Annual Report 2023

NOTESTOTHE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 December 2023 98 The United Laboratories International Holdings Limited Annual Report 2023 14. FIVE HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES For the years ended 31 December 2023 and 2022, all the five highest paid individuals of the Group are directors of the Company, details of which are included in Note 13. 15. DIVIDENDS 2023 2022 RMB’000 RMB’000 Dividends for ordinary shareholders of the Company recognised as distribution during the current year – 2023 interim dividend RMB12 cents (2022: 2022 interim dividend RMB5 cents) per share 218,043 90,879 – 2022 final dividend RMB14 cents (2022: 2021 final dividend RMB8 cents) per share 254,384 145,406 – 2022 special dividend RMB6 cents (2022: 2021 special dividend RMB2 cents) per share 109,021 36,351 581,448 272,636 Subsequent to the end of the reporting period, a final dividend of RMB28 cents (2022: RMB14 cents) per ordinary share and a special dividend of RMB12 cents (2022: RMB6 cents) per ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 December 2023, in an aggregate amount of RMB726,811,000 (2022: RMB363,405,000), have been proposed by the directors of the Company and are subject to approval by the shareholders in the forthcoming annual general meeting.