NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
33. COMMITMENTS 1999 1998
£m £m
Group capital commitments
Capital expenditure for which contracts had been placed 25.8 47.7

1999

1998
Land & buildings Plant & equipment Land & buildings Plant & equipment
£m £m £m £m
Group operating lease commitments
Amounts committed to be paid next year where the commitment expires:
Within that year 5.2 4.7 3.1 16.6
Within two to five years 20.6 14.6 13.6 17.3
In more than five years 56.6 2.5 5.8 0.2
82.4 21.8 22.5 34.1

There were no significant commitments relating to the Company.
The Group’s share of the capital commitments of BL Universal PLC at 31 March 1999 is £19.8m (1998 £6.1m).

34. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The Company has guaranteed liabilities of subsidiary undertakings amounting to £1,791.5 million (1998 £500.0 million) including guarantees in respect of the borrowings by subsidiary undertakings of £1,778.8 million(1998 £479.0m).
35. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Transactions between the Group and its joint venture and undertakings during the year were as follows:
  • White Arrow Express made sales of £2.5m (1998 £4.5m) on normal trading terms to TNT White Arrow Express Limited.
  • Wehkamp B.V. provided database and catalogue services of £0.7m (1998 £0.2m) to CMV Bank NV.
  • Experian companies made net sales and recharges to associated undertakings of £14.0m (1998 £5.3m).
  • Interest of £3.7m (1998 £39.1m) was received in respect of the loans to BL Universal PLC, the property joint venture company.
Amounts receivable from and owed to the joint venture and associated undertakings are shown within notes 19 and 22.
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