Notes	2005   £m		2004 (restated)(i) £m		2003 (restated)(i) £m
Turnover, including share of joint ventures'		8,583		9,104		9,566
Less: share of joint ventures' turnover - continuing operations		(49)		(48)		(73)
Less: share of joint ventures' turnover - discontinued operations		(13)		(23)		(93)
Group turnover - continuing operations before acquisition		8,373		8,875		8,833
Group turnover - acquisition		148		–		–
Group turnover - continuing operations		8,521		8,875		8,833
Group turnover - discontinued operations		–		158		567
Group turnover	2(a)	8,521		9,033		9,400
Operating costs	3	(6,676)		(7,203)		(7,828)
Operating profit of Group undertakings - continuing operations  before acquisition		1,829		1,830		1,766
Operating profit of Group undertakings - acquisition		16		–		–
Operating profit of Group undertakings - continuing operations	2(b)	1,845		1,830		1,766
Operating loss of Group undertakings - discontinued operations	2(b)	–		–		(194)
		1,845		1,830		1,572
Share of joint ventures' operating profit - continuing operations	2(b)	6		7		9
Share of joint ventures' operating profit - discontinued operations	2(b)	1		–		115
		7		7		124
Operating profit
- Before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation	2(b)	2,212		2,213		2,148
- Exceptional items - continuing operations	4(a)	(251)		(277)		(311)
- Exceptional items - discontinued operations	4(a)	–		–		(39)
- Goodwill amortisation		(109)		(99)		(102)
Total operating profit	2(b)	1,852		1,837		1,696
Profit on disposal of tangible fixed assets - continuing operations	4(b)	70		96		48
Profit/(loss) on sale or termination of operations - discontinued operations	4(b)	13		–		(68)
Gain on assets held for exchange - discontinued operations	4(b)	–		226		–
Merger costs - continuing operations	4(b)	–		–		(79)
Net interest
- Excluding exceptional items	8	(783)		(822)		(939)
- Exceptional items	4(c),8	–		–		(31)
Total interest	8	(783)		(822)		(970)
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation		1,152		1,337		627
Taxation
- Excluding exceptional items	9	(324)		(350)		(373)
- Exceptional items	4(d),9	79		89		128
Total taxation	9	(245)		(261)		(245)
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation		907		1,076		382
Minority interests
- Excluding exceptional items		1		(2)		(3)
- Exceptional items	4(e)	–		–		(28)
Total minority interests		1		(2)		(31)
Profit for the year
- Before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation		1,106		1,039		833
- Exceptional items - operating	4(a)	(251)		(277)		(350)
- Exceptional items - non-operating	4(b)	83		322		(99)
- Exceptional items - financing	4(c)	–		–		(31)
- Exceptional items - taxation	4(d)	79		89		128
- Exceptional items - minority interests	4(e)	–		–		(28)
- Goodwill amortisation		(109)		(99)		(102)
Profit for the year		908		1,074		351
Dividends	10	(731)		(609)		(530)
Profit/(loss) transferred to/(from) profit and loss account reserve	24	177		465		(179)
Earnings per ordinary share
- Basic, including exceptional items and goodwill amortisation	11	29.5p		35.0p		11.4p
- Adjusted basic, excluding exceptional items and goodwill amortisation	11	35.9p		33.9p		27.1p
- Diluted, including exceptional items and goodwill amortisation	11	29.3p		34.9p		11.6p
- Adjusted diluted, excluding exceptional items and goodwill amortisation	11	35.7p		33.8p		26.7p

(i)	During the year ended 31 March 2005, the Group adopted Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 20 ‘Share-based Payment’ - see note 1.

The continuing operations of the Group include the results of the four UK gas distribution networks that the Group has agreed to sell. Additional information regarding these networks is shown in note 2.

The notes form part of the Accounts.

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