Feb 11, 2013. /Lesprom Network/. As a result of the consistently improved operational performance and free cash flow, the Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) reintroduced a dividend in February 2012. This was an important milestone for the Group, as the dividend is viewed as providing certainty of value to our shareholders and was included as an important underpin to the original investment proposition in the 2007 SKG IPO, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. The Board is recommending a final dividend of approximately 20.5 cent per share for 2012, a 37% increase on last year’s final dividend. It is proposed to pay the final dividend on 10 May 2013 to all ordinary shareholders on the share register at the close of business on 12 April 2013. The interim and final dividends are paid in October and May in each year in the approximate proportions of one third to two thirds respectively. Smurfit Kappa Group is a world leader in paper-based packaging with operations in Europe and the Americas. SKG operates in 21 countries in Europe and 11 in the Americas. SKG is the European leader in paper-based packaging including, corrugated, containerboard, bag-in-box, solidboard, and solidboard packaging.