Further statutory and other information – Unilever N.V.
The rules for profit appropriation in the Articles of Association
(summary of Article 38)
The profit for the year is applied firstly to the reserves required by law or by the Equalisation Agreement, secondly to cover losses of previous years, if any, and thirdly to the reserves deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. Dividends due to the holders of the Cumulative Preference Shares, including any arrears in such dividends, are then paid; if the profit is insufficient for this purpose, the amount available is distributed to them in proportion to the dividend percentages of their shares. Any profit remaining thereafter shall be distributed to them in proportion to the dividend percentages of their shares. The General Meeting can only decide to make distributions from reserves on the basis of a proposal by the Board and in compliance with the law and the Equalisation Agreement.
| Proposed profit appropriation | € million 2007 |
€ million 2006 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit for the year (available for distribution) | 1 406 | 1 847 |
| Interim dividend already paid | (404) | (382) |
| One-off dividend 2006 | – | (432) |
| To profit retained | 1 002 | 1 033 |
Post balance sheet event
The directors propose a final dividend of €0.50 per share (totalling €796 million) out of the profits retained for the year ended 31 December 2007. The dividend will be submitted for formal approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 15 May 2008. In accordance with FRS 21, these financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable, which will be accounted for in shareholders' equity as an appropriation of retained earnings in the year ended 31 December 2008. During 2007, a final dividend of €0.47 per share (totalling €775 million) was paid in respect of the dividend declared for the year ended 31 December 2006.
Special controlling rights under the Articles of Association
See note 22 to the consolidated accounts.
Auditors
A resolution will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting on 15 May 2008 for the reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. as auditors of NV. The present appointment will end at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.
Corporate Centre
Unilever N.V.
Weena 455
PO Box 760
3000 DK Rotterdam
The Netherlands
S H M A Dumoulin
Secretary of Unilever PLC
10 March 2008
