Relations with shareholders
The Company welcomes constructive communication with all its shareholders. The executive directors of the Company maintain regular contact with its large institutional investors, as well as giving presentations to analysts at the announcements of its interim and preliminary results. During the last financial year, the executive directors met 77 times with institutional investors and discussed any issues raised at these meetings with the rest of the Board.
Investor feedback reports from these meetings, prepared by the Company's advisers, are also considered at Board meetings to update the non-executive directors on the views of major shareholders. The Board believes that these methods of investor feedback provide the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and the other non-executive directors with a balanced understanding of the issues and concerns of major shareholders. The Chairman continues to welcome contact with any shareholders who have matters they wish to discuss. The Company has not received any requests from institutional shareholders to meet with non-executive directors.
All shareholders are encouraged to contact the Company with queries or suggestions. Shareholder feedback on the 2004/05 annual report was taken into account in the preparation of the report and financial statements for 2005/06. A welcome letter is sent to all new non-corporate shareholders, which includes information on services available to shareholders. Shareholder information is also available on the Company's website. During the last financial year, the Company launched a programme to encourage shareholders to receive electronic communications from the Company and to manage their shareholdings online.
Requests from institutional shareholders to meet with non-executive directors should be made through the Company Secretary, Northumbrian Water Group plc, Northumbria House, Abbey Road, Pity Me, Durham, DH1 5FJ, Tel: 0191 301 6746, Fax: 0191 301 6712.
The Company is considering the use of CREST electronic voting for shareholders. Any institutional shareholders wishing to register an interest in the Company using this service are invited to write to the Company Secretary, Northumbrian Water Group plc, Northumbria House, Abbey Road, Pity Me, Durham, DH1 5FJ.