| 5. | Share capital and premium |
The total authorized number of ordinary shares is 120 million (2016: 120 million) (2015: 120 million) of $0.05 (2016: $0.05) (2015: $0.05). All issued shares are fully paid. The total number of issued shares at December 31, 2017 was 94,124,872 shares (2016: 93,803,752 shares) (2015: 93,232,920 shares). Refer to the consolidated statement of changes in equity above for more detail on the annual movement of the number of ordinary shares, share capital and share premium, including the movement arising from the issue of restricted shares, exercise of share options and vesting of share awards and the scrip dividends. Randgold’s board of directors has recommended an annual dividend for the period ended December 31, 2017 of $2.00 per share, up 100% on the previous year’s $1.00. The dividend will be paid in cash with no scrip alternative being made available and the resolution for the dividend has been submitted to shareholders for approval at the company’s annual general meeting scheduled for May 8, 2018.
