13 – Equity

Authorized capital

At the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of May 2, 2014, shareholders authorized the Board of Executive Directors, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to increase the subscribed capital by issuing new registered shares up to a total of €500 million against cash or contributions in kind through May 1, 2019. The Board of Executive Directors is empowered, following the approval of the Supervisory Board, to decide on the exclusion of shareholders’ subscription rights for these new shares in certain predefined cases covered by the enabling resolution. Until now, this option has not been exercised and no new shares have been issued.

Retained earnings

Transfers from other retained earnings increased legal reserves by €19 million in the first half of 2015.

Payment of dividends

In accordance with the resolution of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on April 30, 2015, BASF SE paid a dividend of €2.80 per share from the retained profit of the 2014 fiscal year. With 918,478,694 shares entitled to dividends, this amounts to a total dividend payout of €2,571,740,343.20.