18Equity

Common shares

As of December 31, 2020, authorized common shares consist of 2 billion shares (December 31, 2019: 2 billion; December 31, 2018: 2 billion) and the issued and fully paid share capital consists of 911,053,001 common shares, each share having a par value of EUR 0.20 (December 31, 2019: 896,733,721; December 31, 2018: 926,195,539).

Preference shares

As a means to protect the Company against (an attempt at) an unsolicited takeover or other attempt to exert (de facto) control of the company, the ‘Stichting Preferente Aandelen Philips’ has been granted the right to acquire preference shares in the Company. As of December 31, 2020, no such right has been exercised and no preference shares have been issued. Authorized preference shares consist of 2 billion shares as of December 31, 2020 (December 31, 2019: 2 billion; December 31, 2018: 2 billion).

Options, restricted and performance shares

Under its share-based compensation plans, the Company granted stock options on its common shares and rights to receive common shares in the future (see Share-based compensation).

Treasury shares

In connection with the Company’s share repurchase programs, shares which have been repurchased and are held in Treasury for the purpose of (i) delivery upon exercise of options, restricted and performance share programs, and (ii) capital reduction, are accounted for as a reduction of shareholders’ equity. Treasury shares are recorded at cost, representing the market price on the acquisition date. When issued, shares are removed from treasury shares on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis.

When treasury shares are re-issued by the Company upon exercise of options (granted to employees up to 2013), the difference between the cost and the cash received is recorded in retained earnings. When treasury shares are delivered by the Company upon vesting of restricted shares or performance shares (granted under the Company’s share-based compensation plans), the difference between the market price of the shares issued and the cost is recorded in retained earnings, and the market price is recorded in capital in excess of par value.

The following table shows the movements in the outstanding number of shares over the last three years:

Philips Group

Outstanding number of shares

	2018	2019	2020
Balance as of January 1	926,191,723	914,184,087	890,973,790
Dividend distributed	9,533,223	9,079,538	18,080,198
Purchase of treasury shares	(31,993,879)	(40,390,495)	(8,669,622)
Re-issuance of treasury shares	10,453,020	8,100,660	4,695,170
Issuance of new shares			48,757
Balance as of December 31	914,184,087	890,973,790	905,128,293

The following transactions took place resulting from former and current share-based remuneration plans:

Philips Group

Employee option and share plan transactions

	2018	2019	2020
Shares acquired	8,226,101	5,497,675	5,351,411
Average market price	EUR 32.59	EUR 34.25	EUR 33.81
Amount paid	EUR 268 million	EUR 188 million	EUR 181 million
Shares delivered	10,453,020	8,100,660	4,695,170
Average price (FIFO)	EUR 32.66	EUR 32.87	EUR 34.35
Cost of delivered shares	EUR 341 million	EUR 266 million	EUR 161 million
Total shares in treasury at year-end	7,871,452	5,268,467	5,924,708
Total cost	EUR 258 million	EUR 180 million	EUR 199 million

In order to reduce share capital, the following transactions took place:

Philips Group

Share capital transactions

	2018	2019	2020
Shares acquired	23,767,778	34,892,820	3,318,211
Average market price	EUR 32.58	EUR 34.29	EUR 39.21
Amount paid	EUR 774 million	EUR 1,196 million	EUR 130 million
Cancellation of treasury shares (shares)	24,246,711	38,541,356	3,809,675
Cancellation of treasury shares (EUR)	EUR 783 million	EUR 1,316 million	EUR 152 million
Total shares in treasury at year-end	4,140,000	491,464
Total cost	EUR 141 million	EUR 22 million

Share purchase transactions related to employee option and share plans, as well as transactions related to the reduction of share capital, involved a cash outflow of EUR 311 million. A cash inflow of EUR 46 million from treasury shares mainly includes settlements of share-based remuneration plans.

Share repurchase methods for share-based remuneration plans and capital reduction purposes

Philips uses different methods to repurchase shares in its own capital: (i) share buyback repurchases in the open market via an intermediary; (ii) repurchase of shares via forward contracts for future delivery of shares; and (iii) the unwinding of call options on own shares. During 2020, Philips used methods (i) and (ii) to repurchase shares for capital reduction purposes and methods (ii) and (iii) to repurchase shares for share-based compensation plans.

Forward share repurchase plans / contracts

Forward contracts to repurchase shares for share-based compensation plans

On January 29, 2020, Philips announced that it will repurchase up to 6 million shares to cover certain of its obligations arising from its long-term incentive and employee stock purchase plans. Under this program, Philips entered into three forward contracts for an amount of EUR 174 million to acquire 5 million shares with settlement dates varying between October 2021 and November 2022 and a weighted average forward price of EUR 34.85. No further transactions are expected in respect to this program.

On October 22, 2018, Philips announced and started a share repurchase program for an amount of up to EUR 174 million to cover its long-term incentive and employee stock purchase plans, after which it repurchased shares via an intermediary to allow for buybacks in the open market during both open and closed periods. On November 12, 2018, Philips announced to extend this program and entered into three forward contracts for an amount of EUR 319 million to repurchase 10 million shares with settlement dates varying between October 2019 and November 2021 and a weighted average forward price of EUR 31.89. As of December 31, 2020, a total of 8 million shares under this program were acquired (4 million of which were settled in the fourth quarter of 2019 and 4 million in the fourth quarter of 2020). This resulted in EUR 256 million increase in retained earnings against treasury shares (EUR 130 million and EUR 126 million pertaining to 2019 and 2020 respectively).

As of December 31, 2020, the remaining forward contracts to cover obligations under share-based remuneration plans related to 7 million shares.

Forward contracts to repurchase shares for capital reduction purposes

On January 29, 2019, Philips announced a share buyback program for an amount of up to EUR 1.5 billion. Philips started the program in the first quarter of 2019. On March 23, 2020, Philips announced that 50.3% of the program had been completed through repurchases by an intermediary to allow for purchases in the open market during both open and closed periods, and that the remainder of the program would be executed through one or more individual forward transactions. Consequently, in the first half of 2020 Philips entered into four forward contracts for an amount of EUR 745 million to acquire 20 million shares with settlement dates varying between June 2021 and December 2021 and a weighted average forward price of EUR 36.40. As of December 31, 2020, all of these forward contracts were outstanding.

Share call options

In 2016 Philips purchased EUR and USD-denominated call options on its own shares to hedge options granted to employees up to 2013.

In 2020, the company unwound 498,144 EUR-denominated and 853,267 USD-denominated call options against the transfer of the same number of its own shares (1,351,411 shares) and an additional 31 million cash payment to the buyer of the call options.

On December 31, 2020, the remaining EUR-denominated options and USD-denominated options related to 670,456 and 274,315 shares respectively.

Shares cancellation

In June 2020 Philips completed the cancellation of 3,809,675 of its common shares (with a cost price of EUR 152 million). The cancelled shares were acquired as part of the Philips’ EUR 1.5 billion share repurchase program announced on January 29, 2019.

Dividend distribution

2020

In July 2020, Philips distributed a dividend of EUR 0.85 per common share, representing a total value of EUR 758 million including costs. The dividend was distributed in the form of shares only resulting in the issuance of 18,080,198 new common shares. Per share calculations have been adjusted retrospectively for all periods presented to reflect the issuance of shares for the share dividend in respect of 2019. Further reference is made to Earnings per share.

A proposal will be submitted to the 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to pay a dividend of EUR 0.85 per common share, in cash or shares at the option of the shareholders, against the net income of the Company for 2020.

2019

In June 2019, Philips settled a dividend of EUR 0.85 per common share, representing a total value of EUR 775 million including costs. Shareholders could elect for a cash dividend or a share dividend. Approximately 42% of the shareholders elected for a share dividend, resulting in the issuance of 9,079,538 new common shares. The settlement of the cash dividend involved an amount of EUR 453 million (including costs).

2018

In June 2018, Philips settled a dividend of EUR 0.80 per common share, representing a total value of EUR 738 million including costs. Shareholders could elect for a cash dividend or a share dividend. Approximately 46% of the shareholders elected for a share dividend, resulting in the issuance of 9,533,233 new common shares. The settlement of the cash dividend involved an amount of EUR 400 million (including costs).

Limitations in the distribution of shareholders’ equity

As at December 31, 2020, pursuant to Dutch law, certain limitations exist relating to the distribution of shareholders’ equity of EUR 831 million. Such limitations relate to common shares of EUR 182 million, as well as to legal reserves required by Dutch law included under retained earnings of EUR 626 million and unrealized gains related to cash flow hedges of EUR 23 million. The unrealized currency translation differences of EUR 58 million and unrealized losses related to fair value through OCI financial assets of EUR 305 million qualify as revaluation reserves and reduce the distributable amount due to the fact that these reserves are negative.

The legal reserve required by Dutch law of EUR 626 million included under retained earnings relates to any legal or economic restrictions on the ability of affiliated companies to transfer funds to the parent company in the form of dividends.

As at December 31, 2019, these limitations in distributable amounts were EUR 1,870 million and related to common shares of EUR 179 million, as well as to legal reserves required by Dutch law included under retained earnings of EUR 713 million and unrealized currency translation differences of EUR 978 million. The unrealized losses related to fair value through OCI financial assets of EUR 303 million and unrealized losses related to cash flow hedges of EUR 24 million qualify as a revaluation reserve and reduce the distributable amount due to the fact that this reserve is negative.

Non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interests relate to minority stakes held by third parties in consolidated group companies.

Capital management

Philips manages capital based upon the IFRS measures, net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used for investing activities as well as the non-IFRS measure net debt^*). The definition of this non-IFRS measure and a reconciliation to the IFRS measure is included below.

Net debt^*) is defined as the sum of long and short-term debt minus cash and cash equivalents. Group equity is defined as the sum of shareholders’ equity and non-controlling interests. This measure is used by Philips Treasury management and investment analysts to evaluate financial strength and funding requirements. The Philips net debt^*) position is managed with the intention of retaining a strong investment grade credit rating. Furthermore, Philips’ aim when managing the net debt^*) position is dividend stability and a pay-out ratio of 40% to 50% of Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders^*) (reconciliation to the most directly comparable IFRS measure, Net income, is provided at the end of this note).

Philips Group

Composition of net debt and group equity¹⁾

in millions of EUR unless otherwise stated

	2018	2019	2020
Long-term debt	3,427	4,939	5,705
Short-term debt	1,394	508	1,229
Total debt	4,821	5,447	6,934
Cash and cash equivalents	1,688	1,425	3,226
Net debt¹⁾	3,132	4,022	3,708
Shareholders' equity	12,088	12,597	11,870
Non-controlling interests	29	28	31
Group equity	12,117	12,625	11,901
Net debt and group equity ratio¹⁾	21:79	24:76	24:76

¹⁾Non-IFRS financial measure. For the definition and reconciliation of the most directly comparable IFRS measure, refer to Reconciliation of non-IFRS information.

Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders^*) is not a recognized measure of financial performance under IFRS. The reconciliation of Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders^*) to the most directly comparable IFRS measure, Net income for 2020 is included in the table below.

Philips Group

Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders¹⁾

²⁾ in millions of EUR

	2019	2020
Net income	1,173	1,195
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes	19	10
Income from continuing operations	1,192	1,205
Continuing operations non-controlling interests	(5)	(8)
Income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders¹⁾²⁾	1,186	1,197
Adjustments for:
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	350	381
Impairment of goodwill	97	144
Restructuring costs and acquisition-related charges	318	203
Other items	153	301
Net finance expenses³⁾	13	(125)
Tax impact of adjusted items	(280)	(285)
Adjusted Income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders¹⁾²⁾	1,838	1,814

¹⁾Non-IFRS financial measure. For the definition and reconciliation of the most directly comparable IFRS measure, refer to Reconciliation of non-IFRS information.²⁾Shareholders in this table refers to shareholders of Koninklijke Philips N.V.³⁾The comparative figures have been restated to conform to the revised definitions. Refer to the Reconciliation of non-IFRS information.

^*)Non-IFRS financial measure. For the definition and reconciliation of the most directly comparable IFRS measure, refer to Reconciliation of non-IFRS information.