Our ability to pay dividends is dependent on a number of factors, including the availability of distributable reserves and our capital expenditure plans and other cash requirements in future periods. Any level or payment of dividends will depend on, among other things, future profits and the business plan of the Company, at the discretion of our Board of Directors. We intend to pay dividends twice each fiscal year after the Initial Public Offering, with an initial payment in April and a second payment in October of each year.
Subject to the foregoing, we expect to pay a fixed dividend amount of $325 million for the second half of 2021, to be paid in April 2022.
Thereafter, we expect to grow the dividend amount from $650 million (annualized dividend of second half of 2021), by a growth rate of 5% per annum on a dividend per share basis over the next five years (2022 – 2026). This dividend policy is designed to reflect our expectation of strong cash flow and our expected long-term earnings potential, while allowing us to retain sufficient capital to fund ongoing operating requirements and continued investment for long-term growth.
This dividend policy is subject to consideration by our Board of Directors of the cash management requirements of our business for operating expenses, interest expense, and anticipated capital expenditures. In addition, we expect that our Board of Directors also will consider market conditions, the then current operating environment in our markets, and the Board of Directors’ outlook for our business.
