4.3.12Dividends Paid and Proposed and Share repurchase program
The Company is evolving its shareholder return policy as follows: ”The Company’s shareholders return policy is to maintain a stable annual cash return to shareholders which grows over time, with flexibility for the Company to make such cash return in the form of a cash dividend and the repurchase of shares. Determination of the annual cash return is based on the Company’s assessment of its underlying cash flow position. The Company prioritizes a stable cash distribution to shareholders and funding of growth projects, with the option to apply surplus capital towards incremental cash returns to shareholders.” The policy will be presented for discussion at the Annual General Meeting on April 12, 2024.
As a result, following review of its cash flow position and forecast, the Company intends to pay a total cash return to shareholders of US$220 million in 2024. This represents an increase of 12% compared with the dividend paid in 2023. The cash return is to be composed of a proposed dividend of US$150 million (equivalent to c. US$0.83 per share1) combined with a EUR65 million (US$70 million equivalent2) share repurchase program. Shares repurchased as part of the cash return will be cancelled. The share repurchase program will be launched on March 1, 2024 and the dividend will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting on April 12, 2024. Going forward, the Company intends to maintain a material level of dividend as part of the annual cash return with US$150 million as a base level.