SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington D.C.
20549
_______________
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN
ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
Date: 6 June
2005
NATIONAL GRID TRANSCO
plc
(Registrant's
Name)
1-3
Strand
London
WC2N
5EH
(Registrant's
Address)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or
will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form
40-F.
Form 20-F
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[ X ]
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Form 40-F
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[ ]
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3- 2(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the
file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b):
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
NATIONAL GRID TRANSCO plc
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By: s/ David C. Forward
_________
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Name: David C. Forward
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Title: Assistant Secretary
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Date: 6 June 2005
FORM
6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington D.C.
20549
Report of Foreign
Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d
- 16 of
The Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Announcement sent to the London Stock Exchange on 6 June
2005:
National Grid Transco plc
('NGT') 1-3
Strand London, WC2N
5EH United Kingdom
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===============================================================
Announcement:
'National Grid Transco plc
£2 billion return of cash to
shareholders'
6 June 2005
National Grid Transco
plc
£2 billion return of cash to
shareholders
National Grid Transco plc ("National Grid
Transco" or the "Company") announces that it is posting a circular to
its shareholders and convening an extraordinary general meeting, to be held on
25 July 2005, to obtain shareholder approval for the proposed return of £2
billion of cash to shareholders.
Return of
cash to shareholders
On 1 June 2005 the Company
announced the completion of the sales of four of its gas distribution networks.
As previously announced, £2 billion of the cash proceeds from the sales
will be used to fund a return of cash to shareholders of 65 pence per ordinary
share. This return of cash is to be implemented through an issue of B shares and
a capital reorganisation and is subject to approval by shareholders. Subject to
such approval, shareholders will receive one B share for every existing ordinary
share, and will be able to elect between the following
alternatives:
- Single B share dividend: to receive a single dividend of
65 pence per B share for some or all of their B shares. Following this, the B
shares for which a shareholder has chosen to receive the single dividend payment
will automatically be converted into deferred shares which will have negligible
value.
- Initial repurchase offer: to sell some or all of their B
shares to JPMorgan Cazenove for 65 pence per B share, free of all dealing
expenses and commissions.
- Future repurchase offers: to retain some or all of their
B shares and have the opportunity to sell them on certain future dates for 65
pence per B share, free of all dealing expenses and
commissions.
Election forms in
respect of these alternatives and the circular will be sent to shareholders on
or around 15 June 2005 along with the papers for the annual general meeting to
be held on 25 July 2005. Shareholders who do not elect for any of these
alternatives will by default receive the single B share dividend for all of
their B shares.
In conjunction with the return
of cash, a capital reorganisation will be undertaken. Existing ordinary shares
will be subdivided and consolidated so that shareholders will receive 43 new
ordinary shares for every 49 existing ordinary shares they own as at 5.00pm on
29 July 2005. The intention is that, subject to normal market movements, the
share price of one new ordinary share immediately after listing should be
approximately equal to the share price of one existing ordinary share
immediately beforehand. The ratio used for the capital reorganisation has been
set by reference to the closing price of 546 pence per existing ordinary share
on 3 June 2005 (being the latest practicable date prior to the posting of
documents to shareholders on 15 June 2005) after adjusting for the proposed
final dividend of 15.2 pence per existing ordinary share. New ordinary shares
will be traded on the London Stock Exchange in the same way as existing ordinary
shares and will be equivalent to the existing ordinary shares in all material
respects, including their dividend, voting and other rights. The effect of the
consolidation will be to reduce the number of issued ordinary shares to reflect
the return of 65 pence per B share to shareholders, but shareholders will own
the same proportion of National Grid Transco as they did previously, subject to
adjustments for fractional entitlements.
A
number of changes to the articles of association of the Company are required in
order to implement the return of cash.
Full
details of the return of cash and associated capital reorganisation are
contained in the circular.
A separate
memorandum providing details of the return of cash will be sent to holders of
American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") and shareholders with registered
addresses in the United States ("US Shareholders") to set out the impact
of the return of cash on their holdings in National Grid Transco. In connection
with the return of cash to holders of ADRs the Company will undertake a tender
offer pursuant to the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as
amended).
Timetable
An
extraordinary general meeting ("EGM") is being convened for 2.15pm or, if
later, immediately following the annual general meeting ("AGM") on 25
July 2005, to seek shareholder approval for the return of cash to
shareholders.
Expected timetable of principal
events
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2005
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Ex-dividend date for the final dividend
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8 June
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Record date for the final dividend
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10 June
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Combined mailing of AGM and EGM papers
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15 June
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Latest time and date for receipt of form of proxy for
EGM
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2.15pm on 23 July
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EGM
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2.15pm on 25 July
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Latest time and date for dealings in existing ordinary
shares
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4.30pm on 29 July
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Record time and date for the capital reorganisation.
Existing ordinary share register closed and existing ordinary shares disabled in
CREST
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5.00pm on 29 July
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New ordinary shares and B shares admitted to the
Official List and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's
market for listed securities
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8.00am on 1 August
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Dealings in the new ordinary shares and B shares
commence and enablement in CREST. New ordinary shares and B shares entered into
CREST
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8.00am on 1 August
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Latest time for receipt of election forms and USE
instructions from CREST holders in relation to the B share alternatives
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4.30pm on 5 August
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B share record time and date
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4.30pm on 5 August
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Single B share dividend declared and B shares in respect
of which the single B share dividend is payable convert into deferred
shares
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8 August
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JPMorgan Cazenove accepts B Shares for purchase under
the initial repurchase offer by means of an announcement on the Regulatory News
Service of the London Stock Exchange
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8 August
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Despatch of new ordinary share certificates, retained B
share certificates, sale advices, cheques in respect of the single B share
dividend and/or B shares purchased under the initial repurchase offer, as
appropriate and cheques for fractional entitlements, and CREST accounts
credited
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22 August
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Final dividend payment date
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24 August
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In the United States, National Grid Transco will
file a Tender Offer Statement containing the circular, the US supplemental
memorandum, the election form and the letter of election and transmittal for US
Shareholders and ADR holders, respectively, and other related documentation with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Schedule TO. Free
copies of the Schedule TO and the other related documents to be filed by
National Grid Transco in connection with the B share alternatives will be
available from the date the circular and the US supplemental memorandum are
mailed to US Shareholders and ADR holders on the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov.
Enquiries:
National
Grid Transco plc
Investors
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Alexandra Lewis
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+44 (0)20 7004 3170
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David Campbell
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+44 (0)20 7004 3171
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Richard Smith
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+44 (0)20 7004 3172
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Media
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Clive Hawkins
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+44 (0)20 7004 3147
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JPMorgan Cazenove, Broker to National Grid
Transco
Jonathan Wilcox
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+44 (0)20 7588 2828
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Matthew Lawrence
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+44 (0)20 7588 2828
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Citigate Dewe Rogerson, PR Advisers to National
Grid Transco
Anthony Carlisle
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+44 (0)7973 611888
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