Northern Electric PLC 17 February 2005 Northern Electric plc The board of Northern Electric plc announces that a dividend of 4.0305 pence (net) per Preference Share, relating to the six months to 31 March 2005, will be payable on 31 March 2005 to holders of Preference Shares on the register as at 25 February 2005. The terms of CE Electric UK Ltd's offer for Northern Electric's Preference Shares state that CE Electric will acquire the Preference Shares together with the right to all dividends declared, made or paid on or after 28 October 1996. Northern Electric Preference Shareholders who accept CE Electric's Preference Offer, and who receive the Preference Share dividend because they are on the register on the record date, will therefore receive 36.4815 pence per Northern Electric Preference Share (being CE Electric's offer price of 105 pence less the net amount of the dividends paid on 1 April 1997, 30 September 1997, 31 March 1998, 30 September 1998, 31 March 1999, 30 September 1999, 31 March 2000, 30 September 2000, 31 March 2001, 1 October 2001, 2 April 2002, 30 September 2002, 31 March 2003, 30 September 2003, 31 March 2004, 30 September 2004 and 31 March 2005). Thursday 17 February 2005. Enquiries : John Elliott 0191 223 5103 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange