Czech energy company ČEZ will begin paying dividends to its shareholders on Monday from last year's profit, distributing CZK 42 per share. The total payout amounts to CZK 22.6 billion, with the state, the company's majority shareholder, set to receive nearly CZK 16 billion. The dividend was approved by shareholders at the company's annual general meeting in June, ČEZ spokesman Ladislav Kříž said. The company currently has around 168,000 shareholders.