The Character Group plc will be recommending to shareholders a final dividend of 12.0 pence, an increase of 20% over last year (2017 H2: 10.0p per share). This, together with the interim dividend of 11.0 pence per share paid in July 2018, makes a total dividend for the year of 23.0 pence per share, an increase of 21% over the previous year (FY 2017: 19.0p). The 2018 final dividend is covered 1.96 times by underlying annual earnings. Subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting the final dividend will be paid on 25 January 2019 to Members on the Register as at the close of business on 4 January 2019; the shares will be marked ex-dividend on 3 January 2019.