The amount of dividends and interim dividends paid in the last three fiscal years was as follows:
| Fiscal year | Number of shares | Dividend per share (in euros) |
Total dividend paid (1) (in euros) | Dividend payment date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2018 Number of shares3,010,267,676 |
2018 Dividend per share(in euros)0.31 (2) |
2018 Total dividend paid (1) (in euros)933,556,364.41 (3) |
2018 Dividend payment date18 June, 2019 |
| 2019 | 2019 Number of shares3,050,969,626 |
2019 Dividend per share(in euros)0.15 (4) |
2019 Total dividend paid (1) (in euros)456,888,323.70 (4) |
2019 Dividend payment date17 December 2019 |
| 2020 | 2020 Number of shares3,099,923,579 |
2020 Dividend per share(in euros)0.21 (5) |
2020 Total dividend paid (1) (in euros)652,259,998.76 (6) |
2020 Dividend payment date7 June 2021 |
(1) After deduction of treasury shares.
(2) I.e. €0.341 in 2018 for shares benefiting from the increased dividend.
(3) Including €451,000,397.55 paid on 10 December 2018 as an interim dividend on the 2018 dividend paid entirely in cash. The balance of the 2018 dividend, in the amount of 482,555,966.86 paid on 18 June 2019, is composed of €452,021,956.95 paid in new shares and €30,534,009.91 paid in cash.
(4) The interim dividend for 2019 of €456,888,323.70 paid on 17 December 2019, is composed of €429,635,913.60 paid in new shares and €27,252,346.20 paid in cash and €63.90 of balancing cash.
(5) I.e. an amount of €0.231 in 2020 for the shares benefiting from the increased dividend.
(6) The balance of the 2020 dividend of 652,259,998.76 paid on 7 June 2021 is composed of €616,146,887.12 paid in new shares and €36,113,111.64 paid in cash.
At its meeting of 17 February 2022, the Board of Directors decided to propose to the General Meeting of Shareholders that will be called to approve the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 and will be held on 12 May 2022, the payment of a dividend of €0.58 per share (excluding the increased dividend) for the 2021 fiscal year i.e. a balance of EUR 0.28 taking into account the interim dividend for 2021 of EUR 0.30 paid on 2 December 2021. The balance of the dividend payable for the 2021 fiscal year comes to €0.338 per share for shares benefiting from the increased dividend.
Shareholders will be offered the option of having the remaining dividend paid out in new Company shares. This option will be available between 20 May and 7 June 2022 inclusive. For shareholders who have not exercised their option by 13 June 2022, at the latest, all remaining dividend payments will be made in cash. The French State has undertaken to have its dividend paid out in the form of new shares.
New common shares issued to pay for the share capital increase will only entitle their holders to the payment of the balance of the 2021 dividend.
The dividend payment date, subject to the approval of the General Meeting, will be 7 June 2022, with an ex-dividend date of 18 May 2022.
The dividend policy formulated by the Board of Directors takes the Group’s investment needs, the economic context and any other relevant factor into account.
In accordance with the amendment to the articles of association passed by the Shareholders’ Meeting of 24 May 2011, the first increased dividend was paid in 2014 for the previous year. Shareholders holding their shares in registered form for at least two years are entitled to an increased dividend. The number of shares eligible for the 10% increased dividend may not exceed 0.5% of the share capital for a single shareholder.
On 21 November 2014, the Shareholders’ Meeting amended the articles of association to the effect of authorizing it to approve the payment of any dividend, interim dividend, reserves or premium that is distributed or any reduction in capital through delivery of the Company’s assets, including financial securities.
Dividends not claimed within five years of their payment date lapse in favour of the French State.
