Dividends
On 12 October, the Board announced the suspension of the 2023 final dividend when it became clear that covenant gearing would not decrease in the year and in the light of the weaker than expected macro-economic environment and trading performance. The Board will continue to monitor business performance and prospects and the associated pace of reduction in covenant gearing and will reinstate the dividend when it considers that sufficient progress is being made, targeting a 2x coverage ratio (EPS to DPS) once reinstated.
Dividends Paid Direct To Your Bank Account
Having dividends paid direct to your bank account has the following advantages:
- avoids the risk of cheques being lost in the post;
- saves you time in presenting the cheque for payment;
- the dividend is credited to your account on the payment date.
Dividend payments 2013-2023
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Dividend per share (p) | 10.00 |
10.30 | 11.33 | 12.28 | 13.51 | 14.86 | 5.16 | 5.00 | 1.7 |
| Interim | 3.25 | 3.35 | 3.69 | 3.87 | 4.26 | 4.69 | 5.16 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
| Final | 6.75 | 6.95 | 7.645 | 8.41 | 9.25 | 10.17 | 0.0 | 5.00 | 0.0 |
Dividend payments 2004-2012
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Dividend per share (p) | 30.00 | 32.25 | 34.75 | 37.96 | 22.72 | 0.00 |
6.00 |
9.50 | 9.75 |
| Interim | 9.35 | 10.00 | 10.75 | 11.56 | 12.72 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.00 | 3.15 |
| Final | 20.65 | 22.25 | 24.00 | 26.40 | 10.00 | 0.00 | 6.00 | 6.50 | 6.60 |