Electronic shareholder communication

overview

In 2006 new legislation was introduced in the UK regarding electronic communication, giving companies the opportunity to substantially reduce the number of documents they print and mail.

At the AGM in July 2007 we gained shareholder approval to adopt these changes allowing the Company to use this website as the main way to communicate with shareholders.

This certainly doesn’t mean you lose your right to receive paper copies of documents. On the contrary, shareholders can choose how to receive communications from us, including the Annual Report. However, unless you tell us otherwise, or register an email address, we will mail a letter to you notifying you when documents are available on our website.

The Board sees this as a positive step which allows us to tailor communication to the needs of the shareholder. It will reduce our impact on the environment, minimise waste and reduce costs. It will enable stakeholders to keep updated with M&S news as it happens by accessing our website.

The changes are largely geared towards the distribution of the Annual report, as this is by far our biggest and most costly mailing each year. However, by providing us with your email address we are able to use this as the main method of communicating with you.

What does it mean for the shareholder?

Registering for online shareholder communication puts you in more control of your shareholding. The registration process is via our registrar’s secure website, shareview.com

Once you have registered you are then able to:

elect how we communicate with you;
amend your details;
change the way you receive your dividends; and
buy or sell shares online.

This is different from the ‘News Alert Service’ available on this website, where you can register to receive:

News – all;
Company news;
RNS announcements;
Plan A news;
International news; and
Product news.

Will I need any specific computer equipment?

You will need a computer linked to the internet, an email address, a web browser (such as the one you are using to read this) and a PDF reader. The PDF reader is necessary as many of our communications are downloaded in PDF format to allow easy printing. You can download a PDF reader called Adobe Acrobat Reader for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/

The consultation

Consultation documents were mailed to shareholders with their dividend cheques, tax vouchers or dividend re-investment statements on or around 11 January 2008. All shareholders on the register of members on 16 November 2007, who still held their shares, were asked to select one of the following options.

Option 1 Be notified by email that documents are available on the website.
Option 2 Be notified by letter that documents are available on the website.
Option 3 Continue to receive paper documents by post.

Option 2 was the default option – if shareholders did not respond and we do not already have their email address, we will now write to them advising when information is available on our website.

Notable points

The Company’s Annual report will normally be available for viewing on our website at least one month before the scheduled AGM each year, which is normally held in July.
If shareholders registered online for Option 1 they did not need to return the form.
If shareholders selected Option 2 there was no need to take action as this was the default option.
If shareholders selected Option 3 we will send the Annual Report or Summary financial statements (if summary statements are produced) in accordance with previous instructions.
Notwithstanding a shareholder’s election, Marks and Spencer Group plc reserves the right to send any shareholder information in hard copy if it feels it is appropriate to do so.
Notwithstanding a shareholder’s election, shareholders reserve the right as a shareholder to request a copy of the Annual Report at any time by phoning our registrars, Equiniti on 0845 609 0810.

Register

Join the growing number of our shareholders who have elected to receive there shareholder communication electronically.

Registering will only take a few moments and you will need your Shareholder Reference Number found on most dividend vouchers, proxy cards and most other shareholder correspondence sent to you.

Following registration the registrar will confirm your details and post you a user identification number.

This will allow you to return and login.

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