Loma Negra Announces the Payment of Dividends
Loma Negra C.I.A.S.A. (NYSE: LOMA) announced the approval of a dividend payment totaling ARS 2.4 billion, equating to ARS 4.03 per share, representing 402.67% of the nominal capital stock. Payments will start on October 14, 2020, with shareholders able to choose between Argentine Pesos or transfer in US Dollars. The option to receive dividends in US Dollars requires action before October 9, 2020. The dividend distribution follows regulations regarding withholding taxes as per Argentine law.
- Approval of ARS 2.4 billion dividend, enhancing shareholder income.
- Flexible payment options in both Argentine Pesos and US Dollars.
- None.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Loma Negra C.I.A.S.A., (NYSE: LOMA) (BYMA: LOMA) , (“Loma Negra” or the “Company”), the leading cement producer in Argentina, announces that in accordance with the resolution of the Ordinary Shareholders Meeting held today, the following decisions were approved:
(i) |
the payment of dividends for a total amount of ARS 2,400,000,000 equivalent to ARS 4.026666667114074 per outstanding share (ARS 20.13333333557037 per ADS) and to |
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(ii) |
to allocate all of the funds in the Reserve for Future Dividends and part of the funds in the Optional Reserve to the payment of the dividends; |
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(iii) |
as a general rule, the Shareholders will receive the payment of dividends in Argentine Pesos thorough Caja de Valores S.A.; and |
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(iv) |
to grant to the Shareholders the option to (a) receive the payment of their portion of the dividends in equivalent amounts of US Dollars resulting from the conversion of the proportional amounts of dividends in Argentine Pesos into US Dollars pursuant to the Reference Exchange Rate of the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic - Communication “A” 3500 applicable at the close of business on the trading day immediately preceding the Payment Date (as defined below); and (b) receive the payment in US Dollars through Caja de Valores S.A., either into a local or a foreign bank account (the “US Dollar Payment Option”). |
The dividend payment will be made available to the Shareholders as from October 14, 2020 (the “Payment Date”) on business days from 10 am to 3 pm Buenos Aires time at Caja de Valores S.A., located at 25 de Mayo 362, City of Buenos Aires. The Shareholders will need to deal with the paperwork required by Caja de Valores S.A. and payments will be made in accordance with applicable regulations.
Shareholders who wish to exercise the US Dollar Payment Option shall give notice to Caja de Valores S.A. and comply with all the procedures and filings required by Caja de Valores S.A., as from Monday October 5th until Friday October 9th 2020 (the “Option Period”) as well as inform if they choose to receive the payment in a local or a foreign bank account (the “Notice of Option of Payment in US Dollars”). The exercise of the US Dollar Payment Option may not be partial and, therefore, its exercise will comprise the entire dividend to be received by each Shareholder. Shareholders who have validly submitted a Notice of Option of Payment in US Dollars during the Option Period without indicating a bank account will receive payment in US Dollars through Caja de Valores S.A. in Argentina through the procedures established for this purpose by the entity.
If the lockdown measures due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic are extended and Caja de Valores S.A. facilities are still closed to the public, the following contact channels are available for any filing or query: Telephone: (+54) 11 0810-888-7323 or email: registro@cajadevalores.com.ar.
Shareholders that do not properly exercise the US Dollar Payment Option during the Option Period will receive the dividend payment in Argentine Pesos. Such amount shall be available at Caja de Valores S.A. in Argentina within the legal prescriptive period through the procedures established for that purpose by the entity. Therefore, Shareholders who do not wish to exercise the US Dollar Payment Option should not make any kind of notification or take any action.
Shareholders who hold their shares through a depositor (Bank, Agent or Broker), shall notify their decision to exercise the US Dollar Payment Option to that entity which shall communicate this decision to Caja de Valores S.A. during the US Dollar Payment Option and according to the procedures established by Caja de Valores S.A. for such purposes.
American Depositary Shares (ADSs) holders will receive their payment through the Depositary Bank, Citbank N.A., as from the date set forth by the respective rules that apply in the jurisdiction where the Company's ADSs are listed.
The shareholdings of the Shareholders registered at the close of business on the trading day immediately preceding the Payment Date (the "Record Date") will be the only ones considered for the purposes of payment of the dividend. The exercise of the US Dollar Payment Option by any person who is not a holder of the Company's shares on the Record Date shall be deemed not exercised and without effect.
Dividends to be paid will be subject to the withholding, in the relevant cases, of the amounts paid by the Company in its capacity as Substitute Person Responsible for the Argentine Personal Assets Tax for fiscal year 2019, in the case of those shareholders that are subject to said tax, pursuant to the last paragraph of the section incorporated by Argentine Law No. 26,452 after section 25 of Argentine Law No. 23,966. It is also informed that, pursuant to Argentine Law No. 27,430, that amended Argentine Law No. 20,628 of Income Tax Law (third section without number incorporated after section 90), the dividends to be distributed are not subject to the withholding tax set forth in such laws, since the dividends correspond to tax-free accumulated earnings from years prior to the one started as of January 1, 2018.
About Loma Negra
Founded in 1926, Loma Negra is the leading cement company in Argentina, producing and distributing cement, masonry cement, aggregates, concrete and lime, products primarily used in private and public construction. Loma Negra is a vertically-integrated cement and concrete company, with nationwide operations, supported by vast limestone reserves, strategically located plants, top-of-mind brands and established distribution channels. Loma Negra is listed both on BYMA and on NYSE in the U.S., where it trades under the symbol “LOMA”. One ADS represents five (5) common shares. For more information, visit www.lomanegra.com.
Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities law that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “forecast,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, among others things: changes in general economic, political, governmental and business conditions globally and in Argentina, changes in inflation rates, fluctuations in the exchange rate of the peso, the level of construction generally, changes in cement demand and prices, changes in raw material and energy prices, changes in business strategy and various other factors. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe in good faith that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Any or all of Loma Negra’s forward-looking statements in this release may turn out to be wrong. You should consider these forward-looking statements in light of other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2020. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
