1. The balance of the surplus after deduction of the allocation to the legal reserve, of any sums paid out in dividends and of any losses carried over, with the addition of any surpluses carried over and of any sums drawn from the reserves, shall constitute the profits available for distribution.
2. The general meeting which considers the accounts for the financial year may allocate the surplus in the order and proportions laid down in the statutes, and in particular:
- carry them forward,
- appropriate them to any legal or statutory reserve fund,
- provide a return on paid-up capital and quasi-equity, payment being made in cash or shares.
3. The statutes may also prohibit any distribution.