Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Fortum Oyj ( HEL:FORTUM ) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is important as the process of settlement involves two full business days. So if you miss that date, you would not show up on the company's books on the record date. This means that investors who purchase Fortum Oyj's shares on or after the 29th of March will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 6th of April.