Annual Report 2023

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 144 CHINA MERCHANTS PORT HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED 13. DIVIDENDS 2023 2022 HK$’million HK$’million Interim, paid, of 22 HK cents (2022: 22 HK cents) per ordinary share 909 866 Final, proposed, of 48 HK cents (2022: 60 HK cents) per ordinary share 2,015 2,402 2,924 3,268 At a meeting held on 28 March 2024, the Board of Directors proposed a final cash dividend of 48 HK cents per ordinary share (2022: scrip dividend of 60 HK cents per ordinary share by way of issue of new shares, by way of scrip dividend, with cash alternative). This proposed dividend is not reflected as a dividend payable in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of proposed final dividend for 2023 was based on 4,198,009,186 (2022: 4,003,383,046) shares in issue as at 28 March 2024. Details of scrip dividends are set out in note 27. 14. EARNINGS PER SHARE The calculation of the basic earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company is based on the following data: 2023 2022 Basic Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company (HK$’million) 6,233 7,781 Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 4,068,060,286 3,861,103,481 No diluted earnings per share for both 2023 and 2022 were presented as there were no potential dilutive ordinary shares in issue for both 2023 and 2022.