5.3.11Dividends paid and proposed
The Company introduced a new dividend policy in 2015 which consists of paying out either in cash or in shares of SBM Offshore at the election of each shareholder between 25% and 35% of the directional net income, provided that positive free cash flows are expected to be generated during the year of payment. In accordance with this policy but taking into account the specific circumstances relating to 2016 including the nature of the non-recurring items, a dividend out of 2016 net income of US$ 0.23 (2015 : US$ 0.21) per share will be proposed to the Annual General Meeting on April 13, 2017, corresponding to approximately 31% of the Company’s US$ 150 million Directional net income adjusted, this year, for non-recurring items.
The annual dividend will be calculated in US dollars, but will be payable in euros. The conversion into Euro will be effected on the basis of the exchange rate on April 13, 2017.