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10. Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares.

The following reflects the income and share data used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations:

2008
£m
2007
£m
Net profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent from operations 165.8 166.2
2008
Number
million
2007
Number
million
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares) for basic earnings per share 608.3 613.6
Dilutive potential ordinary shares:
Employee share options 5.5 10.3
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares) adjusted for the effect of dilution 613.8 623.9

There have been no other transactions involving ordinary shares or potential ordinary shares between the reporting date and the date of completion of these financial statements.

The following additional earnings per share figures are calculated based on earnings attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent before amortisation and callable swap valuation of £202.3m (2007: £172.4m) and after amortisation and callable swap valuation of £165.8m (2007: £166.2m). They are included as they provide a better understanding of the underlying trading performance of the Group.

2008
p
2007
p
Basic earnings per share – underlying 33.26 28.10
   – after amortisation and callable swaps 27.26 27.09
Diluted earnings per share – underlying 32.96 27.63
   – after amortisation and callable swaps 27.01 26.64