Food Lion 2013 Annual Report Download - page 171

DELHAIZE GROUP ANNUAL REPORT 2013 SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 169
Dividend
In March 2014, the Board of Directors adopted a new dividend policy,
paying out 35% of underlying Group share in net profit.
At the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting to be held on May 22, 2014,
the Board of Directors will therefore propose the payment of a gross
dividend of €1.56 per share, compared to €1.40 the previous year.
After deduction of 25% Belgian withholding tax, this will result in a net
dividend of €1.17 per share (€1.05 the prior year).
The net dividend of €1.17 per share will be payable to owners of
ordinary shares against coupon no. 52. The Delhaize Group shares
will start trading ex-coupon on May 28, 2014 (opening of the market).
The record date (i.e. the date at which shareholders are entitled to the
dividend) is May 30, 2014 (closing of the market) and the payment date
is June 2, 2014. The payment will be made at the registered office of
the Company (rue Osseghem / Osseghemstraat 53, 1080 Brussels,
Belgium) as well as through all Belgian financial institutions.
For shares held through a share account, the bank or broker will auto-
matically handle the dividend payment.
The payment of the dividend to the ADR holders will be made through
Citibank.
Type of Delhaize Group Shares
Delhaize shares can be held in two different forms: dematerialized form
or registered shares. Dematerialized shares are shares that can only be
represented by entries into an account in the book of a depositary institu-
tion. Registered shares are shares that can only be represented by entries
into a shareholder register held by the Company. On request, sharehold-
ers may convert their shares into another form at their own expense. The
ownership of registered shares can be transferred by informing the Com-
pany and returning the certificate of record in the shareholder register
to the Company. As from January 1, 2008, bearer shares held in printed
form booked into a securities account have been automatically converted
into dematerialized shares. Bearer shares not yet booked in a securities
account shall be automatically converted into dematerialized shares as
from the time they are booked into a securities account.
Information for ADR Holders
ADSs (American Depositary Shares) are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol DEG. ADSs are evidenced by American
Depositary Receipts (ADRs). As from April 7th 2014, 4 ADR’s trade for 1
Delhaize Group share. The Delhaize Group ADR program is adminis-
trated by:
Citibank Shareholder Services
P.O. Box 43077
Providence, RI 02940-3077
U.S.A.
Toll free telephone number for U.S. callers: 1-877-853-2191
International Call Number:
1-781-575-4555
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.citi.com/dr
Citibank has put in place an International Direct Investment Plan for Del-
haize Group, which is a dividend reinvestment and direct purchase plan
sponsored and administered by Citibank. The program enables existing
holders and first time purchasers the opportunity to make purchases,
reinvest dividends, deposit certificates for safekeeping and sell shares.
For further information on Citibank’s International Direct Investment
Program for Delhaize Group, please visit www.citi.com/dr or contact
Citibank Shareholder Services at 1-877-248-4237 (1-877-CITIADR).
Taxation of Dividends of Delhaize Group Shares
It is assumed that, for the application of domestic Belgian tax legislation
and the U.S.-Belgian tax treaty, owners of Delhaize Group ADRs are
treated the same as owners of Delhaize Group shares and that the
ADRs are treated as Delhaize Group shares. However, it must be noted
that this assumption has not been confirmed or verified with the Belgian
Tax Authorities.
For Belgian income tax purposes, the gross amount of all distributions
made by Delhaize Group to its shareholders (other than repayment of
paid-up capital in accordance with the Belgian Companies Code) is
generally taxed as dividends. Dividends that are attributed or paid on
the shares are in principle subject to a 25% Belgian withholding tax.
FINANCIAL CALENDAR
Press release - 2014 first quarter results May 7, 2014(1)
Shareholders' record date May 8, 2014
Final date for notifying intent to participate
in the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting
May 16, 2014(1)
Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting May 22, 2014
ADR and ordinary share dividend record date May 30, 2014
Dividend for the financial year 2013 becomes
payable to owners of ordinary shares
June 2, 2014
Dividend for the financial year 2013 becomes
payable to ADR holders
June 5, 2014
Press release - 2014 second quarter results August 7, 2014(1)
Press release - 2014 third quarter results November 6, 2014(1)
(1) You are kindly invited to listen to the related conference call.
See www.delhaizegroup.com for further details on the conference
call and the webcast.