Invitation to our General Meeting 2021

Proposed resolutions and purpose

Hence, a dividend of 2.75 euros shall be paid to each of the shares conferring entitlement to a dividend, it being specified that in the event of a change in the number of shares conferring entitlement to a dividend compared to the 473,660,724 shares making up the share capital as of December 31, 2020, the overall dividend amount would be adjusted accordingly and the amount appropriated to the retained earnings account would be determined on the basis of the dividend effectively paid.

The dividend payment date will be set for May 19, 2021:

  • for direct registered shares: directly by the Company;
  • for intermediary registered shares, as well as for bearer shares which are registered in shareholder accounts: by the authorized intermediaries to whom the management of these shares has been entrusted.

The dividend distributions made with respect to the last three fiscal years are as follows:

 

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

Number of shares concerned (b)

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

Fiscal year 2017

Fiscal year 2017

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

 

Fiscal year 2017

Number of shares concerned

(b)

 

Fiscal year 2017

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

 

Ordinary dividend

Ordinary dividend

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

1,135,253,508

Ordinary dividend

Number of shares concerned

(b)

428,397,550

Ordinary dividend

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

2.65

Loyalty dividend

Loyalty dividend

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

30,459,742

Loyalty dividend

Number of shares concerned

(b)

117,152,854

Loyalty dividend

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

0.26

Fiscal year 2018

Fiscal year 2018

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

 

Fiscal year 2018

Number of shares concerned

(b)

 

Fiscal year 2018

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

 

Ordinary dividend

Ordinary dividend

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

1,137,972,100

Ordinary dividend

Number of shares concerned

(b)

429,423,434

Ordinary dividend

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

2.65

Loyalty dividendé

Loyalty dividendé

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

33,416,412

Loyalty dividendé

Number of shares concerned

(b)

128,524,663

Loyalty dividendé

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

0.26

Fiscal year 2019

Fiscal year 2019

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

 

Fiscal year 2019

Number of shares concerned

(b)

 

Fiscal year 2019

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

 

Ordinary dividend

Ordinary dividend

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

1,277,384,888

Ordinary dividend

Number of shares concerned

(b)

473,105,514

Ordinary dividend

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

2.70

Loyalty dividend

Loyalty dividend

Total amount distributed (a) 

(in euros) 

36,221,817

Loyalty dividend

Number of shares concerned

(b)

134,154,877

Loyalty dividend

Dividend distributed eligible in its entirety for the 40% 
allowance referred to in article 158-3-2° of the French Tax Code (c) 

(in euros) 

0.27

(a) Theoretical values calculated based on the number of shares as of December 31 for each fiscal year. 

(b) Number of shares expressed historically as of December 31 for each fiscal year. The amounts effectively paid after adjustment were as follows: 

  • fiscal year 2017 – ordinary dividend: 1,130,983,210 euros for 426,786,117 shares; loyalty dividend: 29,591,663 euros for 113,814,089 shares; 
  • fiscal year 2018 – ordinary dividend: 1,131,698,657 euros for 427,056,097 shares; loyalty dividend: 32,497,215 euros for 124,989,290 shares; 
  • fiscal year 2019 – ordinary dividend: 1,273,544,632 euros for 471,683,197 shares; loyalty dividend: 36,437,830 euros for 134,954,926 shares; 

The adjustment especially arises from the change in the number of treasury shares, from the final determination of the loyalty dividend taking into account shares sold between January 1 and the ex-dividend date, from the exercise of options over this same period and the capital increase reserved for employees. 

(c) ) Applicable, under certain conditions, when the progressive income tax rate is applied. 

Pursuant to the provisions of the articles of association, a loyalty dividend of 10%, i.e. 0.27 euro per share with a par value of 5.50 euros, shall be granted to shares which have been held in registered form since December 31, 2018, and which remain held in this form continuously until May 19, 2021, the dividend payment date.

In accordance with article 117 quarter of the French General Tax Code, it is specified that ordinary and loyalty dividends paid to individuals with their tax residence in France are fully subject to the single flat-rate withholding tax of 12.8%. Nonetheless, at the express, irrevocable and global request of the shareholder, these dividends may be subject to the progressive income tax rate and shall therefore be eligible for the 40% allowance referred to in section 2° of paragraph 3 of article 158 of the French General Tax Code, which is applicable under certain conditions. In all cases, these ordinary and loyalty dividends shall also be subject to social contributions at a rate of 17.2%.

The total amount of the loyalty dividend for the 131,753,261 shares which have been held in registered form since December 31, 2018, and which remained held in this form continuously until December 31, 2020, amounts to 35,573,380 euros.

The total loyalty dividend corresponding to these 131,753,261 shares that cease to be held in registered form between January 1, 2021 and May 19, 2021, the dividend payment date, shall be deducted from the aforementioned amount.