| All figures in £ millions | Equity attributable to equity holders of the company | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share capital | Share premium | Treasury shares | Special reserve | Retained earnings | Total | |
| At 1 January 2010 | 203 | 2,512 | (47) | 447 | 766 | 3,881 |
| Profit for the year | – | – | – | – | 289 | 289 |
| Issue of ordinary shares under share option schemes | – | 12 | – | – | – | 12 |
| Net purchase of treasury shares | – | – | (71) | – | – | (71) |
| Release of treasury shares | – | – | 36 | – | (36) | – |
| Dividends | – | – | – | – | (292) | (292) |
| At 31 December 2010 | 203 | 2,524 | (82) | 447 | 727 | 3,819 |
| All figures in £ millions | Equity attributable to equity holders of the company | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share capital | Share premium | Treasury shares | Special reserve | Retained earnings | Total | |
| At 1 January 2009 | 202 | 2,505 | (63) | 447 | 835 | 3,926 |
| Profit for the year | – | – | – | – | 233 | 233 |
| Issue of ordinary shares under share option schemes | 1 | 7 | – | – | – | 8 |
| Purchase of treasury shares | – | – | (13) | – | – | (13) |
| Release of treasury shares | – | – | 29 | – | (29) | – |
| Dividends | – | – | – | – | (273) | (273) |
| At 31 December 2009 | 203 | 2,512 | (47) | 447 | 766 | 3,881 |
The special reserve represents the cumulative effect of cancellation of the company’s share premium account.
Included within retained earnings is an amount of £131m (2009: £131m) relating to profit on intra-group disposals that is not distributable.