Sodexo shares held by Sodexo S.A. itself and/or by other Group companies are shown as a reduction in consolidated shareholders’ equity at their acquisition cost.
Gains and losses on acquisitions and disposals of treasury shares are recognized directly in consolidated shareholders’ equity and do not affect profit or loss for the year.
As required by IAS 32 “Financial instruments: Presentation”, Sodexo recognizes commitments to purchase non-controlling interests as a liability within borrowings in the consolidated statement of financial position. Commitments to purchase non-controlling interests given in connection with business combinations are recognized as follows:
Earnings per share is calculated by dividing profit for the period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, net of treasury shares.
In the calculation of diluted earnings per share, the denominator is increased by the number of potentially dilutive shares, and the numerator is adjusted for all dividends and interest recognized in the period and any other change in income or expenses that would result from conversion of the potentially dilutive shares.
Potential ordinary shares are treated as dilutive if and only if their conversion to shares would decrease earnings per share or increase loss per share.
As of August 31, 2020, the share capital of Sodexo S.A. was made up of 147,454,887 shares (unchanged from August 31, 2019), with a par value of 4 euro each.
As of August 31, 2020, the Group held 1,442,351 Sodexo shares with a carrying amount of 138 million euro to cover its obligations under free share plans for Group employees. These treasury shares are deducted from shareholders’ equity at cost.
As of August 31, 2019, the Group held 1,448,566 Sodexo shares with a carrying amount of 145 million euro to cover its obligations under free share plans for Group employees. These treasury shares are deducted from shareholders’ equity at cost.
Total dividends paid out in Fiscal 2020, adjusted for treasury shares, amounted to 425 million euro (403 million euro in Fiscal 2019), representing a dividend of 2.90 euro per share and, where applicable, a dividend premium of 0.29 euro per share.
Sodexo's bylaws confer double voting rights on shares held in registered form for more than four years.
Furthermore, since Fiscal 2013, shares held in registered form for at least four years and still held in that form when the dividend becomes payable, are entitled to a dividend premium equal to 10% of the dividend paid on the other shares. The number of shares eligible for this dividend premium may not exceed 0.5% of the share capital for any single shareholder.
