STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report, remuneration report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have prepared the Group and Company financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and Group and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to:

  • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
  • make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
  • state that the financial statements comply with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;
  • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business, in which case there should be supporting assumptions or qualifications as necessary.

The directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements and remuneration report comply with the Companies Act 1985 and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

By order of the board

M Sherwin
Secretary
30 July 2007

COMPANY'S DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS

Directors
T H F Kirby, chairman and chief executive
M Sherwin, finance director
C J Myatt, senior independent director
N J Donaldson, independent director
A J H Stewart, independent director

Company secretary
M Sherwin

Registered office
Willow Road
Nottingham NG7 2WS

Registered number
2670969

Financial advisers and stockbrokers
Bridgewell Limited
Old Change House
128 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4BJ

Principal bankers
Bank of Scotland
55 Temple Row
Birmingham B2 5LS

Registered auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cornwall Court
19 Cornwall Street
Birmingham B3 2DT

Registrars
Lloyds TSB Registrars Scotland
PO Box 28448
Finance House
Orchard Brae
Edinburgh EH4 1PF

Solicitors
Shoosmiths
Lock House
Castle Meadow Road
Nottingham NG2 1AG

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