Notes to the consolidated financial statements – analysis of items in the primary statements

26. Reconciliation of movements in total equity

  Called-up share capital
£m
Share premium account
£m
Retained earnings
£m
Other equity reserves
£m
Total shareholders’ equity
£m
Minority interests
£m
Total equity
£m
At 1 April 2005 309 1,289 5,559 (5,089) 2,068 10 2,078
Total recognised income and expense for the year 3,969 128 4,097 3 4,100
Equity dividends (745) (745) (745)
Return of capital to shareholders through B share scheme (2,009) (2,009) (2,009)
Issue of ordinary share capital 1 27 28 28
Other movements in minority interests (2) (2)
Movement in shares held in employee share trusts 19 19 19
Share-based payment 17 17 17
Tax on share-based payment 7 7 7
At 31 March 2006 310 1,316 6,817 (4,961) 3,482 11 3,493
Total recognised income and expense for the year 1,689 (191) 1,498 1 1,499
Equity dividends (730) (730) (730)
Issue of ordinary share capital 16 16 16
Repurchase of shares (2) (169) 2 (169) (169)
Other movements in minority interests (1) (1)
Share-based payment 15 15 15
Tax on share-based payment 13 13 13
At 31 March 2007 308 1,332 7,635 (5,150) 4,125 11 4,136
Total recognised income and expense for the year 3,530 (54) 3,476 3 3,479
Equity dividends (780) (780) (780)
Issue of ordinary share capital 1 12 13 13
B shares converted to ordinary shares 27 27 27
Repurchase of share capital and purchase of treasury shares (i) (15) (1,522) 15 (1,522) (1,522)
Other movements in minority interests 4 4
Share-based payment 18 18 18
Transfer between reserves 63 (63)
Issue of treasury shares 10 10 10
Tax on share-based payment (5) (5) (5)
At 31 March 2008 294 1,371 8,949 (5,252) 5,362 18 5,380

(i) From 30 May 2007 to 31 March 2008, the Company repurchased under its share repurchase programme 200.1m ordinary shares for aggregate consideration of £1,516m including transaction costs. The shares repurchased have a nominal value of 11 17⁄43 pence each and represented 8% of the ordinary shares in issue as at 31 March 2008. Included within total equity is a deduction of £570m for treasury shares (31 March 2007: £nil). Further purchases of shares relating to employee share schemes were made for an aggregate consideration of £6m.

Other equity reserves

  Translation Cash flow hedge Available-for-sale Capital redemption Merger Total
At 1 April 2005 (13) 51 4 2 (5,133) (5,089)
Net income/(expense) recognised directly in equity 140 (14) 2 128
At 31 March 2006 127 37 6 2 (5,133) (4,961)
Net (expense)/income recognised directly in equity (175) (11) (5) (191)
Repurchase of share capital 2 2
At 31 March 2007 (48) 26 1 4 (5,133) (5,150)
Net (expense)/income recognised directly in equity (25) (37) 8 (54)
Repurchase of share capital 15 15
Transfer between reserves (31) (32) (63)
At 31 March 2008 (73) (42) 9 19 (5,165) (5,252)

The merger reserve represents the difference between the carrying value of subsidiary undertakings, investments and their respective capital structures following the Lattice demerger from BG Group plc and the 1999 Lattice refinancing of £(5,745)m and merger differences of £221m and £359m.

A £32m gain on transfer of fixed assets to a former joint venture which subsequently became a subsidiary undertaking was transferred from other reserves to profit and loss reserve, as a result of the disposal of our wireless business.

Gains and losses recognised in the cash flow hedge reserve on interest rate swap contracts as of 31 March 2008 will be continuously transferred to the income statement until the borrowings are repaid (refer to note 21).

The amount of the cash flow hedge reserve due to be released from reserves to the income statement within the next year is £10m, with the remaining amount due to be released with the same maturity profile as borrowings due after more than one year as shown in note 21.

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