4. Earnings Per Share Class B ordinary shares (cancelled in September 2001) have been excluded from the calculation on the basis that they cannot share in any dividend paid by the company. On October GrainCorp acquired 100% of the shares in VGS for $89,475,129. VGS holds 75% of shares in Vicgrain  which holds 100% of shares in Assets and Finance. The operating results of the newly controlled entities have been included in the consolidated statement of financial performance since the date of acquisition. 5. Acquisition of Controlled Entity Consolidated 2001 2000 Cents Cents Basic earnings per share  109.4 155.6 Diluted earnings per share  109.0  155.6  Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year  used in the calculation of basic earnings per share.  40,756,968  31,274,435  53 GrainCorp 200 1 Annual Report GrainCorp Limited and Controlled Entities  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2001