INTERVIEW
Faced with the coronavirus crisis and the unprecedented economic impact of such a situation, the State has put in place several mechanisms to help companies' cash flow, such as deferral of charges for example. The emergency plan for the French economy has for example been revised to 100 billion euros, instead of 45 billion at first. On Europe 1, Friday morning, the Minister of Economy called on business leaders to be "exemplary".
"On dividends, if a large company requests the deferral of tax charges, the state provides support in terms of cash," said Bruno Le Maire. But "it is out of the question that this company pays dividends. I will not allow it," he said.
"I will not sign any state guaranteed loan for a company that would pay dividends to its shareholders," said the minister. "If you don't have money for your cash, you don't have money for your shareholders. You also have to be exemplary."
Exemplarity should, according to him, lead the directors of large companies to lower their salaries, as was the case with the directors of Renault or Sodexo. "Renault's action is a good example. I see an increasing number of examples of great leaders who agree to reduce their remuneration. When I call everyone to the effort, it is also and especially for business leaders."