The correct answers are:

• The earnings figure used is the net profit after tax, preference dividends and non-controlling interests.

• The number of shares is the weighted average number of shares during the period.

• The number of ordinary shares used should be adjusted for events (other than conversion of potential ordinary shares eg. convertible debentures) which have changed the number of shares without a corresponding increase in resources.

Basic earnings per share does not take unusual items into account but entities can present alternative measures of EPS provided that these are reconciled to basic EPS and that the alternative version is presented consistently.