SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
7 April , 2003
BT Group plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
BT Centre
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ
England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X... Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Enclosures:
1. Technical interest adjustment announcement made on 4 March 2003
2. Director Shareholding announcement made on 17 March 2003
3. Technical interest adjustment announcement made on 17 March 2003
4. Technical interest adjustment announcement made on 17 March 2003
5. BT make price changes announcement made on 2 April 2003
6. Broadband Breakthrough announcement made on 3 April 2003
Enclosure 1.
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
1) Name of company
BT Group plc
Name of Director
Sir Christopher Bland
Ben Verwaayen
Ian Livingston
Pierre Danon
Andy Green
Paul Reynolds
3) Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding
of the shareholder name in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or
in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse
or children under the age of 18 or in respect of a non-beneficial interest.
Adjustment in technical interest of the above directors
4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of
shares held by each of them (if notified)
Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited
5) Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with the
Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)
n/a
6) Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please
indicated whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary
Adjustment in technical interest of the above directors
7) Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
132,616 shares vesting to participant in BT Group Retention Share Plan
8) Percentage of issued class
n/a
9) Number of shares/amount of stock disposed
n/a
10) Percentage of issued class
n/a
11) Class of security
Ordinary shares of 5p each
12) Price per share
n/a
Date of transaction
28 February 2003
14) Date Company informed
04 March 2003
15) Total holding following this notification
n/a
16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
n/a
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes
17) Date of grant
n/a
18) Period during which or date on which exercisable
n/a
19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option
n/a
20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number
n/a
21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is to be
fixed at time of exercise
n/a
22. Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this
notification
n/a
23) Any additional information
The above named Directors have technical interests, as at 04 March 2003 under
Section 13 of the Companies Act as follows:
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
15,876,189 Ordinary Shares held by the Trustee, The Royal Bank of Scotland
Trust Company (Jersey) Limited;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
31,702,078 Ordinary Shares held by Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited in
respect of contingent awards under executive share plans;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in 73,069
Ordinary Shares held in the name of BT Employee Shares Trustees Limited.
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc, in
19,692 ordinary shares held in the name of Halifax Corporate Trustees
Limited.
24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries
Graeme Wheatley 020 7356 6372
25) Name of signature or authorised company official responsible for making this
notification
Graeme Wheatley
Date of Notification: 04 March 2003
End
Enclosure 2.
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
1) Name of company
BT Group plc
2. Name of Director
Paul Reynolds
3) Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
holding of the shareholder name in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial
interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that
person's spouse or children under the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest.
Director in 2) above
4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number
of shares held by each of them (if notified)
Halifax Corporate Trustees Limited as Trustee of the BT Group Employee Share
Investment Plan.
5) Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with
the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)
n/a
6) Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please
indicated whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary
Monthly purchase of shares under the terms of the BT Group Employee Share
Investment Plan.
7) Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
Purchase of 78 shares at 160.5p per share.
8) Percentage of issued class
n/a
9) Number of shares/amount of stock disposed
n/a
10) Percentage of issued class
n/a
11) Class of security
Ordinary shares of 5p each
12) Price per share
n/a
13. Date of transaction
14 March 2003
14) Date Company informed
17 March 2003
15) Total holding following this notification
1. 42,102 ordinary shares - personal holding;
2. 191,668 ordinary shares under BT Incentive Share Plan - contingent award;
3. 44,554 shares under BT Group Deferred Bonus Plan;
4. 36,531 shares under BT Deferred Bonus Plan;
5. 35,152 shares under BT Executive Share Plan - contingent award;
6. Options over 4,555 shares under BT Group Employee Sharesave Scheme;
7. 219 shares under the BT Employee Share Ownership Scheme;
8. 902 shares under BT Group Employee Share Investment Plan;
9. Options over 855,620 shares under BT Group Global Share Option Plan.
16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
n/a
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes
17) Date of grant
n/a
18) Period during which or date on which exercisable
n/a
19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option
n/a
20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number
n/a
21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is
to be fixed at time of exercise
n/a
22. Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this
notification
n/a
23) Any additional information
The above named Director has technical interests, as at 17 March 2003 under
Section 13 of the Companies Act as follows:
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
15,876,189 Ordinary Shares held by the Trustee, The Royal Bank of Scotland
Trust Company (Jersey) Limited;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
31,719,402 Ordinary Shares held by Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited in
respect of contingent awards under executive share plans;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
73,069 Ordinary Shares held in the name of BT Employee Shares Trustees
Limited.
- A technical interest, together with all Employees of BT Group plc, in
19,692 ordinary shares held in the name of Halifax Corporate Trustees
Limited.
24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries
Graeme Wheatley 020 7356 6372
25) Name of signature or authorised company official responsible for making
this notification
Graeme Wheatley
Date of Notification: 17 March 2003
End
Enclosure 3.
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
1) Name of company
BT Group plc
2. Name of Director
Sir Christopher Bland
Ben Verwaayen
Ian Livingston
Pierre Danon
Andy Green
Paul Reynolds
3) Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
holding of the shareholder name in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial
interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that
person's spouse or children under the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest.
Adjustment in technical interest of the above directors
4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number
of shares held by each of them (if notified)
Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited
5) Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with
the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)
n/a
6) Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please
indicated whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary
11,635 shares vesting to two participants in BT Retention Share Plan
7) Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
nil
8) Percentage of issued class
n/a
9) Number of shares/amount of stock disposed
n/a
10) Percentage of issued class
n/a
11) Class of security
Ordinary shares of 5p each
12) Price per share
n/a
13. Date of transaction
14 March 2003
14) Date Company informed
17 March 2003
15) Total holding following this notification
n/a
16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
n/a
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes
17) Date of grant
n/a
18) Period during which or date on which exercisable
n/a
19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option
n/a
20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number
n/a
21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is
to be fixed at time of exercise
n/a
22. Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this
notification
No change
23) Any additional information
The above named Directors have technical interests, as at 17 March 2003 under
Section 13 of the Companies Act as follows:
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
15,876,189 Ordinary Shares held by the Trustee, The Royal Bank of Scotland
Trust Company (Jersey) Limited;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
31,719,402 Ordinary Shares held by Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited in
respect of contingent awards under executive share plans;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
73,069 Ordinary Shares held in the name of BT Employee Shares Trustees
Limited.
- A technical interest, together with all Employees of BT Group plc, in
19,692 ordinary shares held in the name of Halifax Corporate trustees
Limited.
24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries
Graeme Wheatley 020 7356 6372
25) Name of signature or authorised company official responsible for making
this notification
Graeme Wheatley
Date of Notification: 17 March 2003
End
Enclosure 4.
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
1) Name of company
BT Group plc
2. Name of Director
Sir Christopher Bland
Ben Verwaayen
Ian Livingston
Pierre Danon
Andy Green
Paul Reynolds
3) Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
holding of the shareholder name in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial
interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that
person's spouse or children under the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest.
Adjustment in technical interest of the above directors
4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number
of shares held by each of them (if notified)
Halifax Corporate Trustees Ltd
5) Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected with
the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)
n/a
6) Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions please
indicated whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non discretionary
Adjustment in technical interest of the above directors
7) Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
Recovery of 130 BT Group shares by Halifax Corporate Trustees Limited as Trustee
of the BT Group Employee Share Investment Plan from awards made to non-eligible
individuals.
8) Percentage of issued class
n/a
9) Number of shares/amount of stock disposed
n/a
10) Percentage of issued class
n/a
11) Class of security
Ordinary shares of 5p each
12) Price per share
n/a
13. Date of transaction
17 March 2003
14) Date Company informed
17 March 2003
15) Total holding following this notification
n/a
16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
n/a
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes
17) Date of grant
n/a
18) Period during which or date on which exercisable
n/a
19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option
n/a
20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number
n/a
21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price is
to be fixed at time of exercise
n/a
22. Total number of shares or debentures over which options held following this
notification
No change
23) Any additional information
The above named Directors have technical interests, as at 17 March 2003 under
Section 13 of the Companies Act as follows:
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
15,876,189 Ordinary Shares held by the Trustee, The Royal Bank of Scotland
Trust Company (Jersey) Limited;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
31,719,402 Ordinary Shares held by Ilford Trustees (Jersey) Limited in
respect of contingent awards under executive share plans;
- A technical interest, together with all employees of BT Group plc in
73,069 Ordinary Shares held in the name of BT Employee Shares Trustees
Limited.
- A technical interest, together with all Employees of BT Group plc, in
19,822 ordinary shares held in the name of Halifax Corporate trustees
Limited.
24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries
Graeme Wheatley 020 7356 6372
25) Name of signature or authorised company official responsible for making
this notification
Graeme Wheatley
Date of Notification: 17 March 2003
End
Enclosure 5.
April 2 2003
RADICAL PRICING CHANGES MAKE BT
UP TO 20 TIMES CHEAPER THAN MAIN RIVALS
BT is challenging its fixed-line competitors head-on by offering customers
national evening and weekend calls up to 20 times cheaper than its major rivals.
The huge savings are part of a radical new pricing structure for the successful
BT Together scheme which sees the end of per-minute charging for all evening and
weekend calls and makes distance irrelevant, with one rate for UK and local
calls.
This means BT Together customers will pay just 6p for up to an hour on all
evening and weekend calls made to anywhere in the UK. If the number is one
nominated under the Friends and Family scheme, the cost of the call will be
reduced by an extra 10 per cent.
Customers switching from rivals Telewest will save money every time they pick up
the phone, while savings will be made against the current rates of ntl and
One.Tel on all national calls lasting more than a minute. Thirty-minute and
one-hour national evening calls with One.Tel cost 78p and GBP1.53, compared with
just 6p under BT Together. And a single 10-minute national evening call using
Car Phone Warehouse costs 13 pence more.
Angus Porter, managing director of BT Retail's consumer division said: "We are
determined to be competitive and build on our position as the consumer champion
in fixed-line telephony. We have kept our market share constant for the past two
years in the face of increasing competition. This radical move provides the
simplicity and lower charges that will give customers stronger reasons than ever
to choose BT over any other company in the market.
"Claims by some competitors of savings over BT are often just plain misleading,
as they are based on comparisons with our standard rate, which is only for
customers for whom it would not be economic to be on a fixed call package.
Today's changes make it simpler for many customers to spot the real deal.
"Our offer of 6p for all evening and weekend calls up to an hour virtually
removes the need to compare our prices with other operators. What you see is
what you get, with no need to think about any other items like call connection
charges. Just consider that Telewest charges the same amount to connect a call
as BT Together customers will pay for an hour. And the cost of a good gossip,
say half-an-hour's chat with friends or relatives in another part of the UK at
the weekend, will be substantially cheaper with BT Together. With BT, that chat
will cost 6p, while British Gas will charge 45p, Carphone Warehouse, 57p, and
the Post Office, GBP1.08."
The existing BT Together options have been streamlined to give the company's 10
million existing customers three simple-to-understand options - each geared to
their level of phone use:
- Option 1, the 6p hour plan - customers will pay a flat rate of 6p for up
to an hour on all evening and weekend local and national calls. Daytime
calls will be charged at 3p a minute, a 25 per cent saving on the previous
price for national calls;
- Option 2, the evening and weekend plan, offers the first hour for free on
all evening and weekend local and national calls. The charges for daytime
calls will be the same as for Option 1;
- Option 3, the anytime plan, offers the first hour free on all UK calls at
any time of day.
Each of the three options will have a fixed monthly fee that reflects the level
of usage. Option 1 will cost GBP11.50 a month; Option 2, GBP17.50 and Option 3,
GBP28.50.
The new options, which are to be introduced on June 1, are a direct response to
over a million BT customers who replied to the UK's biggest-ever survey of
customer opinion, which revealed a strong desire for lower, less-complicated
call charges and greater certainty over their phone bills.
Porter added: "We believe these three new options represent excellent
value-for-money and will not only be popular with our existing customers but
will attract large numbers of new customers to BT."
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Jon Carter, BT Retail press office 020 7356 4523
Mike Jarvis, BT Retail press office 020 7356 6045
Editors Notes:
BT Together's three new options: call rates will now depend on when you use your
phone, and not on where you are calling:
Monthly fee incl. rental Daytime call rate Evenings and Weekends call
of one line and VAT, with rate
Direct Debit or Monthly 8am-6pm
Payment Plan (otherwise GBP1 6pm-8am Evenings and all
more) Weekend (incl. VAT)
Option 1 GBP11.50 3p per minute 6p
The 6p hour plan (5p minimum charge) for up to an hour per call
*
Option 2 GBP17.50 3p per minute No charge
The Evening and Weekend (5p minimum charge) for up to an hour per call
plan *
Option 3 GBP28.50 No charge No charge
The anytime plan for up to an hour per for up to an hour per call
call** *
* Every minute over an hour for evening and weekend calls will be charged at 1p
per minute.
** Every minute over an hour for daytime calls under Option 3 will be charged at
3p per minute.
Customers can redial as often as they like.
The tables below show how costs compare for five minute, 30 minute and just
under one hour calls. As these tables show, none of the selected competitors can
beat BT Option 1 over all three call-duration periods.
Local Evening calls
Table shows cost of the 5mins 30mins 59mins 59secs How many times BT is
call in pence for 3 cheaper at the hour
different call lengths mark
BT Option 1 6 6 6 n/a
ntl 15 65 125 21
Telewest 16 66 126 21
One.Tel 8 33 63 11
SkyTalk 5 30 60 10
Carphone Warehouse 5 29 57 9
Local Weekend calls
Table shows cost of the 5mins 30mins 59mins 59secs How many times BT is
call in pence for 3 cheaper at the hour
different call lengths mark
BT Option 1 6 6 6 n/a
ntl 10 35 65 11
Telewest 11 36 66 11
One.Tel 8 33 63 11
SkyTalk 5 30 60 10
Carphone Warehouse 5 29 57 9
National Evening calls
Table shows cost of the 5mins 30 mins 59mins 59secs How many times BT is
call in pence for 3 cheaper at the hour
different call lengths mark
BT Option 1 6 6 6 n/a
ntl 15 65 125 21
Telewest 16 66 126 21
One.Tel 16 78 153 25
SkyTalk 10 60 120 20
Carphone Warehouse 10 57 114 19
National Weekend calls
Table shows cost of the 5mins 30 mins 59mins 59secs How many times BT is
call in pence for 3 cheaper at the hour
different call lengths mark
BT Option 1 6 6 6 n/a
ntl 10 35 65 11
Telewest 11 36 66 11
One.Tel 16 78 153 25
SkyTalk 5 30 60 10
Carphone Warehouse 10 57 114 19
Enclosure 6.
NR0313 April 3, 2003
BT IN BROADBAND BREAKTHROUGH
- ADSL broadband to be brought within reach of 90 per cent of UK homes
- Wholesale prices to be cut
- Support for more public sector partnerships to accelerate demand
BT today announced great news for Broadband Britain with radical plans to bring
mass market broadband within reach of 90 per cent of UK homes. These plans are
based on technological breakthroughs and cost saving initiatives. The company
also revealed that wholesale prices will be cut from May 1.
In addition, BT said that public sector demand could be aligned to help
accelerate the roll out of broadband. This will help local campaign groups in
their efforts to bring broadband to their communities.
Providing a major update on the company's broadband strategy, BT chief executive
Ben Verwaayen said that BT was well on track to hit its target of one million
ADSL connections by the summer, having recently passed the 800,000 mark. He said
the speed of this progress is generating economies of scale that will help BT
continue to reduce costs and progress beyond the one million figure.
Technological Breakthroughs
He also announced that BT had made a series of technological breakthroughs that
would, for the first time, bring ADSL within potential reach of 90 per cent of
UK homes and small businesses. This represents a major advance from the current
enabled footprint of 67 per cent.
The new initiatives mean that about 600 additional exchanges can now have
trigger levels set taking potential coverage to 90 per cent. These represent the
level of demand needed to make it commercially sensible for BT to take the risk
of upgrading an exchange with ADSL. Within a week BT will announce trigger
levels for the next 200 or so exchanges that, if enabled together with those
exchanges that have existing trigger levels, would take coverage up to 85 per
cent. The remainder will be announced by early summer.
Central to the setting of the new triggers is a technological development that
enables exchanges to be linked together so that the costs of connecting them to
the core BT network are reduced. This is one of several developments that will
lead to cost savings and help BT set the new trigger levels.
This is in addition to BT extending the reach of ADSL broadband up to 6kms from
the exchange. This separate development means that up to 98 per cent of people
connected to an ADSL enabled exchange will be able to access the technology.
This means close to 600,000 additional people will be able to access broadband
from June.
BT chief executive Ben Verwaayen said: "Today's announcements mark a major
milestone in the creation of Broadband Britain. BT has managed to overcome the
challenge of bringing affordable broadband within reach of 90 per cent of UK
homes and I am sure the news will be welcomed across the UK."
Prices slashed
He also revealed that BT would boost the market even further by cutting the
wholesale price of broadband from May 1. This is possible due to factors
including reduced cost of equipment and network efficiencies. The monthly fee
for the wholesale consumer product will be reduced by up to GBP2 and there will
be even larger savings on BT's wholesale products that are aimed at service
providers who serve small businesses. Prices for the 500kbs, 1Mbs and 2Mbs
products will be slashed by over 50 per cent.
Mr Verwaayen said: "These price cuts will benefit everyone from service
providers to consumers and businesses and will ensure that the UK continues to
have some of the lowest prices in Europe."
Public sector action
BT said that the purchasing power of the public sector could drive demand even
faster. This would reinforce BT's efforts to accelerate take up and roll out
within the 90 per cent footprint and help get beyond it.
In particular, BT said that government plans to enable schools and GP's
surgeries with broadband would benefit the whole community if implemented in a
way that helps reduce trigger levels in non-enabled exchanges. This would speed
up the roll out of ADSL and bring the benefits of broadband to a far wider
audience than just the public sector. It would also be in alignment with the
government's over-riding objective of having the most extensive and competitive
mass market for broadband in the G7.
Mr Verwaayen added: "The challenge ahead is to ensure that exchanges hit their
trigger levels as quickly as possible. The registration scheme has been a
runaway success with more than 300,000 expressions of interest and it will be
boosted significantly as the government starts to bring broadband to every
school and GP's surgery."
BT also highlighted the success of public private partnerships. Several of these
have been developed - notably in Cornwall and Scotland - and the impact has
shown how successful they can be in driving take-up. BT hopes that further
partnerships can be replicated widely.
Other technologies
One scheme where such support could work is BT's Exchange Activate programme.
This innovative scheme - to bring broadband to smaller exchanges - will be
launched this summer following successful trials. It will be useful in extending
availability to the UK's smallest communities.
BT also stressed that, as well as launching Exchange Activate, the company was
working hard to develop other solutions to bring mass market broadband to every
part of the UK. Options being explored include satellite, mesh radio and other
forms of wireless broadband.
Mr Verwaayen concluded by saying: "2003 could be a seminal year in the drive to
achieve Broadband Britain but only if the whole industry pulls together with the
support of the government. Such an approach would benefit consumers, businesses
and the UK itself."
---------------------
Notes To Editors
BT Wholesale has notified several price changes that will come into effect from
May 1, 2003. Among these are reductions in the monthly rental fees for its
IPStream Home 500 and IPStream Office range of products (listed below). There
will also be a discount scheme. Connection charges for IPStream end users will
remain unchanged.
Product Current monthly fee New monthly fee
IPStream Home 500 GBP14.75 GBP13.00
IPStream Office 500 GBP40 GBP18
IPStream Office 1000 GBP60 GBP28
IPStream Office 2000 GBP80 GBP38
Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on
its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK, dial + 44 20 7356 5369.
All BT Group news releases can be accessed at our web site:
www.btplc.com/mediacentre
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BT Group PLC
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Patricia Day
--------------------
Patricia Day, Assistant Secretary. Head of Shareholder Services
Date 7 April, 2003