As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2005

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 20-F

For the transition period from                     to

Commission File Number 333-12430

M (2003) plc

Formerly Marconi plc

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

ENGLAND AND WALES

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

8 Salisbury Square

London EC4Y 8BB

United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive office)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each American Depositary Share representing 2 ordinary shares, nominal value 5 pence per share

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

          Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of March 31, 2005:

2,793,011,951 Ordinary Shares of 5p each

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES þ                  NO o

          Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

ITEM 17 o                  ITEM 18 þ

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

YES þ                  NO o

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

      On May 19, 2003, M (2003) plc (then known as Marconi plc) and Marconi Corporation plc concluded the financial restructuring of the Marconi group. The financial restructuring was effected through separate schemes of arrangement under the U.K. Companies Act 1985 for each of M (2003) plc and Marconi Corporation plc. As a result of the restructuring, the shares that M (2003) plc held in Marconi Corporation plc were cancelled. Marconi Corporation plc became the new parent holding company of the Marconi group and M (2003) plc ceased to be a member of the Marconi group. On October 21, 2003, Marconi plc changed its name to M (2003) plc. M (2003) plc no longer conducts any business and does not intend to revive any business operations. In this annual report, the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, “Marconi”, “the company” refer to M (2003) plc and, prior to May 19, 2003, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, as the context requires.

      Under the terms of the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement, all of our assets, other than those necessary to fund the administration of the scheme and the company will be distributed to scheme creditors in accordance with the scheme of arrangement. The Directors expect to dissolve M (2003) plc at approximately the same time as the completion of these distributions to scheme creditors. While M (2003) plc shares, and ADRs representing M (2003) plc shares, remain outstanding following the effectiveness of the financial restructuring, the Directors believe that there will be no circumstances under which any additional value will be returned to shareholders of M (2003) plc. As that is the case, the Directors believe M (2003) plc shares and ADRs are worthless.

      M (2003) plc is incorporated as a public limited company under the laws of England and Wales. We state our financial statements in United Kingdom (U.K.) pounds sterling. In this annual report, references to pounds sterling, pounds or £ and to pence or p are to the currency of the United Kingdom, references to euro or € are to the common legal currency of the members of the European monetary union, and references to United States (U.S.) dollars, U.S.$ or $ are to the currency of the United States of America.

      Our fiscal year ends on March 31. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this annual report to our fiscal year refer to a twelve-month financial period ending March 31. For example, fiscal 2005 represents the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2004 and ending on March 31, 2005.

      The consolidated financial statements contained in this annual report have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, known as U.S. GAAP.

      Various amounts and percentages set forth in this annual report may have been rounded and, accordingly, may not total.

PART I

Item 1: Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

      This item is not applicable.

Item 2: Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

      This item is not applicable.

Item 3: Key Information

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

      The selected historical consolidated financial information presented below as at and for each of the five years ended March 31, 2001 through 2005, has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

      On May 19, 2003, we and Marconi Corporation plc concluded the financial restructuring of the Marconi group through two separate “schemes of arrangement” under the U.K. Companies Act 1985. As a result of the restructuring, Marconi Corporation plc became the new parent holding company of the Marconi group, replacing us, and we ceased to be a member of the Marconi group. Additional details on the restructuring are included elsewhere in this document.

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA — (continued)

Notes:

EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

      The Noon Buying Rate for pounds sterling expressed in U.S. dollars per pounds sterling on September 27, 2005 was £1.00 = U.S.$1.7677.

      The following table sets forth the high and low noon buying rate for pounds sterling expressed in U.S. dollars per pound sterling for each of the previous six months:

      The following table sets forth the average noon buying rate for pounds sterling expressed in U.S. dollars per pound sterling for each of the five most recent fiscal years, based on the noon buying rate on the last business day of each month.

RISK FACTORS

      As a result of our financial restructuring, we have ceased business operations and intend to distribute our remaining assets to our creditors.

      On May 19, 2003, the financial restructuring of the Marconi group was concluded. The financial restructuring was effected through separate schemes of arrangement under the U.K. Companies Act 1985 for each of M (2003) plc and Marconi Corporation plc. As a result of the restructuring, the shares that M (2003) plc held in Marconi Corporation plc were cancelled. Marconi Corporation plc became the new parent holding company of the Marconi group and we ceased to be a member of the Marconi group. M (2003) plc no longer conducts any business and does not intend to revive any business operations.

      Under the terms of the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement, all of our assets, other than those necessary to fund the administration of the scheme and the Company, will be distributed to scheme creditors in accordance with the scheme of arrangement. The Directors expect to dissolve M (2003) plc at approximately the same time as the completion of these distributions to scheme creditors. While M (2003) plc shares, and ADRs representing M (2003) plc shares, remain outstanding following the effectiveness of the financial restructuring, the Directors believe that there will be no circumstances under which any additional value will be returned to shareholders of M (2003) plc. As that is the case, we believe M (2003) plc shares and ADRs are worthless.

Item 4: Information on the Company

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

      M (2003) plc, formerly Marconi plc, is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales and operating under the U.K. Companies Act 1985. M (2003) plc was incorporated as a public limited company in England in 1999. The address and telephone number of its registered office are 8 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8BB, United Kingdom and +44 (0)24 7656 5606.

      Until the effectiveness on May 19, 2003 of the schemes of arrangement described below under the caption “Financial Restructuring”, M (2003) plc was the parent company of Marconi Corporation plc and its subsidiaries, which operated (and continues to operate) the business of the Marconi group. As a result of the effectiveness of those schemes of arrangement, we ceased to be a member of the Marconi group and ceased business operations. Unless the context otherwise requires, the discussion below relates to the business and operations of the Marconi group that was, and continues to be, operated through the former direct and indirect subsidiaries of M (2003) plc.

      On October 21, 2003, Marconi plc changed its name to M (2003) plc.

Financial Restructuring

      On May 19, 2003, the Marconi group concluded its financial restructuring. The restructuring was effected through two separate “schemes of arrangement” under the U.K. Companies Act 1985. A scheme of arrangement is a procedure under English law through which a company may enter into a voluntary compromise or arrangement with one or more classes of its creditors to effect a restructuring of its financial obligations. One scheme of arrangement involved all of the creditors of Marconi Corporation plc, other than certain excepted categories of creditors but including the syndicate banks and bondholders to whom our primary financial indebtedness was owed. The second scheme of arrangement involved creditors of M (2003) plc. As a result of the restructuring, the shares that M (2003) plc held in Marconi Corporation plc were cancelled. Marconi Corporation plc became the new parent holding company of the Marconi group, and M (2003) plc ceased to be a member of the Marconi group.

      The financial restructuring covered approximately £4.8 billion of creditors’ claims, comprising £4.0 billion of syndicated bank debt and externally held U.S. dollar and euro denominated bonds and £800 million of related party debt. In exchange for the cancellation of their claims against us and Marconi Corporation plc, on May 19, 2003 the creditors covered by these schemes of arrangement received:

      In addition, Marconi Corporation plc issued 5 million ordinary shares, representing 0.5% of its issued ordinary share capital upon consummation of the financial restructuring, and warrants to subscribe for up to 50 million additional ordinary shares, equal to 5% of its issued ordinary share capital upon consummation of the financial restructuring, to shareholders of M (2003) plc. In connection with the restructuring Marconi

Corporation plc listed its ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and established an ADR program in respect of those shares.

      In connection with the financial restructuring, our ordinary shares were delisted from the London Stock Exchange. Under the terms of the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement, all of our assets, other than those necessary to fund the administration of the scheme and the Company, will be distributed to scheme creditors in accordance with the scheme of arrangement. The Directors expect to dissolve M (2003) plc at approximately the same time as the completion of these distributions to scheme creditors. While M (2003) plc shares, and ADRs representing M (2003) plc shares, remain outstanding following the effectiveness of the financial restructuring, the Directors believe that there will be no circumstances under which any additional value will be returned to shareholders of M (2003) plc. As that is the case, the Directors believe M (2003) plc shares and ADRs are worthless.

      Prior to the financial restructuring, we had issued options in respect of M (2003) plc’s shares to Marconi group employees under a number of different option plans. In order to hedge some of the potential cost of acquiring the shares necessary to satisfy the group’s obligations under these plans, we, through an ESOP trust entity, entered into contracts, which we refer to as ESOP derivative transactions, to purchase shares in the future at prices that were fixed at the dates of the contracts. In connection with the restructuring process, on March 26, 2003 we and Marconi Corporation plc entered into a final settlement with the banks, which we refer to as the ESOP derivative banks, that were the counterparties under the ESOP derivative transactions. This settlement agreement definitively settled the claims of the ESOP derivative banks against M (2003) plc and Marconi Corporation plc in relation to the ESOP derivative transactions. Under the settlement, which was conditional on Marconi Corporation plc’s financial restructuring becoming effective, we paid a total of £35 million to the ESOP derivative banks and the claims of the ESOP derivative banks under the ESOP derivative transactions were excluded from our and Marconi Corporation plc’s schemes of arrangement.

      On May 6, 2004, the M (2003) plc scheme supervisors authorized a further distribution to creditors as a consequence of the settlement of a Marconi Corporation plc scheme claim, referred to as the Millionerrors claim. At the time of this distribution, the prevailing share price and exchange rate resulted in the distribution of consideration approximately equivalent to 2 pence per pound of admitted claims.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

      Until the effectiveness on May 19, 2003 of the schemes of arrangement of M (2003) plc and Marconi Corporation plc, M (2003) plc was the parent company of Marconi Corporation plc and its subsidiaries, which operated (and continues to operate) the business of the Marconi group. As a result of the effectiveness of the M (2003) plc and Marconi Corporation plc schemes of arrangement, we ceased to be a member of the Marconi group and ceased our business operations. The business of the Marconi group continues to be operated by Marconi Corporation plc, the current parent holding company of the Marconi group, and its subsidiaries.

      As a consequence of the schemes of arrangement, we no longer conduct any business, and we do not intend to revive any business operations.

      Prior to May 19, 2003, we, through our former Marconi group subsidiaries, were a global vendor of telecommunications equipment and services. A description of the business that we used to conduct is contained in our previous annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our only remaining, dormant and non trading, subsidiaries are listed in Note 23 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

      Our registered office is located at 8 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8BB, United Kingdom. We currently have no property, plant or equipment.

Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

      On May 19, 2003, the Marconi group concluded its financial restructuring, which was effected through two separate schemes of arrangement under the U.K. Companies Act 1985. As a result of the restructuring, we ceased to be a member of the Marconi group and ceased business operations. See the additional discussion of our financial restructuring in “History and Development of the Company — Financial Restructuring”. Because the financial restructuring occurred approximately seven weeks into fiscal 2004, and because we ceased business operations thereafter, any discussion of our results or of specific financial statement line items between fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 and between fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003 is not meaningful.

      In connection with the financial restructuring of the Marconi Group, the shares that M (2003) plc held in Marconi Corporation plc were cancelled, and M (2003) plc divested fully of its interests in the Marconi Group for nil proceeds. This resulted in a gain of £3,281 million on the transfer of ownership of the Marconi Group being equivalent to its consolidated net liabilities. On the same date the scheme of arrangement of Marconi Corporation plc came into effect resulting in an £804 million receivable from the Marconi Group being waived by M (2003) plc and its subsidiary undertakings reducing the net gain to £2,477 million. This has been accounted for by a gain of £2,183 million recorded in the consolidated statement of operations within other income and a credit of £294 million recorded in the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity relating principally to the minimum pension liability.

      Expenses incurred by the Scheme Supervisors in the administration of the scheme post May 19, 2003 to March 31, 2004 were approximately £0.3 million. Expenses incurred by the Scheme Supervisors in fiscal 2005 were approximately £0.5 million.

      Because the financial restructuring was implemented by way of two separate schemes of arrangement under section 425 of the U.K. Companies Act 1985, the gain on financial restructuring described above will not give rise to any taxable amounts.

      Pursuant to the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement, the remaining assets of M (2003) plc will be distributed to scheme creditors, and it is intended that M (2003) plc will be dissolved. There will be no circumstances under which any value will be returned to shareholders under the terms of the scheme.

      The company has no external sources of liquidity. The company has cash on hand sufficient to meet our anticipated ongoing administrative costs for the foreseeable future. Under the terms of the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement, all of our assets, other than those necessary to fund the administration of the scheme and the Company, will be distributed to scheme creditors in accordance with the scheme of arrangement. The Directors expect to dissolve M (2003) plc at approximately the same time as the completion of these distributions to our scheme creditors. The Directors therefore believe that there will be no future circumstances under which the Company will have any internal sources of liquidity other than the cash currently on hand.

      At March 31, 2005, our cash and cash equivalents totalled £8 million, as compared to £9 million at March 31, 2004. All of our debts were compromised at the time of the financial restructuring of the Marconi group, and we have incurred no new debt since that time.

      As at March 31, 2005, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

      We have no contractual obligations of the type requiring tabular disclosure under Item 5.F.

Item 6: Directors, Senior Management and Employees

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Directors

      The current members of our board of directors are:

      The business address of John White, Christopher Shaw and Richard Robinson is 8 Salisbury Square, London EC4Y 8BB, United Kingdom.

      John Jameson White was appointed Chairman of our board of directors in August 2003. Mr. White, who is a solicitor, became a partner with the law firm CMS Cameron McKenna in 1964 having joined the firm in 1957. During his period with the firm, he became the first Chairman of the CMS European Banking Group.

      Christopher James Shaw was appointed to our board of directors in August 2003. Mr. Shaw became a licensed insolvency practitioner in 1987. He has worked for KPMG LLP since May 1989 as a senior manager in their corporate recovery department, primarily on members’ voluntary liquidations.

      Richard Anthony Robinson was appointed to our board of directors in September 2003. He is a Chartered Accountant and is currently working as a consultant. Previously he held various finance appointments within Marconi Corporation plc (previously The General Electric Company, p.l.c.) between 1987 to 1991 and from 1993 to 2003, latterly as VP — Corporate Finance. He spent 2 years working for Guinness PLC between 1991 and 1993. He is also a Director of Plessey Holdings Ltd, Osram AS and Torro Advisors Ltd.

Executive Officers

      Kevin David Smith was appointed company secretary in August 2003. Mr. Smith is a chartered secretary and was previously company secretary at Kalamazoo Computer Group plc.

COMPENSATION

      The names of our current directors appear in the table at the beginning of this section. The following table shows emoluments paid or payable to all directors of the company as a group for the period to March 31, 2005.

      The aggregate of emoluments and amounts receivable under long-term incentive schemes of the highest paid director was £23,834 (March 31, 2004: £113,000 to a former director). None of the directors received any compensation in fiscal 2005 in respect of any pension or defined benefit scheme.

BOARD PRACTICES

General

      Our board currently comprises a chairman and two directors, one of whom acts as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. The board also acts as the company’s audit committee. There are no other board committees.

      The board meets as and when circumstances require to discharge its statutory and regulatory obligations and to consider matters relating to the company’s scheme of arrangement.

      The periods during which the current directors have served are given above, in “— Directors and Senior Management”. Each director was originally appointed for a term of two years, and, upon the agreement of the rest of the board, each of the directors’ appointments was recently renewed for a further year on identical terms. The directors’ service contracts provide that upon termination, the directors are not entitled to any fee, compensation or other payment in respect of the period after the termination date.

EMPLOYEES

      All of our former employees were transferred to Marconi Corporation plc as a result of our restructuring on May 19, 2003. The company currently has no employees.

SHARE OWNERSHIP

      The following table shows the interests of directors in ordinary shares of 5 pence each in M (2003) plc:

      R A Robinson had the following interests in share options as a result of his previous employment within the Marconi Group. There are no circumstances under which any value will be attributable to these share options:

Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

      Trading in our shares on the London Stock Exchange ceased on May 16, 2003, and our shares were subsequently delisted.

      As at September 16, 2005, there were 742 registered holders of our American depositary receipts. Each ADR issued represents two ordinary shares. Of these registered ADR holders, 716 have addresses in the United States. One of the registered ADR holders is The Depository Trust Company, which represents the total number of ADRs held in book-entry form. The ADR holders collectively held 98,775,470 ADRs, or approximately 7.1% of our total issued share capital as at September 16, 2005.

      To our knowledge, there are no holders of 5% or more of the ordinary shares in M (2003) plc as at September [28], 2005.

      To our knowledge, we are not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by another corporation, by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person or persons, severally or jointly.

      To our knowledge, other than our recent restructuring described herein, there are no arrangements the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in us undergoing a change in control.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

      Since the completion of our financial restructuring in May, 2003, we have not entered into any transactions with related parties.

Item 8: Financial Information

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      Under the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement, any and all legal claims against M (2003) plc as at March 27, 2003, whether liquidated or unliquidated, or actual or contingent, were compromised. Therefore, there are no circumstances under which any of these claims will result in liability for M (2003) plc. Certain of these claims, however, may result in payments by the M (2003) plc scheme of arrangement. Where such a claim is pending or threatened and may have or has had in the recent past, including at least the 12 months immediately preceding the date of this annual report, a significant effect on the financial position of the scheme as a whole, this is set out below. Where a liquidated sum is claimed, a de minimis figure of £5 million has been applied in determining which claims may have a significant effect. The figures given are the full amounts claimed by the claimants in each case, which may be much greater than the amounts the claimants realistically believe they can recover. We and our other former group companies intend to defend claims vigorously. While we believe that we have meritorious defenses, the duration and outcome of the litigation are not predictable at this point.

      The following represents the largest recent or outstanding claims made against us:

      Since March 27, 2003, we are not and have not been engaged in, nor, so far as we are aware, do we have pending or threatened by or against us, any additional legal or arbitration proceedings which may have or have had a significant effect on our financial position as a whole.

DIVIDEND POLICY

      As a result of its scheme of arrangement, M (2003) plc shall not be making any dividends or distributions to its shareholders. See “Key Information — Risk Factors — As a result of our restructuring, we have ceased business operations and shall dispose of our remaining assets for the benefit of our creditors”.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

      There has been no significant change in our financial position since March 31, 2005.

Item 9: The Offer and Listing

STOCK PRICE HISTORY/ MARKETS

      From November 30, 1999, the ordinary shares of M (2003) plc were listed on the London Stock Exchange. On May 16, 2003, trading in the ordinary shares of M (2003) plc on the London Stock Exchange ceased and delisting followed. On October 17, 2000, the ADRs of M (2003) plc were added to quotation on the NASDAQ National Market, and on July 3, 2002, they were removed from quotation on the NASDAQ National Market and began trading on the over-the-counter bulletin board in the United States. The following table summarizes information regarding prices and trading of the M (2003) plc ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange and the ADRs on the NASDAQ National Market and the over-the-counter bulletin board for the periods indicated:

Item 10: Additional Information

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

      Please see our annual report on Form 20-F for the period to March 31, 2003 for a description of our memorandum and articles of association.

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

      During the past two years, we have not entered into any material contracts.

EXCHANGE CONTROLS

      There are currently no decrees or regulations under the laws of the United Kingdom restricting the import or export of capital or affecting the remittance of dividends or other payments to holders of M (2003) plc ordinary shares or American depositary shares who are non-residents of the United Kingdom. However, as explained elsewhere in this document, there will be no future remittances as dividends under any circumstances.

TAXATION

United States Federal Income Taxation

      Prospective and existing holders should be aware that the Directors’ opinion is that under no circumstances will any Shareholders or ADR holders ever receive any payments out of M (2003) plc’s assets.

      The following summary describes material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs. This summary addresses only U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders that hold our ordinary shares and/or ADRs as capital assets. This summary does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to acquire our ordinary shares and/or ADRs. In particular, this summary does not address tax considerations applicable to holders that may be subject to special tax rules including, without limitation, the following: (a) financial institutions; (b) insurance companies; (c) dealers or traders in securities, currencies or notional principal contracts; (d) tax-exempt entities; (e) persons that will hold our ordinary shares and/or ADRs as part of a “hedging” or “conversion” transaction or as a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (f) persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar; (g) persons that own (or are deemed to own) 10% or more (by voting power) of our share capital; (h) regulated investment companies; (i) persons who hold our ordinary shares and/or ADRs through partnerships or other pass-through entities; (j) real estate investment trusts; and (k) S corporations. Further, this summary does not address alternative minimum tax consequences.

      This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect and available on the date of this document. All of the foregoing is subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.

      Prospective holders should consult their own tax adviser with respect to the U.S. federal, estate, state, local, gift and other tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs.

      U.S. Holders should also review the discussion below under “— United Kingdom Taxation” for the U.K. tax consequences to a U.S. holder of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs.

      For purposes of this summary a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) a citizen or resident of the United States; (b) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, including the District of Columbia; (c) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (d) a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and (ii) one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of such trust. If a partnership holds our ordinary shares or ADRs, the consequences to a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership holding our ordinary shares or ADRs should consult its tax adviser. A “Non-US holder” is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares or ADRs that is not a U.S. holder.

      Subject to the discussion “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations”, the gross amount of any distribution that is actually or constructively received by a U.S. holder with respect to our ordinary shares and/or ADRs will be a dividend included in gross income of a U.S. holder as ordinary income. Dividends paid on our ordinary shares and/or ADRs generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States and will not be eligible for the “dividends received” deduction to United States corporate shareholders. The amount of any distribution of property other than cash will be the fair market value of the property on the date of the distribution.

      The gross amount of any distribution paid in foreign currency will be included in the gross income of a U.S. holder in an amount equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date received by the U.S. holder, regardless of whether the foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars. If the foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend. If the foreign currency received as a dividend is not converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. holder will have a basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any gain or loss on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the foreign currency will be treated as ordinary income or loss, and will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

      Subject to the discussion under “— Backup Withholding and Information Reporting”, a Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on dividends received on our ordinary shares and/or ADRs unless that income is effectively connected with the conduct by that Non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States.

      However, we do not expect to pay a dividend in the foreseeable future.

      Subject to the discussion “— Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations”, a U.S. holder will generally recognize a gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the sale or exchange of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized from such sale or exchange and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in those ordinary shares or ADRs, as the case may be. That gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain (taxable at a reduced rate for individuals, trusts or estates) if our ordinary shares or ADRs, as appropriate, were held for more than one year. Any such gain or loss would generally be treated as from sources within the United States. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

      A U.S. holder that receives foreign currency on the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs will realize an amount equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on the date of sale (or in the case of cash basis and electing accrual basis taxpayers, the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on settlement date). If a U.S. holder receives foreign currency upon a sale or exchange of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs, gain or loss, if any, recognized on the subsequent sale, conversion or disposition of that foreign currency will be ordinary income or loss, and will generally be income or loss

from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. However, if such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date received by the U.S. holder, a cash basis or electing accrual U.S. holder should not recognize any gain or loss on such conversion.

      Subject to the discussion under “— Backup Withholding and Information Reporting”, a Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale or exchange of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs unless: (a) that gain is effectively connected with the conduct by that Non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States, or (b) in the case of any gain realized by an individual Non-U.S. holder, that holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale or exchange and certain other conditions are met.

      A corporation organized outside the United States generally will be classified as passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which either: (a) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive income”, or (b) on average at least 50% of the gross value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce “passive income” or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income for this purpose generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents and gains from commodities and securities transactions. In determining whether it is a PFIC a foreign corporation is required to take into account a pro rata portion of the income and assets of each corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, at least a 25% interest.

      Based on our current assets it is likely that we were characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended 31 March, 2005. Because this is a factual determination made annually at the end of the taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for any future taxable year. If we were a PFIC in any year, special, possibly materially adverse, consequences would, as discussed below, result for U.S. holders.

      If we are a PFIC in any year during which a U.S. holder owns our ordinary shares and/or ADRs the U.S. holder will be subject to additional taxes on any excess distributions received from us and any gain realized from the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs (whether or not we continue to be a PFIC). A U.S. holder has an excess distribution to the extent that distributions on our ordinary shares and/or ADRs during a taxable year exceed 125% of the average amount received during the three preceding taxable years (or, if shorter, the U.S. holder’s holding period). To compute the tax on the excess distributions or any gain, (a) the excess distribution or the gain is allocated ratably over the U.S. holder’s holding period, (b) the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any year before we became a PFIC is taxed as ordinary income in the current year, and (c) the amount allocated to other taxable years is taxed at the highest applicable marginal rate in effect for each year and an interest charge is imposed to recover the deemed benefit from the deferred payment of the tax attributable to each year.

      Some of the rules with respect to distributions and dispositions described above may be avoided if a U.S. holder makes a valid “mark-to-market” election (in which case, subject to certain limitations, the U.S. holder would essentially be required to take into account the difference, if any, between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of our ordinary shares or ADRs, as the case may be, at the end of a taxable year as ordinary income (or, subject to certain limitations, ordinary loss), in calculating its income for such year). In addition, gains from an actual sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares or ADRs will be treated as ordinary income, and any losses will be treated as ordinary losses to the extent of any “mark-to-market” gains for prior years. A “mark-to-market” election is only available to U.S. holders in any tax year that the PFIC stock is considered “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange” within the meaning of applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. PFIC stock is “regularly traded” if, among other requirements, it is traded on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. Prospective holders should consult their own tax advisers as to whether our ordinary shares and/or ADRs would qualify for the mark-to-market election and whether such election is advisable.

      The foregoing rules with respect to distributions and dispositions may be avoided if a U.S. holder is eligible for and timely makes a valid “QEF election” (in which case the U.S. holder would be required to

include in income on a current basis its pro rata share of our ordinary income and net capital gains). In order to be able to make the QEF election, we would be required to provide a U.S. holder with certain information. We may decide not to provide the required information.

      Each U.S. holder of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs must make an annual return on IRS Form 8621, reporting distributions received and gains realized with respect to each PFIC in which it holds a direct or indirect interest.

      Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding whether an investment in our ordinary shares or ADRs will be treated as an investment in PFIC stock and the consequences of an investment in a PFIC.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

      Backup withholding and information reporting requirements may apply to certain payments to U.S. holders of dividends on our ordinary shares and/or ADRs and to the proceeds of a sale or redemption of our ordinary shares or ADRs. We, our agent, a broker, or any paying agent, as the case may be, may be required to withhold tax from any payment that is subject to backup withholding at a maximum rate of 28% of such payment if the U.S. holder fails (a) to furnish the U.S. holder’s taxpayer identification number, (b) to certify that the U.S. holder is not subject to backup withholding or (c) to otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The backup withholding rate may be subject to change each year. Certain U.S. holders, including, among others, corporations, are not subject to the backup withholding and information reporting requirements. Non-U.S. holders who hold our ordinary shares or ADRs through a U.S. broker or agent or through the U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker or agent may be required to comply with applicable certification procedures to establish that they are not U.S. holders in order to avoid the application of such information reporting requirements and backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a holder generally may be claimed as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided that the required information is furnished timely to the IRS.

United Kingdom Taxation

      The following summary describes certain U.K. tax consequences for certain holders of our ordinary shares and/or ADRs. It is intended to apply only to U.S. holders (as defined in the section above under “United States Federal Income Taxation”) who are not also residents of the U.K. for U.K. tax purposes or carrying on a business in the U.K. through a branch, agency or permanent establishment and who hold our ordinary shares and/or ADRs as investments. It may not apply to certain classes of holders, such as dealers in securities.

      This summary is based on current U.K. law and H.M. Revenue & Customs (HMRC) practice at the date hereof and on the terms of the double tax treaty concluded between the governments of the U.S. and the U.K. on July 24, 2001 and amended by a protocol agreed on July 12, 2002 and which came into force on March 31, 2003 (the Treaty). If you are in doubt as to whether you are entitled to benefits under the Treaty, you should consult your own tax advisers.

      This summary is not intended to be comprehensive, and prospective holders of our ordinary shares and ADRs are recommended to consult their professional advisers to determine their tax position.

      Under current U.K. taxation legislation, no tax is required to be withheld at source from cash dividends paid on our ordinary shares and/or ADRs. U.S. shareholders are not entitled to any U.K. tax credit (or to any payment from HMRC in respect of any tax credit) on dividends paid on our ordinary shares and/or ADRs. However, we do not expect to pay a dividend in the foreseeable future.

      A U.S. shareholder who is not resident, and in the case of an individual also not ordinarily resident, in the U.K. for U.K. tax purposes will not be liable for U.K. taxation on capital gains realized on the disposal of his or her shares or ADRs unless at the time of the disposal:

      A U.S. shareholder who is an individual and who has ceased to be resident or ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the U.K. on or after March 17, 1998 and continues not to be resident or ordinarily resident in the U.K. for a period of less than five years of assessment and who disposes of his shares or ADRs during that period may also be liable on his return to the U.K. to U.K. tax on capital gains, subject to any available exemption or relief, even though he or she is not resident or ordinarily resident in the U.K. at the time of the disposal. There are special rules for individuals who leave the U.K. part way through a year of assessment. Pursuant to the Finance Act 2005, these rules also apply to an individual who is resident or ordinarily resident in the U.K. but falls to be regarded as resident outside the U.K. for the purposes of any double tax treaty (a Treaty Non-Resident) and who becomes Treaty Non-Resident on or after March 16, 2005.

      U.K. stamp duty or SDRT is payable upon the transfer or issue of shares to, or to a nominee or agent of, a person whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts or providing clearance services. For this purpose, the current rate of stamp duty and SDRT is 1.5%, rounded up, in the case of stamp duty, to the nearest £5. The rate is applied, in each case, to the amount or value of the consideration or, in some circumstances, to the value of the shares.

      Provided that the instrument of transfer is not executed in the U.K. and remains at all subsequent times outside the U.K., no U.K. stamp duty will be payable on the transfer of ADRs. An agreement to transfer ADRs will not give rise to a liability to SDRT.

      The purchase of shares, as opposed to ADRs, may give rise to a charge to U.K. stamp duty or SDRT at the rate of 0.5%, rounded up, in the case of stamp duty, to the nearest £5. The rate is applied to the price payable for the shares at the time of the transfer or agreement to transfer. SDRT is generally the liability of the purchaser. It is customarily also the purchaser who pays U.K. stamp duty.

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

      We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy all or any portion of the reports and their exhibits at the public reference facilities maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material may also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C., 20549. You may obtain more information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains a web site that contains reports and information about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that web site is www.sec.gov.

Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

      Since the conclusion of the financial restructuring of the Marconi group on May 19, 2003, M (2003) plc has not had any material exposure to market risk.

Item 12: Description of Securities other than Equity Securities

      This item is not applicable.

PART II

Item 13: Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

      Since our financial restructuring, we have had no defaults, arrearages or delinquencies.

Item 14: Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

      Since our financial restructuring, neither we nor anyone else have taken any actions that would have modified or qualified the rights evidenced by any class of our registered securities.

Item 15: Controls and Procedures

      Under the supervision of and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness and design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2005. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date. Since the date of the evaluation, there have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the controls. Therefore, no corrective actions were taken.

Item 16A: Audit Committee Financial Expert

      We consider Richard Anthony Robinson to be the financial expert serving on our audit committee as defined by Item 16A(b). Mr. Robinson is an independent non-executive director.

Item 16B: Code of Ethics

      We have not adopted a code of ethics as defined by the instructions to Item 16B. Since we no longer conduct any business and do not intend to revive any business operations, we do not believe that a code of ethics is necessary.

Item 16C: Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Audit and audit-related fees

      Audit and audit-related fees consist of professional services rendered by our principal accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (collectively “Deloitte & Touche”) for the audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company, statutory audits, income tax provision procedures and other work in connection with documents filed with the SEC. Our audit and audit related fees were £35,000 in fiscal 2005 (2004: £75,000).

Tax fees

      Tax fees charged by Deloitte and Touche. £nil for each fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004.

Other

      Fees for other services were £nil in each of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004.

Pre approval procedures for Services

      All audit and non-audit services performed by the auditors are pre-approved by the Company’s audit committee, following a competitive tender where appropriate, in accordance with the committee’s auditors’ independence policy.

Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

      During fiscal 2005, neither we nor any “affiliated purchaser” made any purchases of any class of our equity securities that is registered pursuant to section 12 of the Exchange Act.

PART III

Item 17: Financial Statements

      Financial statements are being furnished pursuant to the instructions of Item 18 of Form 20-F.

Item 18: Financial Statements

      M (2003) plc is furnishing consolidated financial statements beginning at page F-l.

Item 19: Exhibits

SIGNATURES

      The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

Consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2005 and 2004 and

for the three years ended March 31, 2005

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the board of directors and shareholders of M (2003) plc:

      We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of M (2003) plc and its subsidiaries and joint ventures (together the “Company”) as of March 31, 2005 and 2004 and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, other comprehensive income/(loss), and shareholders’ equity for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended March 31, 2005. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended March 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

      Our audits also comprehended the transactions of certain pounds sterling amounts into US Dollars and, in our opinion, such transactions have been made in conformity with the basis described in note 2. Such US dollar amounts are presented solely for the convenience of readers in the United States of America.

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Birmingham, England

30 September 2005

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY/(DEFICIT)

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

M (2003) plc and subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Nature of business

      Until May 19, 2003, the Company was the ultimate holding company for the Marconi Group. Through its subsidiaries the Marconi Group was a multi-regional vendor of telecommunications equipment and services and was organized into two main divisions: Core and Capital. The Core business included the provision of optical networks, broadband routing and switching, broadband access, outside plant and power, other network equipment and associated installation, maintenance and other value-added services. The Marconi Group’s customers included telecommunications companies and providers of internet services for their public networks and some large corporations, government departments and agencies, utilities and educational institutions for their private networks. The Capital business comprised certain non-core businesses that were managed for value and ultimately for disposal. These included an investment in Easynet Group plc as well as a number of other minor activities, investments and assets with whom the Company had a base of installed equipment.

      On May 19, 2003, M (2003) plc (the Company) and its former subsidiary Marconi Corporation plc concluded a financial restructuring (the “Financial Restructuring”), which was effected through two separate schemes of arrangement under the U.K. Companies Act 1985 as described in note 3. Since the Financial Restructuring the Group consists of the Company and its non-trading and dormant subsidiaries listed in note 23. Therefore the Company and Group have no trading or business activities.

      As explained in note 3, the remaining assets of the Company will be distributed over time to its creditors, following which it is intended that the Company and its subsidiaries will be liquidated or dissolved.

      The name of the Company was changed from Marconi plc to M (2003) plc on October 21, 2003.

Basis of preparation

      The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As explained in note 3, following the Financial Restructuring of May 19, 2003 and pursuant to the Company’s Scheme of Arrangement, the remaining assets of the Company will be distributed over time to its creditors in order to settle liabilities as they are incurred. Following this it is intended that the Company will be liquidated or dissolved, however this is not expected to occur within the next twelve months.

Basis of consolidation

      The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of M (2003) plc and its subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned and controlled. Investments in affiliates in which the Company exercises significant influence but not control (generally those with a 20-50% ownership interest) are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Investments in non-listed entities in which the Company has less than a 20% ownership interest are accounted for under the cost method. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Use of estimates

      The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for

doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, depreciation and amortization, sales returns, warranty costs, taxes, certain accruals, payables, long-term contract profit estimates, employee benefits, long-lived asset impairment calculations and contingencies. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Income taxes

      The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates to calculate temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the financial statement carrying amounts. The Company recognizes a valuation allowance against such deferred tax assets when it is “more likely than not” that such assets will not be recovered. During the fiscal year 2003 all deferred tax assets, without offsetting liabilities in the same jurisdiction, were fully reserved.

Foreign currency

      The consolidated financial statements are presented in U.K. pounds sterling. The functional currency of each of M (2003) plc’s subsidiaries is the local currency in which each subsidiary is located. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the date of each transaction. Differences in exchange rates during the period between the date a transaction denominated in a foreign currency is consummated and the date on which it is either settled or translated are recognized in the statement of operations.

      Net income and cash flows of non-U.K. pounds sterling subsidiaries and equity investments are translated at the average rates of exchange during the year. The assets and liabilities of such entities are translated at year-end rates of exchange. Translation adjustments are included in other comprehensive income/(loss), as a separate component of shareholders’ equity/(deficit). Key exchange rates relative to U.K. pounds sterling used are as follows:

Revenue

      The Company recognizes revenue under Statement of Position (SOP) 81-1, Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and certain Production-Type Contracts, SOP 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements depending upon the terms of the contract.

      Revenue from product sales of hardware and software is recognized when: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; customer acceptance has occurred; the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and collectability is reasonably assured.

      Revenue from services is recognized at time of performance and acceptance by the customer.

      Revenue from multiple element contracts is allocated based on the relative fair value of each individual element.

      Revenues and estimated profits on long-term contracts are recognized under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting using a cost-to-cost methodology. Profit estimates are revised periodically based on the latest available information. When estimates of total contract revenues and costs indicate a loss, a provision for the entire amount of the contract loss is recognised in the period in which the loss becomes evident.

      Revenue is reported net of sales returns and allowances, early settlement discounts, sales rebates settled by credit notes, volume discounts and commissions earned by distributors.

      The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, expected to result from the use of the asset, including its disposition, is less than the carrying value of the asset. The impairment loss is calculated by comparing the carrying value of the asset with its fair value, which is usually estimated using discounted cash flows expected to be generated from the assets.

      During fiscal 2005 tangible fixed assets were impaired by £nil (2004, £nil and 2003, £69 million).

      Long-lived assets are classified as held-for-sale when certain criteria are met, which include: management commitment to a plan to sell the assets; the availability of the assets for immediate sale in their present condition; whether an active program to locate buyers and other actions to sell the assets has been initiated; whether the sale of the assets is probable and their transfer is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year; whether the assets are being marketed at reasonable prices in relation to their fair value; and how unlikely it is that significant changes will be made to the plan to sell the assets. The Company measures long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less cost to sell. Fair value is determined using quoted market prices or the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved.

      The Company classifies an asset or asset group that will be disposed of other than by sale as held and used until the disposal transaction occurs. The asset or asset group continues to be depreciated based on revisions to its estimated useful life until the date of disposal or abandonment.

      The Company has, in the past, issued share options to employees under a number of different option plans, collectively known as the “ESOP”. Under these plans, options may be satisfied by way of a transfer of existing Company ordinary shares acquired in the market by an employee trust or other vehicle, or, under some of the plans only, by an issue of new Company shares.

      From January 2000, in order to hedge part of the potential cost of the plans estimated at that time, the independent trustee of the Marconi Employee Trust (MET), Bedell Cristin Trustees Limited (“BCTL”), entered into swap contracts with three financial institutions (the ESOP Derivative Banks) to purchase a total of 40 million shares in the future at prices which were fixed at the date of contract.

      At March 31, 2003, the purchase of 38.5 million shares under these contracts was outstanding. The maximum exposure under the contracts was £337 million, plus accrued finance charges. Certain contracts require BCTL to deposit cash collateral with the relevant ESOP Derivative Banks if the share price falls to certain levels stipulated in those contracts. Prior to the financial restructuring the Company funded the provision of this collateral. The carrying value of the contracts at March 31, 2003 was £158 million.

      An agreement was reached to settle these contracts and they were closed out on May 19, 2003. The agreed settlement amount was £35 million which resulted in a gain of £123 million recorded in the consolidated statement of operations as part of the gain on disposal of businesses.

      At March 31, 2005 £nil (2004 £nil and 2003 £27 million) of cash balances was held in escrow with respect to these equity forward contracts.

      Prior to the financial restructuring, as part of its overall risk management strategy, the Company used derivatives to convert its fixed-rate debt into variable-rate debt, and to hedge its foreign currency firm commitments. These derivatives were typically designated as fair value hedges, to manage the interest rate risk or foreign currency risk of the hedged item accordingly. The carrying amount of the hedged item is adjusted for gains or losses attributable to the hedged risk. This unrealised gain or loss is offset by changes in the fair value of the derivative. All hedging ineffectiveness is included in earnings in the current period.

      Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge, the derivative is terminated or sold, or on the sale or early termination of the hedged item.

      For fiscal 2004 and 2003, the ineffective portion of all the Company’s fair value hedges was immaterial as the terms of the hedging instruments match the terms of the underlying hedged items. The Company does not exclude any components of the derivative gains and losses from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. The amount recognized in earnings for hedged firm commitments that no longer qualified for fair value hedges was immaterial.

      The Company’s policy has been to finance its activities in the same currencies as those used for its foreign investments in order to hedge foreign currency exposure of net investments in foreign operations. This policy has been implemented either by financing in the related currency or using derivatives, such as currency swaps, which provide a synthetic effect of a foreign currency loan, thereby reducing the exchange risk. As a result of the Financial Restructuring, which became effective May 19, 2003, the Company does not have any borrowings. For further information on the Company’s Financial Restructuring, refer to note 3.

      For fiscal 2005, £nil (2004, £nil and 2003, £169 million) of net gains related to non-derivative instruments used as net investment hedges were included as a cumulative translation adjustment in the statement of comprehensive income/ (loss). These net gains principally offset the net losses recorded on the respective net investments in foreign currencies being hedged. The hedge instruments used by the Company did not result in any material ineffectiveness. Their notional amounts were similar to the net investments being hedged as of the beginning of each quarter, and the currencies of the hedging instrument and hedged item were the same.

      The Company has used interest rate swaps to hedge the uncertainty of future cash flows due to its floating rate debt, and foreign currency forward exchange contracts that expire in less than twelve months to hedge against the effect that fluctuation in exchange rates may have on cash flow associated with forecasted purchases.

      Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge or the derivative is terminated or sold. On the sale or early termination of the hedged item, gains and losses are immediately reclassified to other (income)/expense.

      For fiscal 2005 and 2004, the total ineffectiveness of all cash flow hedges was immaterial since most of the terms of the hedging instruments match the terms of the underlying hedged items. The reclassification of gains and losses into earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges because management estimated that it was still probable that original forecasted transactions would occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two months thereafter was also immaterial.

      For those hedging relationships that are designated as cash flow hedges the respective effective portion of the gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income until it is necessary to be adjusted against net income in order to offset the respective change in expected future cash flows on the hedged transaction.

      For fiscal 2003 the total amount of losses in accumulated other comprehensive income of £23 million (£1 million related to tax) was reclassified into earnings during the year because, as a consequence of the Financial Restructuring which occurred on May 19, 2003 it was no longer probable at March 31, 2003 that the forecasted transactions would occur.

      The Company accounts for its defined benefit pension plans and its non-pension post-retirement benefit plans using actuarial models required by SFAS 87, Employers’ Accounting for Pensions, and SFAS 106,

Employers’ Accounting for Post-retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions, respectively. These models use an attribution approach that generally spreads individual events over the service lives of the employees in the plan. Examples of “events” are plan amendments and changes in actuarial assumptions such as discount rate, rate of compensation increases and mortality. The principle underlying the required attribution approach is that employees render service over their service lives on a relatively smooth basis and, therefore, the income statement effects of pensions or non-pension post-retirement benefit plans are earned in, and should follow, the same pattern.

      One of the main components of the net periodic pension calculation is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The required use of expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may result in recognized pension income that is greater or less than the actual returns of those plan assets in any given year. Over time, however, the expected long-term returns are designed to approximate the actual long-term returns and, therefore, result in a pattern of income and expense recognition that more closely matches the pattern of the services provided by the employees. Differences between actual and expected returns (to the extent that they exceed 10% of the market value of assets at the start of the period) are recognized in the net periodic pension calculation over the remaining average service lifetimes of active members.

      The Company uses long-term historical actual return information, the mix of investments that comprise plan assets, and future estimates of long-term investment returns by reference to external sources to develop its expected return on plan assets.

      The discount rate assumptions used for pension and non-pension post-retirement benefit plan accounting reflect the rates available on high-quality fixed-income debt instruments on March 31 of each year. The rate of compensation increase is another significant assumption used in the actuarial model for pension accounting and is determined by the Company based upon its long-term plans for such increases. For retiree medical plan accounting, the Company reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the health care cost trend rates.

      If the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of the plan assets, the Company recognizes an additional minimum liability that is at least equal to the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation. Where an additional minimum liability is recognized an intangible asset is recognized up to the amount of any unrecognized prior service cost and the balance is recognized through other comprehensive income.

      Provisions for estimated expenses related to product warranties are made at the time products are sold. These estimates are established using historical information on the nature, frequency, and average cost of warranty claims. Management actively studies trends of warranty claims and takes action to improve equipment quality and minimize warranty claims. Management believes that the warranty reserve is appropriate; however, actual claims incurred could differ from the original estimates, requiring adjustments to the reserve.

      Prior to the Financial Restructuring on May 19, 2003, the Company had nine plans under which it granted options. The Company accounted for employee share plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. No compensation cost was recognized for ordinary shares and share options issued under fixed plans with a price equal to fair market value. For fixed plans, the measurement date was the grant date. The Company recognized compensation cost for all ordinary shares and stock options issued with an exercise price below fair market value at the grant date and for plans subject to variable accounting. For variable plans, the compensation cost was re-measured on the basis of the current market value of M (2003) plc stock at the end of each reporting period. For ordinary options, such expense was recognized over the vesting period of the options. The Company recognized compensation expense for plans with performance conditions if achievement of these conditions became probable.

      At the date of the Financial Restructuring, options outstanding under certain plans lapsed as the employees were no longer employed by a group company. For the remaining share options issued under variable plans, the compensation cost has been re-measured on the basis of a £nil value of M (2003) plc stock at March 31, 2005 because the Company’s shares were delisted as part of the restructuring. The full expense has been recognized in the prior year rather than over the vesting period as there are no circumstances under which it is expected that any value will be attributable the these share options.

      The Company recognized compensation expense in fiscal 2005 of £nil (2004 £9 million, 2003, £14 million), related to stock options issued below fair market value and those plans, which are variable. Had compensation cost for the employee share plans been determined consistent with the fair value methodology of SFAS 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. No Share options were granted in the fiscal years 2005, 2004 and 2003.

      Under SFAS 123, the fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

      No stock options were granted during fiscal 2005, 2004 or 2003.

      Comprehensive income/ (loss) represents the net income/ (loss) for the period plus the results of certain shareholders equity/ (deficit) changes that are not reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

      The accumulated balances of other comprehensive income/ (loss) are as follows:

      Earnings per share (EPS) are computed in accordance with SFAS 128, Earnings per Share. Basic EPS is computed by dividing consolidated net income by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing consolidated net income by the sum of the weighted average number of shares outstanding and the weighted average number of potentially dilutive common shares, based on the assumed exercise of dilutive share options under the Company’s stock option plans. Such potentially dilutive common shares are excluded when the effect would be to reduce a loss per share.

      There are no recently issued accounting pronouncements that have yet to be adopted that management believe could have a material impact on the groups financial position and results of operations.

      The accompanying financial statements do not comprise “statutory accounts” within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The Company’s statutory accounts for fiscal 2005 prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom (U.K. GAAP) will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales.

      The auditors’ report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985.

3.   Financial restructuring

      Until May 19, 2003, M (2003) plc (‘the Company’, formerly known as Marconi plc) was the ultimate holding company for the Marconi Group.

      On May 19, 2003, M (2003) plc and its then subsidiary Marconi Corporation plc concluded a financial restructuring (the “Financial Restructuring”), which was effected through two separate schemes of arrangement under the U.K. Companies Act 1985. Under the schemes of arrangement Marconi Corporation plc issued new share capital and cancelled the old shares held by the Company. Therefore the Company ceased to be the ultimate holding company of the Marconi Group on May 19, 2003 and from that date ceased to operate any trading activities. Consequently, the entities included in the consolidated financial statements presented in this document for the period after May 19, 2003 are the Company and its non-trading and dormant subsidiaries listed in note 23. Trading in the Company’s shares on the London Stock Exchange ceased on May 16, 2003 and the Company’s shares were subsequently delisted.

      The name of the Company changed from Marconi plc to M (2003) plc on October 21, 2003.

      At the date of the Financial Restructuring, as a result of the shares the Company held in Marconi Corporation plc being cancelled, the Company divested fully of its interests in the Marconi Group for nil proceeds. This resulted in a gain of £3,404 million on the transfer of ownership of the Marconi Group being equivalent to its consolidated net liabilities. On the same date the scheme of arrangement of Marconi Corporation plc came into effect resulting in an £804 million receivable from the Marconi Group being waived by the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. The net gain of £2,600 million was recorded in the consolidated statement of operations within operating income.

      The gain was calculated as follows:

      The Financial Restructuring was implemented by way of two separate schemes of arrangement under section 425 of the U.K. Companies Act 1985. As a result, the gain described above will not give rise to any taxable amounts.

      Pursuant to the Company’s Scheme, the remaining assets of the Company will be distributed over time to its creditors, following which it is intended that the Company and its remaining subsidiaries will be liquidated or dissolved. There will be no circumstances under which any value will be returned to shareholders under the terms of the Company’s Scheme.

      On the date of the financial restructuring, a further gain of £123 million was realised on the settlement of equity forward contracts outstanding and was recorded in the consolidated statement of operations within other income. See note 2 and note 18 for further discussion of these equity forward contracts.

      Expenses incurred by the Scheme Supervisors in the administration of the Scheme post May 19, 2003 to March 31, 2004 were approximately £0.3 million and for the year ended March 31, 2005 were approximately £0.5 million.

4.   Balance sheet information