The Company settled dividends of £53.5m (2016: £32.4m) in the period, as detailed in note 8 of the Group's financial statements.

In the prior year, the receivable of £280.3m recognised in the Company balance sheet as a result of the 2015 dividend-in-specie was settled in return for another receivable with a Group company. This resulted in the realisation of the £166.0m non-distributable reserves disclosed in the accounts for period ended 3 April 2015.