+1 - Solvay

Financial
information per
share
16
Earnings per share
Net income of the Group amounted to EUR 828
million compared with EUR 817 million in 2006.
Minority interests (EUR 47 million) increased compared
with 2006 (EUR 26 million) due to the favourable trend
of income from investments in which minority interests
are present In this way the net earnings per share
amounted in 2007 to EUR 9.46 (EUR 9.57 in 2006).
Dividend
The Board of Directors on February 14, 2008 decided
to propose to the General Shareholders’ Meeting of
May 13, 2008 that the company pay a net dividend
of EUR 2.20 per share (EUR 2.9333 gross per share).
This is an increase of 4.8% compared with 2006.
Based on the closing price on February 13, 2008
(EUR 83.36), this represents a gross dividend yield of
3.5% and a net dividend yield of 2.6%.
Given the interim dividend of EUR 0.85 per share
(coupon no. 81) paid on January 17, 2008, the balance
of the dividend in respect of 2007, equal to
EUR 1.35 net per share, will be paid on May 20, 2008
(coupon no. 82).
This increase is in line with Group policy of increasing
the dividend whenever possible and, as far as possible,
not reducing it. Over the past 26 years the dividend has
been steadily increased and never reduced.
Parent company results
(Solvay S.A.)
Solvay S.A. is a holding company. Its income comes
essentially from managing a portfolio of investments.
The operating result represents the balance of the head
office operating costs partially offset by income from
industrial and commercial activities not undertaken
through subsidiaries.
Gross and net dividend per share (in EUR)
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.80
2.40
1.90
2.53
2.00
2.67
2.10
2.80
2.20
2.93
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
2003
Net dividend
2004
Gross dividend
2005
2006
2007
Solvay Global Annual Report 2007