French Finance minister says companies can't ask for help and hand out dividends

• Employment Minister Muriel Penicaud said the French government will ask companies in which the state has a stake not to pay dividends.

PARIS: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire will tell Prime Minister Edouard Philippe that companies should not be allowed to ask for help with tax and charges deadlines and at the same time hand out dividends, the French presidential palace said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Employment Minister Muriel Penicaud said the French government will ask companies in which the state has a stake not to pay dividends, adding pressure on firms across France to forego payouts as they deal with the coronavirus crisis.