British American Tobacco has announced that the Board had declared an interim dividend of 215.6p per ordinary share of 25p, payable in four equal quarterly installments of 53.9p per ordinary share in May 2021, August 2021, November 2021, and February 2022.
Brand Spur Nigeria understands that the May 2021 Dividend will be payable on 12 May 2021 to shareholders registered on either the UK main register or the South Africa branch register on 26 March 2021 (the record date).
In accordance with the JSE Limited (“JSE”) Listing Requirements, the finalization information for the May 2021 Dividend relating to shareholders registered on the South Africa branch register is set out in the paragraphs below.
The salient dates and other dividend declaration information announced on 17 February 2021 remain unchanged for the May 2021 Dividend.
South Africa Branch Register: Dividend Rate
The British American Tobacco Group reports in sterling, therefore dividends are declared and payable in sterling except for shareholders on the branch register in South Africa whose dividends are payable in rand. A rate of exchange of £:R = 20.72650 as of 11 March 2021 (the closing rate on that date as quoted by Bloomberg), results in an equivalent May 2021 Dividend of 1117.15835 SA cents per ordinary share.
South Africa Branch Register: Dividends Tax Information
South Africa Dividends Tax (at a rate of 20%), equivalent to 223.43167 SA cents per ordinary share, will be withheld from the gross May 2021 Dividend paid to shareholders on the South Africa branch register, unless a shareholder qualifies for an exemption.
After Dividends Tax has been withheld, the net dividend will be 893.72668 SA cents per ordinary share. The May 2021 Dividend is regarded as a ‘foreign dividend’ for the purposes of the South Africa Dividends Tax.
For the purposes of South Africa Dividends Tax reporting, the source of income for the payment of the May 2021 Dividend is the United Kingdom.
At the close of business on 11 March 2021 (the latest practicable date prior to the date of the declaration of the South African rand equivalent of the May 2021 Dividend), the Company had a total of 2,294,611,554 ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).
The Company held 161,982,116 ordinary shares in treasury giving a total issued share capital of 2,456,593,670 ordinary shares.
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is registered with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) with tax reference number 9378193172.
