for the year ended 31 March 2004 MS - Excel Format (25kb) Notes 2004 Before Exceptional Items £m 2004 Exceptional Items (Note 5) £m 2004 Total £m 2003 (Restated) (Note 1) £m Turnover   7,548 – 7,548 7,108 Continuing operations   7,279 – 7,279 5,435 Discontinued operations   269 – 269 1,673 Cost of sales 4 (4,273) – (4,273) (4,092) Gross profit   3,275 – 3,275 3,016 Net operating expenses before goodwill charge   (2,458) (5) (2,463) (2,408) Goodwill charge   (193) – (193) (162) Net operating expenses 4 (2,651) (5) (2,656) (2,570) Operating profit   624 (5) 619 446 Continuing operations   624 (5) 619 430 Discontinued operations   – – – 16 Share of operating profit of BL Universal PLC (joint venture) - discontinued operations   18 – 18 26 Share of operating profit of associated undertakings - continuing operations 46 – 46 44 Trading profit 688 (5) 683 516 Profit on disposal of shares in Burberry – continuing operations – 157 157 161 Disposal of home shopping and Reality businesses – discontinued operations: Provision for loss on disposal – – – (210) Realised loss on disposal   – (246) (246) – Less: utilisation of 2003 provision for loss on disposal – 210 210 – – (36) (36) – Loss on sale of interest in BL Universal PLC – discontinued operations – (5) (5) – Loss on sale of other businesses – continuing operations – (53) (53) – Profit on ordinary activities before interest 688 58 746 467 Net interest 6 (54) (58) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 7 692 409 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 8 (192) (141) Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 9 500 268 Equity minority interests (27) (17) Profit for the financial year 473 251 Dividends 10 (271) (232) Retained profit for the financial year 202 19 Earnings per share 11 – Basic 47.4p 25.1p – Diluted 47.0p 25.0p Earnings per share before amortisation of goodwill and exceptional Items 11 – Basic 60.7p 47.8p – Diluted 60.1p 47.5p