Preliminary Announcement of audited results for the year ended 31 March 2006

• Good start by Yorkshire Water to the new five year price determination period
  
• Yorkshire Water continued to improve levels of operational and customer service and was ranked number one in Ofwat’s Overall Performance Assessment
  
• Confirmed by Ofwat as the most efficient water and sewerage company for the second consecutive year
  
• Yorkshire Water named “Utility of the Year” for the second consecutive year
  
• Significant growth in UK Service Operations
  
• Completion of sale of Aquarion to Macquarie Bank expected late 2006
  
• Full year dividend up 4.6% to 30.35p per share; final dividend 21.60p per share
  
• 50% of planned share buyback programme completed

KEY FIGURES – reported under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

	2006	2005	Increase %
Group turnover from continuing operations	£825.4m	£714.0m	15.6
Group operating profit from continuing operations	£315.4m	£274.1m	15.1
Profit after tax	£174.1m	£150.2m	15.9
Adjusted earnings per share	46.9p	42.6p	10.1
Dividend for the year	30.35p	29.00p	4.6
Group net debt	£1,954m	£1,784m	9.5

Following the announcement of Kelda group’s results for the year ended 31 March 2006, the Chairman, John Napier said: “I am very pleased to report that the company built on a good first half to produce a strong first year with a good overall performance”.

For further information contact

May 24	Martin Towers, Kelda Group	020 7568 0554
	Peter Hewer / David Trenchard,	020 7353 4200
	Tulchan Communications
After May 24	Kelda Group Press Office	01274 692954

A copy of this preliminary results announcement will be available on the Kelda Group website from 8am this morning at www.keldagroup.com

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