Section 426

(1) A company may, in general meeting, declare dividends in respect of any year or other period only on the recommendation of the directors.

(2) The company may from time to time pay to the members such interim dividends as appear to the directors to be justified by the profits of the company.

(3) The general meeting has power to decrease the amount of dividend recommended by the directors, but has no power to increase the recommended amount.

(4) Where the recommendation of the directors of a company with respect to the declaration of a dividend is varied in accordance with subsection (3) by the company in general meeting, a statement to that effect shall be included in the relevant annual return.

(5) Subject to the provisions of this Act, dividends is payable to the shareholders only out of the distributable profits of the company.

(2) The profits of a company available for payment of dividends are its accumulated, realised profits (so far as not previously utilised by distribution or capitalisation), less - its accumulated, realised losses (so far as not previously written off in a lawfully made reduction or reorganisation of capital).