BASF Plans to Raise Dividend to €3.90 per Share and Proposes 1:2 Stock Split
The goal of the stock split is to make BASF shares available to an even broader spectrum of investors.
22/02/08 The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE decided to propose to the Annual Meeting on April 24, 2008 to increase the dividend for 2007 by €0.90, or 30 percent, to €3.90 per share and to conduct a 1:2 stock split. Both decisions are subject to approval by the company’s Supervisory Board in its meeting on March 4, 2008.
About the dividend proposal:
On the basis of the number of qualifying shares as of December 31, 2007, a dividend of €3.90 per share would correspond to a total dividend payment of almost €1.9 billion. Relative to the 2007 year-end share price of €101.41, BASF shareholders will thus receive a dividend yield of 3.8 percent. If the proposal is approved by the Annual Meeting, the dividend will be paid out on April 25, 2008.
BASF aims to continue to increase its dividend each year, or at least maintain it at the previous year’s level.
About the stock split:
Following a 1:2 stock split by re-division of the share capital, shareholders would receive one additional share for each BASF SE share held without an additional payment. Shares held in the form of American Depositary Receipts in the United States would also be adjusted accordingly.
If the proposal is approved by the Annual Meeting, the stock split should be performed within three months following the Meeting. The goal of the stock split is to make BASF shares available to an even broader spectrum of investors. In addition, it reflects the confidence of the Board of Executives that BASF’s earnings-oriented growth will continue to be the basis for the positive development of the company’s stock.
Existing employee stock programs would be adjusted accordingly in order to ensure that their value remains unchanged.
