FRANKFURT: Germany's largest drugmaker Bayer said it would propose an annual dividend of 2.25 euros ($3) per share to investors, a tad more than the 2.23 euros expected on average by analysts.

The dividend was 2.10 euros last year.

The company has a long-term policy of paying out 30 to 40 percent of core earnings per share, which it defines as net income excluding goodwill amortisation and one-off writedowns.

Bayer is due to report fourth-quarter results on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Copyright Reuters, 2015