In 2017, € 36.4 million (2016: € 33.4 million) was paid as dividend. The payment of a dividend over 2017 of € 117.77 per share as at year-end 2017 (2016: € 114.76), amounting to a total dividend of € 37.7 million (2016: € 34.2 million), is to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on 18 April 2018. These financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable.
The dividend proposal for 2017 has not been accounted for in the financial statements. The dividend for 2017 will be paid in cash.