 |
|
|
|
46.97 |
|
|
|
44.12 |
|
January 2011 |
|
|
583.50 |
|
|
|
521.50 |
|
|
|
45.75 |
|
|
|
42.29 |
|
December 2010 |
|
|
590.00 |
|
|
|
538.50 |
|
|
|
44.87 |
|
|
|
43.01 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
For the period to 9 June 2011. |
Markets
Our equity securities are listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange (ordinary
shares) and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADSs).
Item 10. Additional Information
Articles of Association
The following description is a summary of the material terms of our Articles of Association
(the Articles) and applicable English law. The following description is a summary only and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Articles, which are provided as an exhibit to this
report and the Companies Act 2006 (the Companies Act).
At the Annual General Meeting on 27 July 2009, the Company adopted new Articles, primarily to
take account of changes in English company law brought about by the Companies Act. At that same
meeting, the Company adopted additional amendments to the Articles that took effect 1 October 2009,
addressing changes to the Companies Act that came into force on that date. The Articles are
incorporated by reference as Exhibit 1.1.
General
National Grid is incorporated under the name National Grid plc and is registered in England
and Wales with registered number 4031152. The Articles set out the Companys corporate regulations.
The Companys objects are unlimited.
Directors
Under the Articles, a Director must disclose any personal interest in a matter and may not
vote in respect of that matter, subject to certain limited exceptions. As permitted under the
Companies Act, the Articles provide that the non-conflicted Directors of the Company may authorise
a conflict or potential conflict for a particular matter. In doing so, the non-conflicted Directors
must act in a way they consider, in good faith, will be most likely to promote the success of the
Company for the benefit of the shareholders as a whole.
The Directors (other than a Director acting in an executive capacity) are paid a fee for their
services, which must not exceed £2,000,000 a year or any higher sum as decided by an ordinary
resolution at a general meeting of shareholders. In addition, special pay may be awarded to a
Director who acts in an executive capacity, serves on a committee, performs services which the
Directors consider to extend beyond the ordinary duties of a Director, devotes special attention to
the business of National Grid or goes or lives abroad on the Companys behalf. Directors may also
receive reimbursement for all expenses properly incurred, pensions and other benefits. The
compensation awarded to the Executive Directors is determined by the Remuneration Committee, which
consists entirely of independent Non-executive Directors. The fees of the Non-executive Directors
are determined by the Executive Directors with the guidance of the Chairman and after taking
appropriate external advice.
The Directors are empowered to exercise all the powers of National Grid to borrow money,
subject to the limitation that the aggregate principal amount outstanding of all borrowings shall
not exceed £35 billion or any other amount as approved by shareholders by an ordinary resolution at
a general meeting.
Directors must stand for reappointment at the first Annual General Meeting following their
appointment to the Board. Each Director must retire at least every three years but will be eligible
for re-election. In accordance with best practice introduced by the UK Corporate Governance Code,
it is proposed that all Directors wishing to continue in office should offer themselves for
re-election annually. This new requirement will be presented for consideration at the 2011 Annual
General Meeting.
No person is disqualified from being a Director or is required to vacate that office by reason
of attaining a maximum age.
A Director is not required to hold shares of National Grid in order to qualify as a Director.
6
Rights, Preferences and Restrictions
(i) Dividend rights
National Grid may not pay any dividend otherwise than out of profits available for
distribution under the Companies Act and the other applicable provisions of English law. In
addition, as a public company, National Grid may make a distribution only if and to the extent
that, at the time of the distribution, the amount of its net assets is not less than the aggregate
of its called-up share capital and undistributable reserves (as defined in the Companies Act).
Subject to the foregoing, shareholders may, by ordinary resolution, declare dividends in accordance
with the respective rights of the shareholders but not exceeding the amount recommended by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may pay interim dividends if the Board of Directors
considers that National Grids financial position justifies the payment.
Except insofar as the rights attaching to any share otherwise provide, all dividends will be
apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts paid up (otherwise than in advance of calls) on
the shares.
All dividends unclaimed for one year after having been declared or provided for by the Board
of Directors (whichever is later) may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board of
Directors for the benefit of National Grid until claimed. Any dividend or interest unclaimed for 12
years from the date when it was declared or became due for payment may be forfeited and revert to
National Grid.
(ii) Voting rights
Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares and to any other provisions of
the Articles, at any general meeting on a show of hands, every shareholder who is present in person
will have one vote and on a poll, every shareholder will have one vote for every share which he
holds. On a show of hands or poll, shareholders may cast votes either personally or by proxy and a
proxy need not be a shareholder. Under the Articles, all substantive resolutions at a General
Meeting must be decided on a poll, other than those of a procedural nature, unless a poll is
demanded in accordance with the Articles.
(iii) Liquidation rights
In a winding-up, a liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution passed by the
shareholders and any other sanction required under English law, (a) divide among the shareholders
the whole or any part of National Grids assets (whether the assets are of the same kind or not)
and may, for this purpose, value any assets and determine how the division should be carried out as
between shareholders or different classes of shareholders, or (b) vest the whole or any part of the
assets to trustees on trust for the benefit of the shareholders as the liquidator, with the
sanction of a special resolution, determines, but in neither case will a shareholder be compelled
to accept assets upon which there is a liability.
Variation of Rights
Subject to applicable provisions of English law, the Articles and the rights attached to any
specific class of shares, the rights attached to any class of shares of National Grid may be varied
or cancelled with the written consent of the holders of three-fourths in nominal value of the
issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate
meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
General Meetings
Annual General Meetings must be convened each year within six months of the Companys
accounting reference date upon advance written notice of 21 clear days. Any other General Meeting
must be convened upon advance written notice of at least 14 clear days, subject to annual approval
of shareholders. In certain limited circumstances, the Company can convene a General Meeting by
shorter notice. The notice must specify, among other things, the nature of the business to be
transacted, the place, the date and the time of the meeting.
Rights of Non-Residents
There are no restrictions under National Grids Articles that would limit the rights of
persons not resident in the UK, as such, to vote ordinary shares.
7
Disclosure of Interests
The Companies Act provides that a public company may send a written notice to a person whom
the company knows or has reasonable cause to believe to be, or to have been at any time during the
three years immediately preceding the date on which the notice is issued, interested in the
companys shares. The notice may require that person to state whether he has an interest in the
shares, and in case that person holds or had held an interest in those shares, to give additional
information relating to that interest and any other interest in the shares of which that person is
aware. A shareholder may lose the right to vote his shares or to exercise any other right in
relation to shareholders meetings if he or any other person appearing to be interested in those
shares fails to comply within a prescribed period of time with such a request by National Grid
under the Companies Act. In the case of holders of 0.25% or more in nominal amount of any class of
the share capital of National Grid, in addition to disenfranchisement, the sanctions that may be
applied by National Grid include withholding of the right to receive payment of dividends and other
monies payable on shares, and restrictions on transfers of the shares.
Under the Companies Act, where a person fails to give the company any information required by
such notice within the time specified in the notice, National Grid may also apply to an English
court for an order directing that the shares in question be subject to restrictions prohibiting,
among other things, any transfer of those shares, the taking up of rights in respect of those
shares and, other than in a liquidation, payments in respect of those shares.
A person who fails to fulfill the obligations imposed by those provisions of the Companies Act
described above is subject to criminal penalties.
For purposes of the notification obligation, the interest of a person in shares means any kind
of interest in shares including interests in any shares (a) in which a spouse or civil partner, or
child or stepchild under the age of 18 is interested, (b) in which a corporate body is interested
and either (i) that corporate body or its directors generally act in accordance with that persons
directions or instructions or (ii) that person is entitled to exercise or controls one-third or
more of the voting power at a general meeting of that corporate body or (c) pursuant to an
agreement between the person and one or more other party that includes provision for the
acquisition by any one or more of them of interests in shares of a particular public company.
Under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules (the DTRs), a person acquiring or disposing of
shares that are admitted to trading on a regulated market and carrying voting rights must provide
written notification to the Company, including certain details as set out in DTR5, where the
percentage of the persons voting rights which he hold as shareholder or through his direct or
indirect holding of financial instruments reaches or exceeds 3% and reaches, exceeds or falls below
each 1% threshold thereafter. DTR 3 deals with the disclosure by persons discharging managerial
responsibility and their connected persons of the occurrence of all transactions conducted on
their account in the shares of the Company.
Part 28 of the Companies Act sets out the statutory functions of the Panel on Takeovers &
Mergers (the Panel). The Panel is responsible for issuing and administering the Code on Takeovers
& Mergers which includes disclosure requirements on all parties to a takeover with regard to
dealings in the securities of an offeror or offeree company and also on their respective associates
during the course of an offer period.
Material contracts
As described in Item 6, each of our Executive Directors has a Service Agreement and each
Non-executive Director has a Letter of Appointment.
In addition, the Company entered into the following contract in May 2010, which it considered
to be material:
Underwriting Agreement
On 20 May 2010, in connection with our rights issue, we entered into an underwriting agreement
with several underwriting banks, pursuant to which, the underwriting banks have severally agreed,
subject to certain conditions, to use reasonable endeavours to procure acquirers for, or failing
which, acquire any ordinary shares not taken up under our rights issue (in each case at the issue
price of 335 pence per ordinary share). In the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to pay the
underwriting banks a commission and have given certain customary representations and warranties to
the underwriting banks and customary indemnities to them and certain indemnified persons connected
with each of them. Our liabilities under the underwriting agreement are unlimited as to time and
amount. If any of the conditions of the underwriting agreement are not satisfied (or waived) or
shall have become incapable of being satisfied by the required time and date therefore, the
obligations of the underwriting banks under the underwriting agreement shall cease and determine.
Additionally, certain of the underwriting banks (acting in good faith and following consultation
with us) may cause the underwriting agreement to terminate in its entirety in certain
circumstances, but only prior to admission of our securities for trading on the London Stock
Exchange. The securities offered pursuant to the rights issue have not been and will not be
registered
8
under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless in
a transaction that is registered thereunder or exempt from the registration requirements thereof.
No public offer has been or will be made in or into the United States.
Apart from these, no contract (other than contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
business) has been entered into by us within the two years immediately preceding the date of this
report which is, or may be, material; or which contains any provision under which any member of
National Grid has any obligation or entitlement which is material to us at the date of this report.
Exchange controls
There are currently no UK laws, decrees or regulations that restrict the export or import of
capital, including, but not limited to, foreign exchange control restrictions, or that affect the
remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-UK resident holders of ordinary shares
except as otherwise set out in Taxation below and except in respect of the governments of and/or
certain citizens, residents or bodies of certain countries (described in applicable Bank of England
Notices or European Union Council Regulations in force as at the date of this document).
Taxation
This section discusses certain US federal income tax and UK tax consequences of the ownership
of ADSs and ordinary shares by certain beneficial holders thereof. This discussion applies to you
only if you qualify for benefits under the income tax convention between the US and the UK (the
Tax Convention) and are a resident of the US for the purposes of the Tax Convention and are not
resident or ordinarily resident in the UK for UK tax purposes at any material time (a US Holder).
You generally will be entitled to benefits under the Tax Convention if you are:
|
|
|
the beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable, and of any
dividends that you receive; |
|
|
|
|
an individual resident or citizen of the US, a US corporation, or a US partnership,
estate, or trust (but only to the extent the income of the partnership, estate, or trust
is subject to US taxation in the hands of a US resident person); and |
|
|
|
|
not also a resident of the UK for UK tax purposes. |
If a US Holder holds ADSs or ordinary shares in connection with the conduct of business or the
performance of personal services in the UK or otherwise in connection with a branch, agency or
permanent establishment in the UK, then you will not be entitled to benefits under the Treaty.
Special rules, including a limitation of benefits provision, apply in limited circumstances to ADSs
or ordinary shares owned by an investment or holding company. This section does not discuss the
treatment of holders described in the preceding two sentences.
This section does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax
considerations that may be relevant to any particular investor. National Grid has assumed that you
are familiar with the tax rules applicable to investments in securities generally and with any
special rules to which you may be subject. In particular, the discussion deals only with investors
that will beneficially hold ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets and does not address the tax
treatment of investors that are subject to special rules, such as banks, insurance companies,
dealers in securities or currencies, partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for
US federal income tax purposes, persons that control (directly or indirectly) 10 percent or more of
our voting stock, persons that elect mark-to-market treatment, persons that hold ADSs or ordinary
shares as a position in a straddle, conversion transaction, synthetic security, or other integrated
financial transaction, persons who are liable for the alternative minimum tax, and persons whose
functional currency is not the US dollar.
The statements regarding US and UK tax laws and administrative practices set forth below are
based on laws, treaties, judicial decisions and regulatory interpretations in effect on the date of
this prospectus. These laws and practices are subject to change without notice, possibly with
retrospective effect. In addition, the US statements set forth below are based on the
representations of The Bank of New York Mellon as depositary (the Depositary). These statements
assume that each obligation provided for in or otherwise contemplated by the deposit agreement
entered into by and among National Grid Transco plc (now National Grid plc), the Depositary and the
registered holders of ADRs pursuant to which ADSs have been issued dated as of 21 November 1995 and
amended and restated as of 1 August 2005 and any related agreement will be performed in accordance
with its terms. Beneficial owners of ADSs who are residents or citizens of the US will be treated
as the owners of the underlying ordinary shares for the purposes of the US Internal Revenue Code.
A US Holder should consult its own adviser as to the tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares in light of its particular circumstances,
including the effect of any state, local or other national laws.
9
Taxation of Dividends
Under the Tax Convention the UK is allowed to impose a 15% withholding tax on dividends paid
to US shareholders controlling less than 10% of the voting capital of National Grid. The UK does
not, however, currently impose a withholding tax on such dividends. If it were to impose such a
tax, the treaty provides for an exemption from withholding taxes for dividends paid on shares held
through a tax exempt pension fund, 401(k) plan or similar pension scheme as defined in the Tax
Convention. The Tax Convention does not provide for refunds to be paid in respect of tax credits
arising on dividends paid by UK resident companies. To obtain benefits under the Tax Convention, a
US Holder must otherwise satisfy the requirements of the limitations on benefits article of the Tax
Convention.
Cash distributions received by a US Holder with respect to its ADSs or ordinary shares
generally will be treated as foreign source dividend income subject to US federal income taxation
as ordinary income, to the extent paid out of National Grids current or accumulated earnings and
profits, as determined under US federal income tax principles. Subject to certain exceptions for
short-term and hedged positions, the US dollar amount of dividends received by certain
non-corporate US Holders with respect to ADSs or ordinary shares before January 1, 2013 will be
subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 15% if the dividends are qualified dividends. Dividends
received with respect to ADSs or ordinary shares will be qualified dividends if National Grid (i)
is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the US that the US Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) has approved for purposes of the qualified dividend rules and (ii) was not,
in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and is not, in the year in which the
dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (PFIC). The Tax Convention has been
approved for purposes of the qualified dividend rules. Based on National Grids audited financial
statements and relevant market and shareholder data, National Grid believes that it was not treated
as a PFIC for US federal income tax purposes with respect to its taxable year ending March 31,
2010. In addition, based on its unaudited financial statements and its current expectations
regarding the value and nature of its assets, the sources and nature of its income, and relevant
market and shareholder data, National Grid does not anticipate becoming a PFIC for its taxable year
ending March 31, 2011 or in the foreseeable future. Dividends paid by National Grid to corporate
US Holders will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally allowed to
corporations.
Taxation of Capital Gains
US Holders will not be liable for UK taxation on any capital gain realized on the disposal of
ADSs or ordinary shares.
Sales or other taxable dispositions of ADSs or ordinary shares by a US Holder generally will
give rise to US source capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the US dollar value of
the amount realized on the disposition and the US Holders US dollar basis in the shares or ADSs.
Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss, subject to taxation
at reduced rates for non-corporate taxpayers, if the ordinary shares or ADSs were held for more
than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
UK Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT)
Transfers of ordinary shares SDRT at the rate of 0.5% of the amount of value of the
consideration will generally be payable on any agreement to transfer ordinary shares that is not
completed by the execution of a duly stamped instrument of transfer to the transferee. Where an
instrument of transfer is executed and duly stamped before the expiry of the period of six years
beginning with the date on which the agreement is made, the SDRT liability will be cancelled, and,
if a claim is made within the specified period, any SDRT which has been paid will be refunded. SDRT
is due whether or not the agreement or transfer of such chargeable securities is made or carried
out in the UK and whether or not any party to that agreement or transfer is a UK resident.
Purchases of ordinary shares completed by execution of a stock transfer form will generally give
rise to a liability to UK stamp duty at the rate of 0.5% (rounded up to the nearest £5) of the
amount or value of the consideration. Paperless transfers under the CREST paperless settlement
system will generally be liable to SDRT at the rate of 0.5%, and not stamp duty. SDRT is generally
the liability of the purchaser and UK stamp duty is usually paid by the purchaser or transferee.
10
Transfers of ADSs No UK stamp duty will be payable on the acquisition or transfer of
existing ADSs or beneficial ownership of ADSs, provided that any instrument of transfer or written
agreement to transfer is executed outside the UK and remains at all times outside the UK. An
agreement for the transfer of ADSs in the form of ADRs will not give rise to a liability for SDRT.
A charge to stamp duty or SDRT may arise on the issue or transfer of ordinary shares to the
Depositary or The Bank of New York as agent of the Depositary (the Custodian). The rate of stamp
duty or SDRT will generally be 1.5% of either (i) in the case of an issue of ordinary shares, the
issue price of the ordinary shares concerned, or (ii) in the case of a transfer of ordinary shares,
the value of the consideration or, in some circumstances, the value of the ordinary shares
concerned. The Depositary will generally be liable for the stamp duty or SDRT. In accordance with
the terms of the Depositary Agreement, the Depositary will charge any tax payable by the Depositary
or the Custodian (or their nominees) on the deposit of ordinary shares to the party to whom the
ADSs are delivered against such deposits. If the stamp duty is not a multiple of £5, the duty will
be rounded up to the nearest multiple of £5.
US Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments made to holders and proceeds paid from the sale, exchange, redemption or
disposal of ADSs or ordinary shares may be subject to information reporting to the IRS. Such
payments may be subject to backup withholding taxes unless the holder (i) is a corporation or other
exempt recipient or (ii) provides a taxpayer identification number on a properly completed IRS Form
W-9 and certifies that no loss of exemption from backup withholding has occurred. Holders that are
not US persons generally are not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However,
such a holder may be required to provide a certification of its non-US status in connection with
payments received within the US or through a US-related financial intermediary.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be
credited against a holders US federal income tax liability. A holder may obtain a refund of any
excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for
refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
UK Inheritance Tax
An individual who is domiciled in the US for the purposes of the convention between the US and
the UK for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to estate and gift taxes (the Estate Tax
Convention) and who is not a national of the UK for the purposes of the Estate Tax Convention will
generally not be subject to UK inheritance tax in respect of the ADSs or ordinary shares on the
individuals death or on a gift of the ADSs or ordinary shares during the individuals lifetime,
unless the ADSs or ordinary shares are part of the business property of a permanent establishment
of the individual in the UK or pertain to a fixed base in the UK of an individual who performs
independent personal services. Special rules apply to ADSs or ordinary shares held in trust. In the
exceptional case where the ADSs or shares are subject both to UK inheritance tax and to US federal
gift or estate tax, the Estate Tax Convention generally provides for the tax paid in the UK to be
credited against tax paid in the US.
Documents on display
National Grid is subject to the filing requirements of the Exchange Act, as amended. In
accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). These materials, including this document, may be inspected during
normal business hours at our registered office 1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH or at the SECs Public
Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. For further information about the Public
Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Some of our filings are also available on
the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities Depositary Fees and Charges
The Depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors
depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting
for them. The Depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those
fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the
fees. The Depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for
those services are paid.
|
|
|
Persons Depositing or Withdrawing Shares Must Pay: |
|
For: |
$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)
|
|
Issuance of ADSs,
including issuances
resulting from a
distribution of shares or rights or
other property;
cancellation of |
11
|
|
|
Persons Depositing or Withdrawing Shares Must Pay: |
|
For: |
|
|
ADSs
for the purpose of
withdrawal, including
if the deposit
agreement terminates;
distribution of
securities
distributed to
holders of deposited
securities which are
distributed by the
Depositary to ADS
registered holders. |
|
|
|
$.02 or less per ADS (or a portion thereof)
|
|
Cash distributions to
holders, except for
distributions of cash
dividends. |
|
|
|
Registration or transfer fees
|
|
Transfer and
registration of
shares on our share
register to or from
the name of the
Depositary or its
agent when they
deposit or withdraw
shares. |
|
|
|
Expenses of the Depositary
|
|
Cable, telex and
facsimile
transmissions (when
expressly provided in
the deposit
agreement);
converting foreign
currency to US
dollars. |
|
|
|
Taxes and other governmental charges the Depositary
or the custodian has to pay on any ADS or share
underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer
taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes
|
|
As necessary. |
Depositary Payments to the Company
The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary, has agreed to reimburse the Company for expenses
it incurs that are related maintenance expenses of the American Depositary Receipt program. The
Depositary has also agreed to pay the standard out-of-pocket maintenance costs for the ADRs, which
consist of the expenses of postage and envelopes for mailing annual and interim financial reports,
printing and distributing dividend checks, electronic filing of U.S. Federal tax information,
mailing required tax forms, stationery, postage, facsimile and telephone calls. It has also agreed
to reimburse the Company annually for certain investor relationship programs or special investor
relations promotional activities. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the
Depositary will reimburse the Company, but the amount of reimbursement available to the Company is
not necessarily tied to the amount of fees the Depositary collects from investors. From 1 April
2010 through 9 June 2011, the Company received $848,038.77 in reimbursements from the Depositary.
Any questions from ADS holders should be directed to The Bank of New York Mellon:
The Bank of New York Mellon
Shareholder Correspondence
PO Box 358516
Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8516
Telephone: 1-800-466-7215 (International +1-212-815-3700)
Email: shrrelations@mellon.com
12
PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
There has been no material default in the payment of principal, interest, a sinking or
purchase fund instalment or any other material default with respect to the indebtedness for or in
respect of monies borrowed or raised by whatever means of the Company or any of its significant
subsidiaries. There have been no arrears in the payment of dividends on, and no material
delinquency with respect to, any class of preferred stock of any significant subsidiary of the
Company required to be reported under this Item 13.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
A. Disclosure controls and procedures
We have carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including the Chief Executive and Finance Director, of the effectiveness of the design
and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of 31 March 2011. There are inherent
limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the
possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures.
Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving their control objectives. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide
reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive
and Finance Director concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide
reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file and
submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarised and reported as and when required
and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief
Executive and Finance Director, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
B. Managements evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our
internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent
limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive and Finance Director, conducted
an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting based
on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this evaluation, management concluded
that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of 31 March 2011.
C. Independent auditor attestation
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which has audited our consolidated financial statements for the
fiscal year ended 31 March 2011, has also audited the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting. The attestation report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is included under Item 18
of this Form 20-F.
D. Change in internal control over financial reporting
During the period covered by this report, there were no changes in our internal control over
financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect,
our internal control over financial reporting.
13
Item 16. [Reserved]
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Board of Directors has determined that George Rose, chairman of the Companys Audit
Committee, is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of this Item 16A. A brief
listing of Mr. Roses relevant experience is included on page 9 of the Companys Annual Report and
Accounts 2010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1. Mr. Rose is also independent
within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange listing rules.
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal
financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller, and any person performing similar
functions. This code is available on our website at www.nationalgrid.com, where any amendments or
waivers will also be posted. There were no amendments to, or waivers under, our code of ethics in
the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, served as auditors
of the Company for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011.
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Year Ended |
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Year Ended |
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March 31, |
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March 31, |
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2011 |
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2010 |
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£m |
Audit fees |
|
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7.9 |
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|
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8.4 |
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Audit related fees |
|
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0.0 |
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0.2 |
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Tax fees |
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0.9 |
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1.4 |
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All other fees |
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1.8 |
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1.0 |
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Total |
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£ |
10.6 |
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£ |
11.0 |
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Subject to the Companys Articles and the Companies Act, the Audit Committee is solely and
directly responsible for the approval of the appointment, re-appointment, compensation and
oversight of the Companys independent auditors. It is our policy that the Audit Committee must
approve in advance all non-audit work to be performed by the independent auditors.
During fiscal 2010/11, all of the above services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
|
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(1) |
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The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the audit
of the Companys financial statements and regulatory reporting for the
fiscal year ended 31 March 2011 and the review of interim financial
statements for the six months ended 30 September 2010 were
£7.9million. Fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the audit
of the Companys financial statements and regulatory reporting for the
fiscal year ended 31 March 2010 and the review of interim financial
statements for the six months ended 30 September 2009, were
£8.4million. |
|
(2) |
|
The aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for assurance
and related services that were reasonably related to the performance
of the audit or review of the Companys financial statements and are
not disclosed under Audit Fees above were £0.0 million in fiscal
2010/11 and £0.2million in fiscal 2009/10. |
|
(3) |
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Aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning were £0.9 million in fiscal
2010/11 and £1.4million in fiscal 2009/10. |
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(4) |
|
Aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for all other
services in fiscal 2010/11 were £1.7million. Other services include
fees relating to the rights issue, assurance on various systems
projects and sundry services, all of which have been subject to Audit
Committee approval. Aggregate fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP for all other services in fiscal 2009/10 were £1.0million. |
14
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
The following table provides information on Ordinary Shares purchased by the Company during
fiscal
2010/11:
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(c). Total Number of |
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(d). Maximum Number |
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Shares Purchased |
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of Shares (Rounded) |
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(b). Average |
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as Part of Publicly |
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that May Yet Be |
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(a). Total Number of |
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Price Paid |
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Announced Plans |
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Purchased Under the |
Periods |
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Shares Purchased |
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per Share |
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or Programs |
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Plans or Programs |
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No securities were purchased by the Company during fiscal year 2010/11.
Note: At the Companys 2006 Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in July 2006,
shareholder approval was given to purchase up to 10% of the ordinary shares in issue (up to 272
million shares), which approval was repeated at the Companys 2007 AGM, held in July 2007, to
purchase 10% of the then issued share capital (up to 270 million shares), and again at the
Companys 2008 AGM, held in July 2008, to purchase 10% of the then issued capital shares (up to 250
million shares), and again at the Companys 2009 AGM, held in July 2009, to purchase 10% of the
then issued capital shares (up to 243 million shares) and again
at the Companys 2010 AGM held in July 2010 to purchase 10% of
the then issued capital shares per annum. The Board will seek shareholder approval to
renew this authority at the next AGM in July 2011. As part of the interim results for the six
months to 30 September 2006, a share buy-back programme was announced to return around $1.9 billion
(£1 billion) (based on cash flows from stranded assets under our US rate plans). The ordinary share
buyback commenced on 20 November 2006 and continued pursuant to the Boards general authority as
approved by the shareholders. In 2009, the Company announced its intention to suspend the share
buy-back programme and as such is not currently returning stranded asset cash flows via share
repurchases. On 3 April 2007 the Company announced the sale of its UK Wireless business and the
return of £1.8 billion to shareholders via an extension of the existing share buy-back programme,
which was completed in September 2008.
Item 16F. Change in Registrants Certifying Accountant
Not applicable.
Item 16G. Corporate Governance
15
PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements
The Company has responded to Item 18 in lieu of this Item.
Item 18. Financial Statements
The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is
presented below.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of National Grid plc
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated income
statements, consolidated statements of cash flow, consolidated statements of comprehensive income
and, consolidated statements of changes in equity, present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of National Grid plc and its subsidiaries at 31 March 2011 and 2010 and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
31 March 2011, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board and in conformity with International Financial Reporting
Standards as adopted by the European Union. Also, in our opinion the Company maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 31 March 2011, based
on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The
Companys management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective
internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, included in Managements evaluation of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting under Item 15 in this Form 20-F. Our responsibility is
to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Companys internal control over
financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with
the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and International
Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and
whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining
an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material
weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal
control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as
we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable
basis for our opinions.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A
companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management
and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or
timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that
could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or
detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
London
United Kingdom
18 May 2011
16
Item 19. Exhibits
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, National Grid has filed certain agreements
as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 20-F. These agreements may contain representations and
warranties by the parties to them. These representations and warranties have been made solely for
the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreement and (i) may be intended not as
statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties to such
agreements if those statements turn out to be inaccurate, (ii) may have been qualified by
disclosures that were made to such other party or parties and that either have been reflected in
the companys filings or are not required to be disclosed in those filings, (iii) may apply
materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors and (iv) were made
only as of the date of such agreements or such other date or dates as may be specified in such
agreements.
In accordance with the instructions to Item 2(b)(i) of the Instructions to Exhibits to the
Form 20-F, National Grid agrees to furnish to the SEC, upon request, a copy of any instrument
relating to long-term debt that does not exceed 10 percent of the total assets of National Grid and
its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
17
|
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Description |
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1.1
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Articles of Association of National Grid plc adopted by Special Resolution
passed on 27 July 2009, effective 1 October 2009
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Incorporated by reference |
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2(a)
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Amended and restated Deposit Agreement dated as of 1 August 2005 among
National Grid plc and The Bank of New York. (Exhibit 2 (a) to National Grid
plc Form 20-F dated 17 June 2008 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated By Reference |
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2(b).1
|
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Amended and Restated Trust Deed dated 26 July 2010 among National Grid plc,
National Grid Electricity Transmission plc and the Law Debenture Trust
Corporation p.l.c. relating to a 15,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note
Programme.
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Filed herewith |
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2(b).2
|
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Amended and Restated Trust Deed dated 18 February 2011 among National Grid Gas
plc, National Grid Gas Finance (NO 1) plc and the Law Debenture Trust
Corporation p.l.c relating to a 10,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note
Programme.
|
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Filed herewith |
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4(a).1
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Underwriting Agreement among National Grid plc and the underwriting banks
named therein, dated as 20 May 2010. (Exhibit 4.A.1 to National Grid plc Form
20-F dated 25 May 2010 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).1
|
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Service Agreement among National Grid plc and Mark Fairbairn 23 January 2007.
(Exhibit 4 (c).2 to National Grid Transco Form 20-F dated 19 June 2007 File
No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).2
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Service Agreement among The National Grid plc and Steven Holliday dated 1
April 2006. (Exhibit 4.(c).3 to National Grid Transco Form 20-F dated 19 June
2007 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).3
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Service Agreement among National Grid Group plc, National Grid Company plc and
Steve Lucas dated 13 June 2002. (Exhibit 4.5 to National Grid Transco Form
20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).4
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Service Agreement among National Grid Transco plc, National Grid Company plc
and Nicholas Winser dated 28 April 2003. (Exhibit 4.8 to National Grid Transco
Form 20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
|
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).5
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Employment Agreement among National Grid plc, National Grid USA and Thomas
King dated 11 July 2007. (Exhibit 4 (c).9 to National Grid plc Form 20-F
dated 17 June 2008 File No. 1-14958)
|
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).6
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Letter of Appointment Linda Adamany (Exhibit 4 (c).9 to National Grid plc
Form 20-F dated 19 June 2007 File No. 1-14958)
|
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).7
|
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Letter of Appointment Philip Aiken (Exhibit 4 (c).11 to National Grid plc
Form 20-F dated 17 June 2008 File No. 1-14958)
|
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).8.1
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Letter of Appointment John Allan (Exhibit 4.10 to National Grid Transco
Form 20-F dated 15 June 2005 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).8.2
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Letter dated 7 March 2006 to John Allan relating to appointment as chairman of
Remuneration Committee. (Exhibit 4 (c).8.2 to National Grid plc Form 20-F
dated 20 June 2006 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).9
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Letter of Appointment Ken Harvey (Exhibit 4.10 to National Grid Transco
Form 20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).10
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Letter of Appointment Sir John Parker (Exhibit 4.12 to National Grid
Transco Form 20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).11
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Letter of Appointment Stephen Pettit (Exhibit 4.13 to National Grid Transco
Form 20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
18
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Description |
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4(c).12
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Letter of Appointment Maria Richter (Exhibit 4.14 to National Grid Transco
Form 20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).13
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Letter of Appointment George Rose (Exhibit 4.15 to National Grid Transco
Form 20-F dated 16 June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).14
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National Grid plc Deferred Share Plan. (Exhibit 4 (c).16 to National Grid plc
Form 20-F dated 20 June 2006 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).15
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National Grid Executive Share Option Plan 2002 (Exhibit 4 (c) to National Grid
Group Form 20-F dated 21 June 2002 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).16
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National Grid Group Share Matching Plan 2002 (Exhibit 4 (c) to National Grid
Group Form 20-F dated 21 June 2002 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).17
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National Grid Transco Performance Share Plan 2002 (as approved 23 July 2002 by
a resolution of the shareholders of National Grid Group plc, adopted 17
October 2002 by a resolution of the Board of National Grid Group plc, amended
26 June 2003 by the Share Schemes Sub-Committee of National Grid Transco plc,
and amended 5 May 2004 by the Share Schemes Sub-Committee of National Grid
Transco plc) (Exhibit 4.19 to National Grid Transco Form 20-F dated 16 June
2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).18
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National Grid Executive Share Option Scheme (Exhibit 4D to National Grid Group
S-8 dated 26 July 2001 File No. 333-65968)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).19
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Lattice Group Short Term Incentive Scheme (approved by a resolution of the
shareholders of BG Group plc effective 23 October 2000; approved by a
resolution of the Board of National Grid Transco plc on 30 April 2004; amended
by resolutions of the Board of Lattice Group plc effective on 21 October 2002
and 13 May 2004) (Exhibit 4.23 to National Grid Transco Form 20-F dated 16
June 2004 File No. 1-14958)
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Incorporated by reference |
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4(c).20
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Service Agreement among The National Grid plc and Andrew Bonfield dated 1
November 2010.
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Filed herewith |
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8
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List of subsidiaries
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Filed herewith |
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12.1
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Certification of Steve Holliday pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
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Filed herewith |
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12.2
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Certification of Andrew Bonfield pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act
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Filed herewith |
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13
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Certifications of Steve Holliday and Andrew Bonfield furnished pursuant to
Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act (such certifications are not deemed filed
for purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act and not incorporated by
reference in any filing under the Securities Act).
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Filed herewith |
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15.1
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National Grid plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11, in extracted form
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Filed herewith |
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15.2
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Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm to National Grid plc
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Filed herewith |
19
SIGNATURE
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F
and that it has duly caused and authorised the undersigned to sign this annual report on its
behalf.
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NATIONAL GRID PLC
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By: |
/s/ Andrew Bonfield
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Andrew Bonfield |
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Finance Director |
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London, England
13 June 2011
20