Hargreaves Lansdown has a progressive ordinary dividend policy. The Board considers the dividend on a total basis, with the intention of maintaining the ordinary dividend payout ratio at around 65% across the market cycle and looking to return excess cash to shareholders in the form of a special dividend after the year end. Any such return will be determined according to market conditions and after taking account of the Group's growth, investment and regulatory capital requirements at the time.
Other financial highlights include:
Net new business of £8.7 billion
Strong growth in Assets Under Administration, up 30% to £135.5 billion
1,645,000 active clients, an increase of 233,000 in the year
Underlying profit before tax increase of 8% to £366.0 million
Profit before tax decrease of 3% to £366.0m
