Shareholders

We seek to use our available cash in order to develop and enhance our position in the very capital-intensive semiconductor market while at the same time, managing our cash resources to reward our shareholders for their investment and trust in us. Based on our annual results, projected capital requirements as well as business conditions and prospects, the Managing Board proposes each year to the Supervisory Board the allocation of our earnings involving, whenever deemed possible and desirable in line with our objectives and financial situation, the distribution of a cash dividend.

EC6: Dividends paid			US$m
	2003	2004	2005
Dividends	71	107	107

Our common shares (approximately 894 million as of December 31, 2005) are traded on the NYSE, on the Euronext Paris, and on the Borsa Italiana in Milan. The evolution of the share price is shown below.

Share price and volume

STE8

(For more information please refer to 20-F pages 120–125)

STE8: Average daily trading volumes
Euronext Paris/Borsa Italiana Milan/NYSE

STE8: Share price 2005, NYSE