The company aims to provide a stable and preferably rising dividend to its shareholders.

The Annual General Meeting of shareholders decides on the final dividend. The dividend record date is the third business day after the AGM and the ex-dividend date is the second business day after the AGM. Dividends will be paid out in cash or in the form of ordinary shares at the option of the shareholders. Barring unforeseen circumstances, DSM pays an interim dividend to holders of ordinary shares after the results of the first half-year have been published. This interim dividend is set at one third of the total dividend over the previous year and gives no indication for the total dividend to be paid over the running year. The ex-interim dividend date is the first business day after the publication of the H1 results and the interim dividend record date is the third business day after the publication of the H1 results. Interim-dividends will be paid out in cash or in the form of ordinary shares at the option of the shareholders.

An important element of DSM's financial strategy is the allocation of cash flow. DSM primarily allocates cash flow to investments aimed at strengthening its business positions and to dividend payments to its shareholders. The cash flow is further used for strengthening the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences businesses by means of selective acquisitions. As the occasion arises, the company may choose to buy back shares, if excess cash is available in the context of a medium-term analysis of primary cash-flow allocation requirements and a sustained single-A rating.

An important acquisition criterion is that the business concerned should be compatible with DSM in terms of technological and/or market competencies. Acquired companies are in principle required to contribute to DSM's cash earnings per share from the very beginning and to meet the company's profitability and growth requirements. In some cases, for instance in the case of small innovative growth acquisitions, this requirement may not be appropriate and will therefore not be applied.

The investor relations’ primary task is to maintain contacts with current and potential shareholders of DSM and with analysts who advise shareholders. The objective of this function is to provide quality information to investors and analysts about developments at DSM, ensuring that relevant information is equally and simultaneously provided and accessible to all interested parties.

In the period preceding the publication of the results of that quarter, DSM will be in a 'silent period'. During this time we will not hold meetings with analysts or investors, make presentations at financial conferences, or hold discussions/conference calls with investors and analysts.

DSM attaches great value to a good relationship with its shareholders. The Investor Relations department’s primary task is to maintain contacts with current and potential shareholders of DSM and with sell side analysts who advise shareholders. The objective is to provide quality information to investors and analysts about developments at DSM, ensuring that relevant information is equally and simultaneously provided and accessible to all interested parties. Such information is made available through annual and quarterly reports, press releases, presentations to investors and the DSM website. In addition, DSM organizes analyst conferences, regular road shows for investors and conference calls which are announced in advance on DSM’s website or in press releases. DSM may engage in bilateral contacts with (potential) shareholders. The main objective of such bilateral contacts is to explain DSM’s strategy and operational performance and answer questions from shareholders.

For such bilateral contacts DSM has established the following policy rules:

• Bilateral contacts may be initiated at the request of DSM or a (potential) shareholder.
• Any contacts shall, in principle, be conducted by the Investor Relations department alone or together with a member of the Managing Board.
• Sell side analysts may also be present.
• Any explanations and discussions shall be based on information that is already in the public domain.
• No bilateral contacts shall take place in the silent periods indicated on the DSM website in the Investor Relations section.
• DSM’s contacts with investors and sell side analysts will at all times be conducted in compliance with applicable rules and regulations, in particular those concerning selective disclosure, price sensitive information and equal treatment.