BP has raised its payout for shareholders for the first time since the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The company insists it remains on the "right path" as it unveiled a 14 per cent increase in the dividend to 5.1p a share.
The oil giant accounts for one pound in every six invested by pension schemes.
The group, which is going on trial at the end of the month over the spill, has so far paid out £4.7 billion for individual, business and government claims.
Chief executive Bob Dudley said: "As I have said before, we are prepared to settle if we can do so on fair and reasonable terms, but equally, if this is not possible, we are preparing vigorously for trial."
BP has reported annual profits of £15.1 billion in 2011, compared with a loss of £3.1 billion the previous year.
The company saw its quarterly profit jump to £4.8 billion from £3.3 billion in the previous quarter.
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