Note 16 Equity

Subscribed share capital

The holders of common shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders. The holders of the priority shares are entitled to dividend of 6 percent per share or the statutory interest in the Netherlands, whichever is lower, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. They are entitled to 200 votes per share (in accordance with the 200 times higher nominal value per share) at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders. In addition, the holders of priority shares have the right to draw up binding lists of nominees for appointment to the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management; amendments to the Articles of Association are subject to the approval of the Meeting of Holders of Priority Shares.

Priority shares may only be transferred to a transferee designated by a Meeting of Holders of Priority Shares and against payment of the par value of the shares, plus interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum or the statutory interest in the Netherlands, whichever is lower. There are no restrictions on voting rights of holders of common or priority shares. The Articles of Association set out procedures for exercising voting rights. The Annual General Meeting of shareholders has in 2010 resolved to authorize the Board of Management for a period of 18 months (i) to issue shares (or grant rights to shares) in the capital of the company up to a maximum of 10 percent, which in case of mergers or acquisitions can be increased by up to a maximum of 10 percent, of the total number of shares outstanding (and to restrict or exclude the pre-emptive rights to those shares) and (ii) to acquire shares in the capital of the company, provided that the shares that will at any time be held will not exceed 10 percent of the issued share capital. The issue or repurchase of shares requires the approval of the Supervisory Board.

At the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of April 26, 2001, an amendment to the Articles of Association was approved whereby the par value of the priority shares was decreased to €400 and of the common shares and the cumulative preferred shares to €2. As the revised nominal values are somewhat lower than the original par values, in accordance with section 67a of Book 2 of the Netherlands Civil Code, we recognized a statutory reserve of €77 million for this reduction in subscribed share capital. Statutory reserves also include €16 million for capitalized development costs, as well as the reserves relating to earnings retained by subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures after 1983. In 2009, we acquired 70 percent equity interest in a company which we already owned for 30 percent. The revaluation of the initital interest of 30 percent was recorded on a revaluation reserve. Statutory and revaluation reserves are non-distributable.

Other components of shareholders’ equity

Changes in fair value of derivatives comprise the effective portion of the cumulative net change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments related to hedged transactions that have not yet occurred. Tax related to cash flow hedges was €15 million negative (2009: €5 million negative).

Cumulative translation reserves comprise all foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations, as well as from the translation of intercompany loans with a permanent nature and liabilities and derivatives that hedge the net investments in a foreign subsidiary. Tax related to exchange differences arising on translation of foreign operations were €20 million negative (2009: €33 million negative).

Equity-settled transactions include the stock option program and the performance-related share plan whereby options or shares are granted to the Board of Management and other executives. For details of the performance-related stock option plan and the performance-related share plan for the Board of Management and other executives, see note 8.

Dividend

We have announced a simplified dividend policy and intend to pay a stable to rising dividend, whereby a cash interim and final dividend will be paid. We will propose to the Annual General Meeting on April 27, 2011, a 2010 final dividend of €1.08 per share, which would make a total 2010 dividend of €1.40 per share (2009:€1.35). During 2010, we paid the 2009 final dividend of €1.05 and the 2010 interim dividend of €0.32.