Financial Services Authority warning to shareholders

Over the past year we have been aware, as have many companies, that our shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas based 'brokers' who target UK shareholders offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments.

They can be very persistent and extremely persuasive. A 2006 survey by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has reported that the average amount lost by investors in such 'investments' is around £20,000. Many of the victims had been successfully investing for several years. Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free reports about the company.

If you receive unsolicited investment advice:

• Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation
• Check that they are properly authorised by the FSA before getting involved. You can check at www.fsa.gov.uk/register
• For your information the FSA also maintains on its website a list of unauthorised overseas firms who are targeting, or have targeted, UK investors and any approach from such organisations should be reported to the FSA so that this list can be kept up to date and any other appropriate action can be considered. If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you would not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml
• Please inform our Registrars, Equiniti, (formerly known as Lloyds TSB Registrars) on 0871 384 2041 or +44 121 415 7048 if you are calling from overseas or the Company Secretary's Department on 01925 237 052 or email Secretariat@uuplc.co.uk
  

Details of any shareholding facilities that the company endorses will be included in company mailings and are available on the company's website at http://www.unitedutilities.co.uk/ at the Shareholder information section.

Further information on this or similar activity can be found on the FSA website at www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/