8-K

CRH PUBLIC LTD CO 8-K Report (Mar 28, 2018)

Filed March 28, 2018For Securities:CRH

Summary

CRH Public Limited Company (CRH) filed an 8-K report on March 28, 2018, to announce details of its scrip dividend offer for the final dividend of 48.8 cent per share for the year ended December 31, 2017. This offer allows shareholders the option to receive new CRH shares instead of cash, providing an opportunity to increase their investment without incurring additional dealing costs or stamp duty. The scrip dividend offer is linked to the final dividend payment scheduled for May 4, 2018, subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2018. The price for each new share has been set at €27.47, calculated based on the average share price over a specific period. The filing also reminds shareholders that the company's 2017 Annual Report and Form 20-F have been published and are available on the company's website.

Key Highlights

  • 1CRH is offering shareholders the option to receive new ordinary shares instead of a cash dividend for its final dividend of 48.8 cent per share for the 2017 financial year.
  • 2The scrip dividend offer aims to allow shareholders to increase their holdings without incurring dealing costs or stamp duty.
  • 3The price for each new share in the scrip offer is set at €27.47.
  • 4The final dividend payment date is May 4, 2018, subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2018.
  • 5Entitlement to new shares is calculated based on the dividend amount and the specified share price, with different ratios depending on dividend withholding tax applicability.
  • 6Shareholders can elect to receive their full entitlement in new shares, a partial amount in new shares, or their entire dividend in cash.
  • 7The company has also published its 2017 Annual Report and Form 20-F, available on its website.

Frequently Asked Questions

This 8-K filing primarily serves to inform CRH shareholders about the final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2017, and to detail the scrip dividend offer. This offer provides shareholders with the option to receive new CRH shares as an alternative to a cash dividend payment.

The price of a new share for the scrip dividend offer is set at €27.47. This price is calculated by reference to the average of the high and low share prices for CRH Ordinary Shares on the Irish Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the three business days commencing March 8, 2018, which was the ex-dividend quoting date.

The primary benefit for shareholders is the ability to increase their investment in CRH by acquiring new shares without incurring additional dealing costs (like brokerage fees) or stamp duty, which would typically apply when buying shares in the open market.

Shareholders who wish to receive their dividend in cash should take no action, as the dividend will be paid in cash by default. Shareholders who wish to receive new shares instead of cash need to complete and return the Election and Mandate Form by the specified deadline (April 18, 2018). They can elect to receive their full entitlement in new shares or a partial amount, with the remainder paid in cash. A mandate can also be established to automatically receive new shares for future dividends.