REUTERS GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 1999

Notes on the consolidated profit and loss account continued6. Earnings per ordinary shareBasic earnings per ordinary share are based on the profit after taxation attributable to ordinary shareholders and on the weighted average number of those shares inissue during the year. The weighted average number of shares in issue may be reconciled to the number used in the basic and fully diluted earnings per ordinaryshare calculations as follows:Weighted average number in millions 1999 1998 1997Ordinary shares in issue 1,424 1,449 1,692Ordinary shares held by group undertakings – – (59)Non-vested shares held by employee share ownership trusts (15) (11) (10)Basic earnings per share denominator 1,409 1,438 1,623Issuable on conversion of options 20 5 13Fully diluted earnings per share denominator 1,429 1,443 1,6367. Remuneration of directorsThe report of the Remuneration Committee on pages 24–30 includes details of directors’ emoluments and forms part of these financial statements.8. Employee informationThe average number of employees during the year was as follows:Segmental analysis 1999 1998 1997Reuters Information 9,239 9,306 8,863Reuters Trading Systems 4,105 3,887 3,870Instinet 1,379 1,181 1,086Reuters Ventures 1,344 1,541 1,484TIBCO Software Inc. 172 220 147Reuters Business Briefing 423 555 55516,662 16,690 16,005Analysis by functionProduction and communications 8,873 8,912 8,735Selling and marketing 5,005 5,136 4,939Support services and administration 2,784 2,642 2,33116,662 16,690 16,005The above include:Development staff 2,445 2,426 2,510Journalists 2,040 2,048 1,99050 Reuters Group PLC Annual Report 1999