REUTERS GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 1999

Consolidated balance sheet at 31 DecemberPROFORMA1999 1998 1997NOTES £M £M £MFixed assetsIntangible assets: Goodwill 14 177 204 162Tangible assets 15 698 779 816Investments 16Investments in joint ventures:Share of gross assets 29 – –Share of gross liabilities (16) – –13 – –Share of net assets of associates 95 45 10Other investments 222 70 581,205 1,098 1,046Current assetsStocks 17 4 6 13Debtors (see note below) 18 834 595 498Short-term investments 19 490 962 1,275Cash at bank and in hand 119 44 811,447 1,607 1,867Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 20 (1,679) (2,184) (1,077)Net current (liabilities)/assets (232) (577) 790Total assets less current liabilities 973 521 1,836Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 21 (284) (16) (37)Provisions for liabilities and charges:Pensions and similar obligations 23 (39) (36) (28)Deferred taxation 24 (23) (14) (16)Other provisions 25 (26) (66) (76)Net assets 601 389 1,679Capital and reserves 26Called-up share capital 355 354 408Capital redemption reserve 1 – –Share premium account 42 16 –Other reserve (1,717) (1,717) (290)Profit and loss account reserve 1,920 1,719 1,543Shareholders’ equity 601 372 1,661Minority interests – equity – – 1– non-equity – 17 17Capital employed 601 389 1,679Debtors and net current assets include amounts due after more than one year of £46 million (1998 – £40 million, 1997 – £57 million).1997 capital and reserves are shown on a proforma basis (see note 26).The balance sheet of Reuters Group PLC is shown on page 71.The financial statements on pages 44–74 and the summary of differences between UK and US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles on pages 75–77 wereapproved by the directors on 11 February 2000.Peter Job, Chief ExecutiveRob Rowley, Finance Director56 Reuters Group PLC Annual Report 1999