| FY2006 | FY2007 | FY2008 | ||
| Dividend per Share | Year-end | ¥3,095.24 | ¥3,000.00 | ¥3,000.00 |
| Annual | ¥3,095.24 | ¥3,000.00 | ¥3,000.00 | |
| Annual Dividend Amount | ¥6,500 million | ¥6,525 million | ¥6,525 million | |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (Consolidated) | 64.9% | 26.4% | 21.2% | |
| Dividend on Net Assets (Consolidated) | 2.4% | 2.5% | 2.8% | |
Basic Policy on Returns to Shareholders
We consider an increase in returns to our shareholders, as well as return on equity, as one of our most important management tasks.
Our basic policy on returning profits to our shareholders is to provide stable dividends to shareholders while ensuring the high level of financial soundness that is necessary to maintain the trust of existing customers and attract new ones, as well as securing sufficient retained earnings for future business development.
We provide returns to shareholders once a year as year-end dividends. Resolutions on year-end dividends and interim dividends are subject to the approval of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and the Board of Directors, respectively.
As stated in our Articles of Incorporation, we are allowed to provide interim dividends.
In keeping with the basic policy outlined above, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, we provided the year-end cash dividend of ¥3,000 per share of Sony Financial Holdings on total amounts of dividends of ¥6,525 million as approved at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on June 23, 2009.
With regard to timing, we will continue to make dividend payments once a year, following the resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, with the dividend record date at the end of each fiscal year.
We plan to utilize the retained earnings for exploring new business, including the establishment of an individual annuities subsidiary, as well as investing in information technology systems accompanied by business expansions. To this end, we aim to expand our business and to enhance earnings, resulting in returns to shareholders.
