Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can check your shareholding online by registering as a new user on the Shareholder Website at https://www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk

You can register as a new user online to change your personal details, such as changing your address details, registering or changing a dividend mandate instruction and registering to receive communications electronically. To do so please register your details on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk

You can access your shareholding account online by registering as a new user on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk and change the details yourself. Alternatively you can notify our Registrars in writing, however, if you hold shares in joint names, the notification must be signed by all shareholders. If you are also an Alliance & Leicester customer please advise the relevant department either by telephone or through the Branch network.

The share register is a public document and as such can be viewed externally; this is a legal requirement for all public companies.

Unfortunately this means that third parties can obtain your personal shareholding information such as your name, address and the number of shares you hold. Please view the warning we have published regarding potential fraud.

Alliance & Leicester takes this threat seriously and we have taken steps to reduce the possibility of fraud occurring. Although, it is not possible to prevent 'identity fraud', where a person may attempt to change your address or sell your shares, particularly when your name and address are held on a public document.

However, it is possible to prevent your details from being disclosed on the public share register by transferring your shares into our ShareSafe nominee. Should you wish to do so, please contact Capita Registrars.

The other advantages of holding your shares in ShareSafe include quicker and cheaper share dealing, through the Alliance and Leicester Share Dealing Service including the ShareSafe Online service, and there is no need to keep a share certificate. Statements are issued annually showing the number of shares held and any transactions during the year. Please refer to the terms and conditions.

Provisions included in the new Companies Act 2006 enable a company to use a website to issue documents and communications to shareholders which previously would have been sent by post, such as the AGM documentation (Summary or Full Annual Report, Notice of Meeting and Proxy voting form). Consequently a resolution was passed by shareholders at the 2007 AGM enabling the company to make documents available to shareholders on a website. As a result:

If you hold a share certificate:

• If you were entered on the register of members on 9 February 2007 you were sent a consent letter with the 2007 AGM documentation. This letter advised that if you wish to continue to receive shareholder documents or information by post you must return the consent slip to Capita Registrars within 28 days of receipt of the letter (by 23 April 2007).
• If you did not return the consent slip you were deemed to have consented to receive shareholder information via the Company's website. Consequently you will be notified in the form of an AGM notification letter when such information is available on the Shareholder Website (www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk). Please note you will continue to receive a consolidated tax voucher by post, this will be mailed with the AGM notification letter.

or

• If you became a shareholder after 9 February 2007 you will have received a welcome letter advising you that if you wish to continue to receive shareholder documents or information by post you must return the consent slip to Capita Registrars within 28 days of receipt of the welcome letter.
• If you do not receive the consent slip you will be deemed to have consented to receive shareholder information via the Company's website and you will be notified in the form of an AGM notification letter when such information is available on the shareholder website. Please note you will continue to receive a consolidated tax voucher by post, this will be mailed with the AGM notification letter.

Please note should you wish to amend your instruction you can do so at anytime by contacting Capita Registrars.

* Alternatively instead of receiving such documents by post or receiving notification that they are available on the website you can receive these documents by email by registering your email address on the Shareholder Website (www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk). This will result in you receiving an email at the appropriate time with links to the AGM documents.

If you hold your shares in ShareSafe (our Corporate Nominee),

If you are entered on the register of members at the appropriate time (the AGM record date) and have opted to receive the AGM documentation * you will be sent a notice of meeting which will contain details of the venue, time and date of the meeting, together with a direction form and the Summary Annual Report (of full Annual Report if requested). Please note you will receive your annual ShareSafe statement and a consolidated tax voucher by post, at this time.

If you have opted to receive communications electronically, instead of receiving these documents by post you will receive an email at the appropriate time with links to these AGM documents and will be asked to vote online. You can register to receive documents electronically on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk

*On 3 May 2005, the Alliance & Leicester ShareSafe Limited terms and conditions were updated to allow members to choose to receive the notice of meeting, direction form and the Summary Annual Report (or full Annual Report if requested). If you have not chosen to receive these you will continue to receive your annual ShareSafe statement and a consolidated tax voucher by post, but should you wish to receive the full AGM pack please contact the Registrars.

If you hold a share certificate:

No, providing you are entered on the register of members at the appropriate time (the AGM record date) :

• If you have consented to receive website communications (please refer to question 5 above) you will receive written notification that the Notice of Meeting and Summary and Full Annual Reports are available to view on the website and you will be directed to vote online (please note you can appoint a proxy online).
• If you have not consented to receive website communications (please refer to question 5 above) but have instead opted for paper communications you will be sent by post a Notice of Meeting, Summary or Full Annual Report and proxy form which will enable you to appoint a proxy to attend the meeting on your behalf and, on a poll, vote on your behalf. You will need to complete and return the proxy form by a specified date before the AGM. If you decide to attend you still can, and use your proxy form at the meeting.
• If you have opted to receive communications electronically you will receive an email at the appropriate time with links to the AGM documents and will be asked to vote online. You can register to receive documents electronically on the Shareholder Website (www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk).

If you hold your shares in ShareSafe (our Corporate Nominee):

No, providing you are entered on the register of members at the appropriate time (the AGM record date), and have opted to receive the AGM documentation* you will be sent a notice of meeting and direction form which will enable you to appoint a proxy to attend the meeting on your behalf and, on a poll, vote on your behalf. You will need to complete and return the direction form by a specified date before the AGM, you can also appoint a proxy online from this website. If you decide to attend you still can, and use your direction form at the meeting.

If you have opted to receive communications electronically instead of receiving these documents by post you will receive an email at the appropriate time with links to these AGM documents and will be asked to vote online. You can register to receive documents electronically on the Shareholder Website (www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk)

*On 3 May 2005, the Alliance & Leicester ShareSafe Limited terms and conditions were updated to allow members to choose to receive the notice of meeting, direction form and the Summary Annual Report (or full Annual Report if requested). If you have not chosen to receive these and would like to do so please contact the Registrars.

Yes, The Orr Mackintosh Foundation is a registered charity that administers a charity share donation scheme called ShareGift. Shares are transferred into the name of the Foundation, which aggregates them and sells them when possible, giving the proceeds to a growing number of UK charities. For further information on this, and on the tax implications please visit the ShareGift website or visit the HM Revenue & Customs website.

Please contact our Registrars at your earliest opportunity and they will assist you with the documentation that will need to be completed. Our Registrars will endeavour to make the process as straightforward as possible for you.

If you lose your share certificate or it has been stolen you should inform our Registrars immediately. They will send you a letter of indemnity which must be completed before a replacement certificate can be sent to you. You will not be able to sell your shares without a replacement certificate. The Registrars may make a charge for this service, so we advise you to keep your certificate in a safe place or elect to hold your shares in our nominee, ShareSafe. Please see question 21 or call the Registrars for more details.

A scrip dividend scheme enables shareholders to elect to receive new ordinary shares instead of a cash dividend, meaning shareholders can build up their shareholding in Alliance & Leicester without going to the market to buy new shares. As a result, no dealing costs or stamp duty are incurred, and the Company retains cash for reinvestment in the business which would otherwise be paid as a dividend.

You can join log onto the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk , click on the Scrip Dividend link on the right hand menu and follow the instructions. Alternatively you can obtain a hard copy Scrip Mandate form by contacting the Registrars. Please refer to the scrip dividend terms & conditions for more details

Please contact our Registrars who can check the payment details and, if appropriate, issue another cheque. To avoid this problem, you should consider having your dividend paid direct to your bank or building society account, by registering your dividend mandate instruction on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk or by contacting the Registrars.

Alliance & Leicester dividend cheques may be cashed within one year of issue. After this time, you should return the cheque to our Registrars. There may be a Registrar's fee for replacing the cheque. To avoid this problem, you should consider having your dividend paid direct to your bank or building society account, by registering your dividend mandate instruction on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk or by contacting the Registrars.

Yes, your dividend can be paid directly to a bank or building society account by registering your dividend mandate instruction on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk or by contacting the Registrars.

If your dividends are paid directly to your bank or building society account you will receive one tax voucher with your AGM documents with details of both payments made in the previous tax year. If you prefer to receive a tax voucher with each dividend payment you should contact the Registrars to opt to be sent a tax voucher in the post at the time of each dividend payment.

If your dividends are paid directly into you bank or building society account and you have consented to receive website communications you will receive one tax voucher with your AGM notification advising that the full AGM documents are available on the website.

If your dividends are paid directly into your bank or building society account and you have not consented to website communications you will receive one tax voucher with your AGM documents.

If your dividends are paid directly into your bank or building society account and you receive documents electronically you will receive one tax voucher electronically by email with your AGM documents attached.

The consolidated tax voucher will contain details of both payments made in the previous tax year. If you prefer to receive a tax voucher with each dividend payment you should contact the Registrars to opt to be sent a tax voucher in the post at the time of each payment

Yes. You can either buy shares:

• By telephoning the Alliance & Leicester Share Dealing Service on 0870 516 8351 if you hold a share certificate or on 0870 516 8350 if you hold your shares in ShareSafe, between the hours of 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) OR
• By post, please write to: Barclays Stockbrokers Limited, Tay House, 300 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JR

Yes. If you hold a share certificate:

• You can sell your shares by telephoning the Alliance & Leicester Share Dealing Service on 0870 516 8351 OR
• You can sell your shares by post, please write to: Barclays Stockbrokers Limited, Tay House, 300 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JR

If your shares are held in ShareSafe:

• You can sell your shares on ShareSafe Online, please visit www.alliance-leicester-sharesafe.co.uk OR
• You can sell your shares by telephoning the Alliance & Leicester Share Dealing Service on 0870 516 8350 OR
• You can sell your shares by post, please write to: Barclays Stockbrokers Limited, Tay House, 300 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JR

You may at some point wish to transfer some or all of your shares to someone else (for example your partner or other member of your family). If your Shares are in the form of a share certificate, you will need to complete a Stock Transfer form, which is available on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk or from our Registrars. If your shares are held in ShareSafe, the Registrars will send you a Form A which is also available on the Shareholder Website at www.alliance-leicester-shareregistrars.co.uk.

This depends on the nature of the share transfer. Stamp duty is not normally payable if there is no money or other consideration changing hands in exchange for the shares, or if you are transferring shares to your spouse. If you require any further assistance contact our Registrars who will be able to help you.

It is possible for your children to hold shares in their own names but there may be legal complications when they come to sell their shares. It may be easier for you to hold the shares on their behalf in your name as Trustee. Our Registrars can give you more information if you contact them.

This is a Corporate Nominee provided specially for Alliance & Leicester shareholders. The advantages include quicker and cheaper share dealing, through the Alliance and Leicester Share Dealing Service including the ShareSafe Online service, and there is no need to keep a share certificate. Statements are issued annually showing the number of shares held and any transactions during the year. If you would prefer to hold your shares in ShareSafe please refer to the terms and conditions and complete Form D. Please also refer to question 4 for information on how holding shares in ShareSafe can help to protect yourself against shareholder identity fraud.

There are a number of qualifying requirements to be met for there to have been an entitlement to receive an allocation of free shares (now share sale proceeds as the shares have been sold). To determine whether you are eligible to a payment please work through the Conversion Share Enquiry Flowchart which sets out key elements of the relevant criteria. If having examined these criteria you believe that you have a valid entitlement to an allocation of free shares please contact Capita Registrars.