3.4
The share

Accell Group shares have been listed on the official market of Euronext Amsterdam since 1998 and are included in the Amsterdam Small Cap Index (AScX). The listing contributes to disciplined and transparent operations and gives us improved access to external capital for growth financing and consequently contributes to the realisation of our ambitions.

Each ordinary share entitles the holder to one vote. To protect the continuity of (the strategy of) Accell Group and its stakeholders, the Stichting Preferente Aandelen Accell Group has the option to acquire the number of cumulative preference shares B required to make the Stichting, once it has acquired said shares, the holder of one half, less one share, of the (increased) issued and paid-up capital. We refer you to Chapter 4 Corporate governance for more detailed information.

In 2019, the share price increased by 36.9%. In the period year-end 2015 through year-end 2019, the overall increase in the share price was 22.4%. Share turnover decreased with 52% in 2019 and increased by 53% compared with 2015. Market capitalisation increased by 38% in 2019 to €691.5 million at year-end.

Note: The percentages above represent real capital interests and are based on the disclosures of major holdings reported to the Dutch Financial Markets Authority AFM pursuant to the Financial Supervision Act (Wft). As soon as an interest rises to 3% or more of the issued share capital, the holder must report same. Shareholders are subsequently obliged to file a new disclosure as soon as the major holding reaches, exceeds or drops below a threshold level. This may be the case if a shareholder obtains or loses control of shares, or as a result of an increase or decrease in the company’s issued capital. The thresholds for this are: 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75% and 95%.

Note: The data per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of outstanding shares. The figures for 2015 through 2018 have been adjusted to reflect the dilution resulting from the issue of a stock dividend charged against the share premium reserve, in line with International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS33). The correction factor used in the year under review for 2018 and preceding years is 0.99266.

Accell Group strives for a stable dividend policy, with the aim of paying out at least 40% of its net profit. Historically speaking, the dividend pay-out percentage has been around 50%. Accell Group proposes to pay an optional dividend of € 0.30 for the financial year 2019 (2018: € 0.50), in cash or shares. The dividend proposal is based on the net profit excluding outcome study North America (-/- € 38.4 million), the deferred tax asset (+ € 21.4 million) and other one off's (-/- € 0.8 million). Normalised earnings per share are € 0.77. The dividend proposal is equal to 286% of earnings per share and 39% of above normalised earnings per share.

Our dividend return and the type of dividend we pay out are competitive compared to other listed companies. In the previous four years (2015 through 2018), an average of around 49% of our shareholders opted for a stock dividend.

Investor relations

Accell Group strives to provide its shareholders, potential shareholders, analysts and other financial stakeholders with all relevant strategic, financial and other material information, accurately, meticulously and in a timely fashion, to improve insight into the company, current developments and the market in which it operates.

Accell Group’s financial year is the same as the calendar year and runs from January through December. Accell Group publishes its full financial results annually and semi-annually. From 2017 onwards, Accell Group only publishes interim trading updates on the company’s financial and operational developments when there is reason to do so. Such publications, as well as other (non-financial) announcements, appointments and reports will always be made in accordance with the prevailing regulations and the guidelines of Euronext Amsterdam and the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM).

The company organises meetings and conference calls with (institutional) investors, analysts and gives interviews to the media for the presentation and explanation of the annual and interim results. Prior to the publication of annual and interim results, Accell Group maintains closed periods of 30 days. We have no meetings or conversations with (potential) shareholders, analysts or other financial stakeholders during these closed periods.

In the course of the year and outside the closed periods, members of the Board of Directors have regular one-on-one meetings with (major) shareholders and interested institutional investors. It is worth noting that there is increasing awareness of and interest in Accell Group among foreign investors. The same is true for the interest shown by investors with a focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility, themes Accell Group also focuses on via its products and strategy.

You will find more information on the policy regarding bilateral contacts with shareholders on Accell Group’s corporate website.