Dividends

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

17 Dividends


	Year ended 30 June 2020				Year ended 30 June 2019				Year ended 30 June 2018
	Per share		Total		Per share		Total		Per share		Total
	US cents		US$M		US cents		US$M		US cents		US$M
Dividends paid during the period (1)
Prior year final dividend		78		3,946		63		3,356		43		2,291
Interim dividend		65		3,288		55		2,788		55		2,930
Special dividend		–		–		102		5,158		–		–

		143		7,234		220		11,302		98		5,221

(1)	5.5 per cent dividend on 50,000 preference shares of £1 each determined and paid annually (2019: 5.5 per cent; 2018: 5.5 per cent).

Dividends paid during the period differs from the amount of dividends paid in the Cash Flow Statement as a result of foreign exchange gains and losses relating to the timing of equity distributions between the record date and the payment date. An additional derivative settlement of US$322 million was made as part of the funding of the interim dividend and is disclosed in Proceeds/(settlements) of cash management related instruments in the Cash Flow Statement.

The Dual Listed Company merger terms require that ordinary shareholders of BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc are paid equal cash dividends on a per share basis. Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents two ordinary shares of BHP Group Limited or BHP Group Plc. Dividends determined on each ADS represent twice the dividend determined on BHP Group Limited or BHP Group Plc ordinary shares.

Dividends are determined after

period-end

and announced with the results for the period. Interim dividends are determined in February and paid in March. Final dividends are determined in August and paid in September. Dividends determined are not recorded as a liability at the end of the period to which they relate. Subsequent to

year-end,

on 18 August 2020, BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc determined a final dividend of 55 US cents per share (US$2,782 million), which will be paid on 22 September 2020 (30 June 2019: final dividend of 78 US cents per share – US$3,944 million; 30 June 2018: final dividend of 63 US cents per share – US$3,356 million).

BHP Group Limited dividends for all periods presented are, or will be, fully franked based on a tax rate of 30 per cent.


	2020		2019		2018
	US$M		US$M		US$M
Franking credits as at 30 June		10,980		8,681		10,400
Franking credits arising from the payment of current tax		471		1,194		1,330

Total franking credits available (1)		11,451		9,875		11,730

(1)	The payment of the final 2020 dividend determined after 30 June 2020 will reduce the franking account balance by US$694 million.