At 1 January 20X7 and 20X8 the issued share capital of Coombe plc comprised: LO5 Equity share capital (20p shares) £1,500,000 4% irredeemable preference share capital (£1 shares) £600,000 On 1 September 20X8 Coombe made a rights issue of three new equity shares at a price of 90p per share for every two shares held. The offer was fully subscribed. The market price of Coombe’s equity shares immediately prior to the offer was £1.65 each.

At the start of 20X9 the company offered a 1 for 3 bonus issues of shares to its equity shareholders in lieu of the 20X8 final equity dividend; 40% of shareholders accepted this offer on 31 March 20X9.

Coombe’s profits after tax for the years ended 31 December were as follows:

20X7: £3,460,000 20X8: £2,300,000 20X9: £3,970,000.

Preference dividends were paid at the end of each quarter.

Required:

Calculate Coombe plc’s earnings per share for disclosure in its financial statements for the years ended 31 December 20X8 and 20X9, including comparative figures.