The Croda International Directors are recommending a final dividend of 50.5p per share amounting to a total of £65.0m in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2019. Subject to shareholder approval, the dividend will be paid on 28 May 2020 to shareholders registered on 17 April 2020. The total proposed dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 will be 90.0p per share amounting to £115.7m.
Other financial highlights include:
Sales 0.7% lower, including small benefit from weaker Sterling translation
Operating profit 2.7% lower due to lower sales and higher charges for exceptional items and amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition
Exceptional charge of £10.7m to deliver cost saving actions (2018: £4.9m, relating to UK defined benefit pension scheme past service cost)
Basic EPS reduced by 4.7% to 172.8p (2018: 181.4p)
