Weston is one of the longest-running dividend-paying companies in Canada. Over the
long term, our objective is for our dividend payment ratio to be in the range of
20% to 25% of the prior year’s basic net earnings per common share.
Common and Preferred Share Information
2011 Common Dividend Payment Dates
Dividends Paid in 2011-12
Dividend Payment History
Eligible Dividend Designation
Dividend Policy
Common Shares
At year end 2010, there were 129,073,662 common shares outstanding, 900 registered
common shareholders and 49,349,064 common shares available for public trading. The
average 2010 daily trading volume of the Company’s common shares was 120,237.
Preferred Shares
At year end 2010, there were 9,400,000 preferred shares Series I, 8,000,000 preferred
shares Series III, 8,000,000 preferred shares Series IV and 8,000,000 preferred
shares Series V outstanding, and 35 registered preferred shareholders. All outstanding
preferred shares were available for public trading.
The average 2010 daily trading volume of the Company’s preferred shares was:
|
Series I:
|
7,181
|
|
Series III:
|
9,602
|
|
Series IV:
|
13,322
|
|
Series V:
|
10,359
|
Normal Course Issuer Bid
The Company has a Normal Course Issuer Bid on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Value of Common Shares
For capital gains purposes, the valuation day (December 22, 1971) cost base for
the Company, adjusted for the 4 for 1 stock split (effective May 27, 1986) and the
3 for 1 stock split (effective May 8, 1998), is $1.50 per share. The value on
February 22, 1994 was $13.17 per share.
The declaration and payment of quarterly common dividends are made subject to approval
by the Board. The anticipated record and payment dates for 2011 are:
|
Mar. 15
|
Apr. 1
|
|
Jun. 15
|
Jul. 1
|
|
Sep. 15
|
Oct. 1
|
|
Dec. 15
|
Jan. 1
|
George Weston Limited Common Shares[Top]
|
Jan. 18, 2011
|
Jan. 25, 2011
|
$7.74751
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2011
|
Apr. 1, 2011
|
$0.34056
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2011
|
Apr. 1, 2011
|
$0.01944
|
Ineligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
Jul. 1, 2011
|
$0.32514
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
Jul. 1, 2011
|
$0.03486
|
Ineligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
Oct. 1, 2011
|
$0.32586
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
Oct. 1, 2011
|
$0.03414
|
Ineligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
$0.33929
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
$0.02071
|
Ineligible
|
|
March 15, 2012
|
April 1, 2012
|
$0.33536
|
Eligible
|
|
March 15, 2012
|
April 1, 2012
|
$0.02464
|
Ineligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series I[Top]
|
Feb. 28, 2011
|
Mar. 15, 2011
|
$0.36250
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2011
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
$0.35657
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2011
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
$0.00593
|
Ineligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2011
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
$0.35905
|
Eligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2011
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
$0.00345
|
Ineligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2011
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
$0.35631
|
Eligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2011
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
$0.00619
|
Ineligible
|
|
Feb. 29, 2012
|
Mar. 15, 2012
|
$0.36250
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series III[Top]
|
Mar. 15, 2011
|
Apr. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
Jul. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
Oct. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
March 15, 2012
|
April 1, 2012
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series IV[Top]
|
Mar. 15, 2011
|
Apr. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
Jul. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
Oct. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
March 15, 2012
|
April 1, 2012
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series V[Top]
|
Mar. 15, 2011
|
Apr. 1, 2011
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2011
|
Jul. 1, 2011
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2011
|
Oct. 1, 2011
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2011
|
Jan. 1, 2012
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
March 15, 2012
|
April 1, 2012
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Common Shares[Top]
|
Dec. 15, 2006
|
Jan. 1, 2007
|
$0.33719
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2006
|
Jan. 1, 2007
|
$0.02221
|
Ineligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2007
|
Apr. 1, 2007
|
$0.36000
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
Jul. 1, 2007
|
$0.32642
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
Jul. 1, 2007
|
$0.03358
|
Ineligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
Oct. 1, 2007
|
$0.33588
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
Oct. 1, 2007
|
$0.02412
|
Ineligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
Jan. 1, 2008
|
$0.33588
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
Jan. 1, 2008
|
$0.02412
|
Ineligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
Apr. 1, 2008
|
$0.03358
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
Apr. 1, 2008
|
$0.02412
|
Ineligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
Jul. 1, 2008
|
$0.34895
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
Jul. 1, 2008
|
$0.01105
|
Ineligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
Oct. 1, 2008
|
$0.35055
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
Oct. 1, 2008
|
$0.00945
|
Ineligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
Jan. 1, 2009
|
$0.35055
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
Jan. 1, 2009
|
$0.00945
|
Ineligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
Apr. 1, 2009
|
$0.34820
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
Apr. 1, 2009
|
$0.01180
|
Ineligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
Jul. 1, 2009
|
$0.34918
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
Jul. 1, 2009
|
$0.01082
|
Ineligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
Oct. 1, 2009
|
$0.34918
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
Oct. 1, 2009
|
$0.01082
|
Ineligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
Jan. 1, 2010
|
$0.34400
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
Jan. 1, 2010
|
$0.01600
|
Ineligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
Apr. 1, 2010
|
$0.33754
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
Apr. 1, 2010
|
$0.02246
|
Ineligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
Jul. 1, 2010
|
$0.34082
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
Jul. 1, 2010
|
$0.01918
|
Ineligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
Oct. 1, 2010
|
$0.34082
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
Oct. 1, 2010
|
$0.01918
|
Ineligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
Jan. 1, 2011
|
$0.33887
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
Jan. 1, 2011
|
$0.02113
|
Ineligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series I[Top]
|
Feb. 28, 2007
|
Mar. 15, 2007
|
$0.36250
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2007
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
$0.35616
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2007
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
$0.00634
|
Ineligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2007
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
$0.36085
|
Eligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2007
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
$0.00165
|
Ineligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2007
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
$0.36085
|
Eligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2007
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
$0.00165
|
Ineligible
|
|
Feb. 29, 2008
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
$0.36085
|
Eligible
|
|
Feb. 29, 2008
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
$0.00165
|
Ineligible
|
|
May 31, 2008
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
$0.36041
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2008
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
$0.00209
|
Ineligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2008
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
$0.36072
|
Eligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2008
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
$0.00178
|
Ineligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2008
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
$0.36072
|
Eligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2008
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
$0.00178
|
Ineligible
|
|
Feb. 28, 2009
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
$0.36027
|
Eligible
|
|
Feb. 28, 2009
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
$0.00223
|
Ineligible
|
|
May 31, 2009
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
$0.36045
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2009
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
$0.00205
|
Ineligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2009
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
$0.36045
|
Eligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2009
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
$0.00205
|
Ineligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2009
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
$0.35947
|
Eligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2009
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
$0.00302
|
Ineligible
|
|
Feb. 28, 2010
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
$0.35834
|
Eligible
|
|
Feb. 28, 2010
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
$0.00416
|
Ineligible
|
|
May 31, 2010
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
$0.35887
|
Eligible
|
|
May 31, 2010
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
$0.00363
|
Ineligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2010
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
$0.35883
|
Eligible
|
|
Aug. 31, 2010
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
$0.00367
|
Ineligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2010
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
$0.35887
|
Eligible
|
|
Nov. 30, 2010
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
$0.00363
|
Ineligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series II[Top]
|
Dec. 15, 2006
|
Jan. 1, 2007
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2007
|
Apr. 1, 2007
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
Jul. 1, 2007
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
Oct. 1, 2007
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
Jan. 1, 2008
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
Apr. 1, 2008
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
Jul. 1, 2008
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
Oct. 1, 2008
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
Jan. 1, 2009
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
Apr. 1, 2009
|
$0.321875
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series III[Top]
|
Dec. 15, 2006
|
Jan. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2007
|
Apr. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
Jul. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
Oct. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
Jan. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
Apr. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
Jul. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
Oct. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
Jan. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
Apr. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
Jul. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
Oct. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
Jan. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
Apr. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
Jul. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
Oct. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
Jan. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series IV[Top]
|
Dec. 15, 2006
|
Jan. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2007
|
Apr. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
Jul. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
Oct. 1, 2007
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
Jan. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
Apr. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
Jul. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
Oct. 1, 2008
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
Jan. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
Apr. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
Jul. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
Oct. 1, 2009
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
Jan. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
Apr. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
Jul. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
Oct. 1, 2010
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
Jan. 1, 2011
|
$0.325
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited Preferred Shares Series V[Top]
|
Dec. 15, 2006
|
Jan. 1, 2007
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2007
|
Apr. 1, 2007
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2007
|
Jul. 1, 2007
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2007
|
Oct. 1, 2007
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2007
|
Jan. 1, 2008
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2008
|
Apr. 1, 2008
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2008
|
Jul. 1, 2008
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2008
|
Oct. 1, 2008
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2008
|
Jan. 1, 2009
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2009
|
Apr. 1, 2009
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2009
|
Jul. 1, 2009
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2009
|
Oct. 1, 2009
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2009
|
Jan. 1, 2010
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Mar. 15, 2010
|
Apr. 1, 2010
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Jun. 15, 2010
|
July 1, 2010
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Sep. 15, 2010
|
Oct. 1, 2010
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
|
Dec. 15, 2010
|
Jan. 1, 2011
|
$0.296875
|
Eligible
|
George Weston Limited, for the purposes of the Income Tax Act and any similar provincial
legislation, advises that dividends indicated as “Eligible” are eligible
dividends and those indicated as “Ineligible” are not.
The declaration and payment of common dividends and the amount thereof are at the
discretion of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), which takes into
account the Company’s financial results, capital requirements, available cash
flow and other factors the Board considers relevant from time to time. Over the
long term, the Company’s objective is for its dividend payment ratio to be
in the range of 20% to 25% of the prior year’s basic net earnings
per common share from continuing operations adjusted as appropriate for items which
are not regarded to be reflective of ongoing operations giving consideration to
the year end cash position, future cash flow requirements and investment opportunities.