In the future, EADS’ dividends and attributions to reserves will be proposed to the shareholders by the Board of Directors depending on factors such as EADS’ distribution capacity arising from performance, its priorities for cash utilisation and confidence in future prospects (payment levels will also take external factors into account, such as the dividend policies of relevant European and International companies). No assurance may be given in respect of the proposed dividend levels for the coming years.
A new Tax reform has been implemented in the Netherlands per January 1, 2007. One of the key reasons for this Reform was to make the Netherlands a more attractive country to invest in. An important modification in the Dutch Dividend Tax Act is that the interest withholding tax rate has been decreased from 25% to 15%. This implies that per January 1, 2007, based on Dutch tax law, all dividend distributions, independent of the origin/ home country of the shareholder, are subject to a 15% dividend withholding tax. Should a tax treaty between the Netherlands and the country of a Dutch company's shareholder offers a withholding tax rate lower than 15%, the lower percentage will prevail.
Pursuant to article 31 of the Articles of Association, the claim for payment of a dividend or other distribution approved by the general meeting shall lapse five years after the day on which such claim becomes due and payable. The claim for payment of interim dividends shall lapse five years after the day on which the claim for payment of the dividend against which the dividend could be distributed becomes due and payable.
