12. Dividends 13. Earnings per Ordinary Share (i)  Computed by adding amortisation of intangible assets, depreciation and asset impairment charges to profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the  Company and is presented here for information as management believes it is a useful indicator of the Group’s ability to generate cash from operations. “Cash”  earnings per Ordinary Share on a diluted earnings basis amounted to 206.7c (2011: 193.9c). This is not a recognised measure under generally accepted  accounting principles.  (ii)  The weighted average number of Ordinary Shares included in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per Ordinary Share has been adjusted to exclude  shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust and Ordinary Shares repurchased and held by the Company (CRH plc) as Treasury Shares given that these shares  do not rank for dividend. The number of Ordinary Shares so held at the balance sheet date is detailed in note 29. (iii) Contingently issuable Ordinary Shares (totalling 24,856,007 at 31 December 2012 and 21,429,061 at 31 December 2011) are excluded from the computation  of diluted earnings per Ordinary Share where the conditions governing exercisability have not been satisfied as at the end of the reporting period.  The computation of basic and diluted earnings per Ordinary Share is set out below: As shown in note 29, the Company has various classes of share capital in issue comprising Ordinary Shares, 5% Cumulative Preference Shares and 7% ‘A’  Cumulative Preference Shares. The dividends paid and proposed in respect of these classes of share capital are as follows: 2012 2011 €m €m Dividends to shareholders Preference 5% Cumulative Preference Shares €3,175 (2011: €3,175)  -  - 7% 'A' Cumulative Preference Shares €77,521 (2011: €77,521)  -  - Equity  Final - paid 44.00c per Ordinary Share (2011: 44.00c)  317   312  Interim - paid 18.50c per Ordinary Share (2011: 18.50c)  133   133  Total  450   445  Dividends proposed (memorandum disclosure) Equity Final 2012 - proposed 44.00c per Ordinary Share (2011: 44.00c)  320   316  Reconciliation to Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Dividends to shareholders  450   445  Less: issue of scrip shares in lieu of cash dividends (88) (135) Dividends paid to equity holders of the Company  362   310  Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling interests  5   9  Total dividends paid  367   319  2012 2011 €m €m Numerator computations Group profit for the financial year  554   597  Profit attributable to non-controlling interests (2) (7) Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company  552   590  Preference dividends  -  - Profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company - numerator for basic/diluted earnings per Ordinary Share  552   590  Amortisation of intangible assets   47   43  Impairment of financial assets  146   11  Depreciation charge   748   742  Numerator for "cash" earnings per Ordinary Share (i)  1,493   1,386  Denominator computations Denominator for basic earnings per Ordinary Share Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares (millions) outstanding for the year (ii)  721.9   714.4  Effect of dilutive potential Ordinary Shares (employee share options) (millions) (ii) and (iii)  0.3   0.3  Denominator for diluted earnings per Ordinary Share  722.2   714.7  Basic earnings per Ordinary Share 76.5c 82.6c Diluted earnings per Ordinary Share 76.4c 82.6c "Cash" earnings per Ordinary Share (i) 206.8c 194.0c 92 CRH