Cash dividend and currency election

Dividend per share

Dividends are approved in US dollars and shareholders on the UK and Hong Kong registers will receive payments in pounds sterling or Hong Kong dollars respectively unless they elect to receive their payment in US dollars. The foreign exchange rate at which dividends declared in US dollars are to be converted into pounds sterling and Hong Kong dollars will be announced prior to the payment of the dividend.

If you hold your shares in a securities account with The Central Depository (Pte.) Limited (CDP), the amount you receive in Singapore dollars will be calculated at an exchange rate as determined by CDP. 

If you hold American Depositary Shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange, you will receive your dividends in dollars. One American Depositary Receipt represents 2 ordinary shares and therefore the dividend per share is multiplied by 2.

Dividend mandate form

Shareholders need to complete a dividend mandate form in order to receive dividends on shares held on the UK register. Your cash dividend will be paid directly into your bank or building society account. Please print, complete and return the dividend mandate form to the UK registrar, or add your bank details to your investor centre account via Computershare Investor Centre - UK

Shareholders on the Hong Kong register may provide their bank account details in Hong Kong for receiving dividend payments. Details may be submitted to Computershare either by (i) using the “Change of banking instruction for dividends” form, or (ii) by providing a duly signed written instruction by mail or delivered in person, clearly stating which shares they are referring to, the shareholder’s name and address, and their bank account details. Due to security reasons, email or fax instructions will not be accepted.

Dividend payments to shareholders on the Hong Kong register can only be remitted electronically, in Hong Kong dollars, to local bank accounts. Any shareholders who have not provided valid bank details will be issued with a cheque payment posted to the shareholder’s registered address.

Dividend in other currencies

In addition to the option to elect to receive payment in US dollars, it is possible to pay dividends to shareholders on the UK register in certain other currencies for a nominal handling charge. If you would like to take advantage of this facility, please visit Computershare Investor Centre - UK and add your overseas bank details to your account.

Dividend currency election

The Group’s consolidated financial statements are presented in US dollars (USD). Shareholders holding their shares on the UK and Hong Kong share registers will receive their dividend payments in pounds sterling or Hong Kong dollars (HKD) respectively unless they elect to receive payment in USD. Elections may be revoked and dividend payments will default to payments in pounds sterling or HKD respectively. Further information about how to elect to receive payment in US dollars can be found at the dividend currency election page.

Dividend allowance changes

From 6 April 2018 the dividend allowance has changed. To understand how you are affected by the changes and for further information visit the HMRC website.