SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
| | |
(Mark One) | | |
|
o | | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR(g)OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
|
OR
| | |
þ | | 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
| | For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2010 |
OR
|
o | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
|
OR
| | |
o | | 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 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period fromto
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 toSection 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
| | |
Title of each class | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|
Ordinary Shares of 1117/ 17/43 pence each | | The New York Stock Exchange* |
American Depositary Shares, each representing five | | The New York Stock Exchange |
Ordinary Shares of 1117/ 17/43 pence each | | |
6.625% Guaranteed Notes due 2018 | | The New York Stock Exchange |
6.30% Guaranteed Notes due 2016 | | The New York Stock Exchange |
Preferred Stock ($100 par value-cumulative): | | |
3.90% Series | | The New York Stock Exchange |
3.60% Series | | The New York Stock Exchange |
| | |
* | | 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 toSection 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:None.
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant toSection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:None.
The number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of March 31, 20102011 was
| | |
|
Ordinary Shares of 1117/ 17/43 pence each | | 2,617,190,0953,648,339,475 |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act: Yesþ Noo
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. Yeso Noþ
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: Yesþ Noo
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 ofRegulation 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): Yeso Noo
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” inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | | |
Large accelerated filerþ | | Accelerated filero | | Non-accelerated filero |
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAPo International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Boardþ Othero
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 17o Item 18o
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yeso Noþ
As used in this Annual Report, unless the context requires otherwise,
“National“National Grid”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our” refers to National Grid plc and its subsidiaries.
Cautionary Statement
This Annual Report onForm 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 criticalnon-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 Company’s subsidiaries. In addition the Company’s 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.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1.Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
| |
Item 1. | Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers |
Not applicable.
| |
Item 2. | Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable |
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 Company’s 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:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2007 |
Revenue2 | | £m | | | 14,343 | | | | 14,007 | | | | 15,687 | | | | 11,498 | | | | 8,778 | |
Total operating profit | | £m | | | 3,745 | | | | 3,293 | | | | 2,623 | | | | 2,964 | | | | 2,513 | |
Profit for the year from continuing operations | | £m | | | 2,163 | | | | 1,389 | | | | 922 | | | | 1,575 | | | | 1,310 | |
Profit for the year | | £m | | | 2,163 | | | | 1,389 | | | | 947 | | | | 3,193 | | | | 1,396 | |
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations3 | | Pence | | | 63.9 | | | | 48.4 | | | | 31.8 | | | | 51.3 | | | | 41.0 | |
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations3 | | Pence | | | 63.6 | | | | 48.2 | | | | 31.7 | | | | 51.1 | | | | 40.8 | |
Basic earnings per share3 | | Pence | | | 63.9 | | | | 48.4 | | | | 32.7 | | | | 104.2 | | | | 43.7 | |
Diluted earnings per share3 | | Pence | | | 63.6 | | | | 48.2 | | | | 32.5 | | | | 103.7 | | | | 43.5 | |
Number of shares — basic4 | | Millions | | | 3,378 | | | | 2,864 | | | | 2,886 | | | | 3,062 | | | | 3,188 | |
Number of shares — diluted4 | | Millions | | | 3,397 | | | | 2,877 | | | | 2,902 | | | | 3,077 | | | | 3,206 | |
Total assets | | £m | | | 46,375 | | | | 43,553 | | | | 44,467 | | | | 37,771 | | | | 28,389 | |
Net assets | | £m | | | 9,069 | | | | 4,211 | | | | 3,984 | | | | 5,374 | | | | 4,136 | |
Total parent company shareholders’ equity | | £m | | | 9,060 | | | | 4,199 | | | | 3,970 | | | | 5,356 | | | | 4,125 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: paid during the year | | Pence | | | 37.74 | | | | 36.65 | | | | 33.94 | | | | 29.5 | | | | 26.8 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: approved or proposed during the year | | Pence | | | 36.37 | | | | 38.49 | | | | 35.64 | | | | 33.0 | | | | 28.7 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: paid during the year | | US | | $ | 0.592 | | | | 0.579 | | | | 0.523 | | | | 0.593 | | | | 0.513 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: approved or proposed during the year | | US | | $ | 0.571 | | | | 0.608 | | | | 0.549 | | | | 0.663 | | | | 0.549 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
|
Revenue | | £m | | | 13,988 | | | | 15,624 | | | | 11,423 | | | | 8,695 | | | | 8,868 | |
Total operating profit | | £m | | | 3,293 | | | | 2,623 | | | | 2,964 | | | | 2,513 | | | | 2,374 | |
Profit for the year from continuing operations | | £m | | | 1,389 | | | | 922 | | | | 1,575 | | | | 1,310 | | | | 1,183 | |
Profit for the year | | £m | | | 1,389 | | | | 947 | | | | 3,193 | | | | 1,396 | | | | 3,850 | |
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations2 | | Pence | | | 56.1 | | | | 36.9 | | | | 59.5 | | | | 47.4 | | | | 41.1 | |
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations | | Pence | | | 55.8 | | | | 36.6 | | | | 59.1 | | | | 47.2 | | | | 40.9 | |
Basic earnings per share | | Pence | | | 56.1 | | | | 37.9 | | | | 120.7 | | | | 50.6 | | | | 134.0 | |
Diluted earnings per share | | Pence | | | 55.8 | | | | 37.6 | | | | 120.0 | | | | 50.3 | | | | 133.3 | |
Number of shares — basic | | Millions | | | 2,470 | | | | 2,490 | | | | 2,644 | | | | 2,754 | | | | 2,872 | |
Number of shares — diluted | | Millions | | | 2,483 | | | | 2,507 | | | | 2,659 | | | | 2,772 | | | | 2,886 | |
Total assets | | £m | | | 43,553 | | | | 44,467 | | | | 37,771 | | | | 28,389 | | | | 25,924 | |
Net assets | | £m | | | 4,211 | | | | 3,984 | | | | 5,374 | | | | 4,136 | | | | 3,493 | |
Total parent company shareholders’ equity | | £m | | | 4,199 | | | | 3,970 | | | | 5,356 | | | | 4,125 | | | | 3,482 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: paid during the year | | Pence | | | 36.65 | | | | 33.94 | | | | 29.5 | | | | 26.8 | | | | 25.4 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: approved or proposed during the year | | Pence | | | 38.49 | | | | 35.64 | | | | 33.0 | | | | 28.7 | | | | 26.1 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: paid during the year | | US | | $ | 0.579 | | | | 0.523 | | | | 0.593 | | | | 0.513 | | | | 0.455 | |
Dividends per ordinary share: approved or proposed during the year | | US | | $ | 0.608 | | | | 0.549 | | | | 0.663 | | | | 0.549 | | | | 0.467 | |
| | |
(1)1 | | 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. |
1
| | |
| | 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. |
|
2 | | The selected financial dataItems previously reported for continuing operations excludes businesses discontinued during the periods presented, principally our Ravenswood generation station, disposed of in August 2008, our former UK and US wireless operations and our former electricity interconnector business in Australia, disposed of in April and August 2007 and four gas distribution networks in the UK disposed of in June 2005.2007—2010 separately as “other operating income” have been included within revenue. |
|
(2)3 | | In accordance with IAS 33, per share dataItems previously reported for comparative periods has2007 - 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 viaas scrip dividends. |
|
4 | | 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“Financial Calendar” and “Dividends” on page
190188 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts
2009/102010/11 (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 21 May 2010.9 June 2011.
| | | | | | | | |
| | High | | Low |
|
May 2010* | | | 1.5116 | | | | 1.4305 | |
April 2010 | | | 1.5499 | | | | 1.5200 | |
March 2010 | | | 1.5295 | | | | 1.4885 | |
February 2010 | | | 1.5969 | | | | 1.5224 | |
January 2010 | | | 1.6372 | | | | 1.5935 | |
December 2009 | | | 1.6658 | | | | 1.5932 | |
November 2009 | | | 1.6796 | | | | 1.6379 | |
As at 9 June 2011 1.6366
| | | | | | | | |
| | High | | Low |
June 2011* | | | 1.6452 | | | | 1.6334 | |
May 2011 | | | 1.6543 | | | | 1.6118 | |
April 2011 | | | 1.6648 | | | | 1.603 | |
March 2011 | | | 1.6387 | | | | 1.5973 | |
February 2011 | | | 1.6265 | | | | 1.5994 | |
January 2011 | | | 1.6160 | | | | 1.5464 | |
December 2010 | | | 1.5857 | | | | 1.5391 | |
| | | | |
| | Average** |
2010/11 | | | 1.56 | |
2009/10 | | | 1.58 | |
2008/09 | | | 1.54 | |
2007/08 | | | 2.01 | |
2006/07 | | | 1.91 | |
2005/06 | | | 1.78 | |
| | |
* | | For the period to 21 May 2010.9 June 2011. |
|
** | | 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 factorsFactors
The information set forth under the heading
“Risk“Risk factors” on pages
9391 to
9593 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts
2009/102010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1 is incorporated herein by reference.
2
| |
Item 4. | Information on the Company |
Item 4.Information on the Company
History and development of the Company
National Grid plc was incorporated on 11 July 2000. 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 Company’s 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 a15-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 a20-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.
OurWe own and operate the gas National Transmission System (NTS) in the UK which is a gas transmission network comprises approximately 4,725 miles (approximately 7,600 kilometers)comprised of high pressure transmission pipelines.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.
OurWe own and operate the national electricity transmission system consistsfor England and Wales consisting of overhead transmission lines and underground cable of approximately 4,900 route miles (approximately 7,200 kilometers of overhead transmission lines and 713 kilometers of 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
3
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. Our UKWe own and operate four of the eight regional gas distribution system consists of approximately 82,000 miles (approximately 132,000 kilometers) of distribution pipelines.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 (principally by lease) 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 company’s 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. OurWe own and operate a US electricity transmission systems consist of approximately 8,600 miles (approximately 13,800 kilometers)network spanning upstate New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont consisting of transmission andsub-transmission lines located withinright-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 andsub-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 andsub-transmission substation facilities are principally located on properties that are owned in fee.
US electricity and gas distribution. OurWe own and operate a US electricity and gas distribution systems consist of approximately 72,600 circuit miles (approximately 116,800 kilometers) of electric distribution lines located onrights-of-way in Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island and approximately 36,000 miles (approximately
4
58,000 kilometers) ofa gas distribution pipelines located onrights-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 |
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 5.Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
| |
Item 6. | Directors, Senior Management and Employees |
Item 6.Directors, Senior Management and Employees
The information set forth under the headings
“Board“Board of Directors” on pages
128 and
13, “Directors’9,“Directors’ Remuneration Report” on pages
9896 to 108,
“Note 4“Note 23 Pensions and other post-retirement benefits” on pages
131146 and
132, “Note147,“Note 30 Actuarial information on pensions and other post-retirement benefits” on pages 153 to
155, “Corporate156,“Corporate Governance” on pages
8480 to 95,
“Employees”“Employees” on page
97, “Note51 ,“Note 2 Operating costs: (b) Number of employees” on page
128,127 and
“Note“Note 25 Share capital” on
pages 148 andpage 149 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts
2009/102010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1 is incorporated herein by reference.
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 |
Item 7.Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
Major shareholders
As at 21 May 2010,9 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
| | | | | | | | |
| | Number of Ordinary | | % of Outstanding |
| | Shares | | Share Capital* |
Black Rock Inc. | | | 182,630,798 | | | | 5.21 | |
Legal and General Group plc | | | 138,503,443 | | | | 3.99 | |
Crescent Holding GmbH | | | 149,414,285 | | | | 4.31 | |
Capital Group Companies, Inc. | | | 176,730,831 | | | | 5.04 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Number of
| | % of Outstanding
|
| | Ordinary Shares | | Share Capital* |
|
Black Rock Inc. | | | 123,761,405 | | | | 4.99 | |
Legal and General Group plc | | | 107,703,278 | | | | 4.35 | |
Crescent Holding GmbH | | | 106,724,490 | | | | 4.34 | |
Capital Group Companies, Inc. | | | 102,067,366 | | | | 3.75 | |
FMR Corp. | | | 82,805,863 | | | | 3.06 | |
| | |
* | | 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 21 May 2010, 141,092,5539 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.
5
Approximately 16.3%..0172% of National Grid’s ordinary shares, including American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), are held beneficially by persons in the US, and there are approximately 3,5803,578 US holders on the ordinary share register andregister. There are approximately 18,30017,800 registered holders of ADSs. BNY Mellon, as custodian of the Company’s ADR programme, held approximately 9% of the Company’s 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“Note 29 Related party transactions” on page 153 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts
2009/102010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1 is incorporated herein by reference.
| |
Item 8. | Financial Information |
Item 8.Financial Information
The information set forth under the headings
“Accounting“Accounting policies” on pages 112 to
117, “Adoption118,“Adoption of new accounting standards” on pages 118 and 119, “Consolidated balance sheet” on page
119,“Consolidated balance sheet” on page 122,
“Consolidated“Consolidated income statement” on page 120,
“Consolidated“Consolidated statement of comprehensive income” on page 121,
“Consolidated“Consolidated statement of changes in equity” on page 123,
“Consolidated“Consolidated cash flow statement” on page 124,
“Notes“Notes to the consolidated financial statements — analysis of items in the primary statements” on pages 125 to
150, “Notes151,“Notes to the consolidated financial statements — supplementary information”information “ on pages
151152 to
178, “Legal and related matters”176,“Details of material litigation as at 31 March 2011” on page
21,76 and
the chart “Total“Total shareholder return” on page
2855 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts
2009/102010/11 (in extracted form) contained in Exhibit 15.1 is incorporated herein by reference.
| |
Item 9. | The Offer and Listing |
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.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ordinary Share | | |
| | (Pence) | | ADS ($) |
| | High | | Low | | High | | Low |
2010/11 | | | 666.00 | | | | 474.80 | | | | 51.00 | | | | 36.72 | |
2009/10 | | | 685.50 | | | | 511.00 | | | | 56.59 | | | | 38.25 | |
2008/09 | | | 754.00 | | | | 515.00 | | | | 74.89 | | | | 36.64 | |
2007/08 | | | 863.00 | | | | 686.00 | | | | 86.58 | | | | 69.22 | |
2006/07 | | | 797.50 | | | | 552.00 | | | | 78.81 | | | | 48.83 | |
2005/06 | | | 613.50 | | | | 489.25 | | | | 53.45 | | | | 44.48 | |
2004/05 | | | 549.50 | | | | 421.25 | | | | 52.06 | | | | 37.59 | |
2010/11 Q4 | | | 598.31 | | | | 521.50 | | | | 48.41 | | | | 42.29 | |
Q3 | | | 600.50 | | | | 536.50 | | | | 48.88 | | | | 42.76 | |
Q2 | | | 565.00 | | | | 480.30 | | | | 44.17 | | | | 36.72 | |
Q1 | | | 666.00 | | | | 474.80 | | | | 51.00 | | | | 36.77 | |
2009/10 Q4 | | | 685.50 | | | | 619.50 | | | | 55.13 | | | | 46.85 | |
Q3 | | | 683.50 | | | | 572.50 | | | | 56.59 | | | | 46.13 | |
Q2 | | | 628.00 | | | | 529.50 | | | | 52.00 | | | | 43.05 | |
Q1 | | | 617.00 | | | | 511.00 | | | | 50.25 | | | | 38.25 | |
June 2011* | | | 607.00 | | | | 586.00 | | | | 49.95 | | | | 48.20 | |
May 2011 | | | 639.00 | | | | 607.00 | | | | 52.18 | | | | 49.65 | |
April 2011 | | | 617.42 | | | | 583.50 | | | | 51.43 | | | | 47.65 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ordinary Share
| | |
| | (Pence) | | ADS ($) |
| | High | | Low | | High | | Low |
|
2009/10 | | | 685.50 | | | | 511.00 | | | | 56.59 | | | | 38.25 | |
2008/09 | | | 754.00 | | | | 515.00 | | | | 74.89 | | | | 36.64 | |
2007/08 | | | 863.00 | | | | 686.00 | | | | 86.58 | | | | 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 | |
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 | |
2008/09 Q4 | | | 717.00 | | | | 515.00 | | | | 53.57 | | | | 36.64 | |
Q3 | | | 748.50 | | | | 531.50 | | | | 65.42 | | | | 43.40 | |
Q2 | | | 737.00 | | | | 639.60 | | | | 69.74 | | | | 60.58 | |
Q1 | | | 754.00 | | | | 638.50 | | | | 74.89 | | | | 63.74 | |
May 2010* | | | 638.00 | | | | 551.50 | | | | 48.79 | | | | 40.00 | |
April 2010 | | | 666.00 | | | | 626.00 | | | | 51.00 | | | | 47.76 | |
March 2010 | | | 665.00 | | | | 628.50 | | | | 50.18 | | | | 46.85 | |
February 2010 | | | 653.50 | | | | 619.50 | | | | 51.60 | | | | 48.38 | |
January 2010 | | | 685.50 | | | | 628.00 | | | | 55.13 | | | | 49.95 | |
December 2009 | | | 683.50 | | | | 636.50 | | | | 56.03 | | | | 52.09 | |
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 21 May 2010.9 June 2011. |
6
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 |
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.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 2006 (the “Companies Act”).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 new Articles are filed herewithincorporated 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 Company’s corporate regulations. The Company’s 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 Company’s success.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 Company’s 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.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 itscalled-up share capital and undistributable reserves (as defined in the Companies Act). Subject to the foregoing, National Gridshareholders 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 Grid’s 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 or other sums payable 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.
7
(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 the Annuala General Meeting must be decided on a poll, other than those of a procedural nature.nature, unless a poll is demanded in accordance with the Articles.
(iii) Liquidation rights
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 awinding-up, a liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution of National Gridpassed by the shareholders and any other sanction required by applicable provisions ofunder English law, (a) divide among the shareholders the whole or any part of National Grid’s 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 different shareholders or different classes of shareholders, or otherwise as the resolution may provide, or (b) vest the whole or any part of the assets into trustees upon such trustson 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 an extraordinarya 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 Company’s 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 notice must also specifytransacted, the place, the daydate and the time of the meeting.
Rights of Non-Residents
There are no restrictions under National Grid’s 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 company’s 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 to give the required information with respect to past or present ownership or interests in those shares.Act. In the case of holders of 0.25% or more than 0.25% 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.
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 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 person’s directions or instructions or (ii) that person controls one-third or more of the voting power of that corporate body or (c) in which another party is interested and the person and that other party are parties to a ‘concert party’ agreement. A concert party agreement is one which provides for one or more parties to acquire interests in shares of a particular company and imposes obligations or restrictions on any one of the parties as to the use, retention or disposal of such interests acquired under the agreement, and any interest in the company’s shares is in fact acquired by any of the parties under the agreement. Some of the interests (e.g. those held by certain investment fund managers) may be disregarded for the purposes of calculating the 3% threshold, but the obligations
8
of disclosure will still apply where those interests exceed 10% or more of any class of the company’s relevant share capital and to increases or decreases of 1% or more thereafter.
In addition,Under the Companies Act, provides thatwhere 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 shares constituting the company’s ‘relevant share capital’. 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.
Where a company serves notice under the provisions described above on a person who is or was interested in shares of the company and that person fails to give the company any information required by thesuch notice within the time specified in the notice, the companyNational 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 person’s 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 person’s 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 the contracts mentioned above,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 ofand/or certain citizens, residents or bodies of certain countries (described in
9
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.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 electmark-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
10
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 Grid’s 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, 20112013 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 Grid’s 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 Holder’s 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
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 IRSForm 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 holder’s 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 individual’s death or on a gift of the ADSs or ordinary shares during the individual’s 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.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 SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. For further information about the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at1-800-SEC-0330. Some of our filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
| |
Item 11. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
Item 11.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
12
| |
Item 12. | Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities Depositary Fees and Charges |
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 |