Investor News

The Hansard Board has proposed a final dividend of 2.65p per share, the same level as last year. In making this proposal, the Board has carefully considered its current financial position and future outcomes under a range of plausible adverse scenarios taking into account Covid-19.

The Smiths Group Board maintains a progressive dividend policy, aiming to increase dividends in line with long-term underlying growth in earnings and cash-flow. The policy enables them to retain sufficient cash-flow to finance investment in the drivers of growth and meet financial obligations. In setting the level of dividend payments, the Board considers prevailing economic conditions and future investment plans, along with the objective to maintain minimum dividend cover* of around 2 times.

The PZ Cussons Board is recommending a final dividend of 3.13p (2019: 5.61p) per share, making a total dividend for the year of 5.80p (2019: 8.28p) per share. The gross amount for the proposed final dividend is £13.1 million (2019: £23.5 million). 

The Alliance Pharma board have announced that, after suspending the final dividend payment for 2019 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is declaring an interim dividend payment of 0.536p per share for 2020, in line with that for 2019. The Board will continue to assess the level of future cash distributions having regard to overall business performance and future outlook, in light of the global uncertainty created by COVID-19

On 2 April 2020 the board announced that it had decided to cancel the 2020 interim dividend, which would have been paid on 22 April 2020, recognising the significant challenges faced by businesses and individuals and consistent with the purpose of helping the people and businesses of Britain. 

The North American Income Trust revenue return per Ordinary share rose by 27.0% from 5.35p to 6.80p. The Board has declared a second quarterly dividend of 1.8p per share, giving total dividends for the first half of the year to 31 January 2021 of 3.6p (2020 - 3.4p), a 5.9% increase. The second quarterly dividend is payable on 30 October 2020 to shareholders on the register on 2 October 2020.

The Brooks Macdonald Board has recommended a final dividend of 32.0p (FY19: 32.0p) which, subject to approval by shareholders at the AGM, will result in total dividends for the year of 53.0p (FY19: 51.0p). This represents an increase of 3.9% on the previous year and reaffirms the Board's confidence in the strength of the business even in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a commitment to a progressive dividend policy. The final dividend will be paid on 6 November 2020 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 25 September 2020.

The Hilton Food Directors have approved the payment of an interim dividend of 7.0p per share payable on 27 November 2020 to shareholders who are on the register at 30 October 2020. This interim dividend, amounting to £5.7m has not been recognised as a liability in these interim financial statements. It will be recognised in shareholders' equity in the 53 weeks to 3 January 2021.

Supermarket Income REIT has declared four interim dividends for the year as follows:

The LXI Board has declared today an interim quarterly dividend in respect of the quarter ended 30 June 2020 of 1.30 pence per ordinary share, in line with the previous quarterly dividend guidance issued in May 2020. 

The Clinigen Directors are proposing to increase the final dividend to 5.46p per share (2019: 4.75p), resulting in a 14% increase in the full year dividend to 7.61p per share (2019: 6.7p).

A final dividend of 20p per share is recommended, payable on 30th October 2020 to shareholders on the register on 9th October 2020, making a total for the year of 30p (2019: 40.5p including special dividend of 13.5p).

The dividend announced today by Ferrexpo follows the special interim dividend of 6.6 US cents announced in June, as well as the interim dividend of 6.6 US cents announced alongside the Company's Interim Results last month, and brings the total distributions announced in respect of this year to 19.8 US cents (FY 2019: 13.2 US cents).

The Ashmore Directors have recommended a final dividend of 12.10 pence per share for the year ending 30 June 2020 (FY2018/19: 12.10 pence), which if approved by shareholders will be paid on 11 December 2020 to all shareholders on the register on 6 November 2020. Total dividends paid and recommended for the year are 16.90 pence (FY2018/19: 16.65 pence), which are covered 1.5x by diluted earnings per share.

Morrisons plc The 2020/21 interim ordinary dividend is 2.04p per share, up 5.7% (2019/20: 1.93p), reflecting the strong first-half trading performance and a confident outlook.

The Genus Board has recommended a final dividend of 19.7 pence per ordinary share, an increase of 5% over the prior year final dividend. When combined with the interim dividend increase of 6%, this will result in a total dividend for the year of 29.1 pence per ordinary share, an increase of 5% for the year. Dividend cover from adjusted earnings remains strong at 2.9 times (2019: 2.6 times) and is in line with their Board's intention to maintain a progressive dividend within a target adjusted earnings cover range of 2.5 - 3.0 times.

The DWF Board have proposed ab final dividend per share of 0.75p taking the total proposed dividend for FY20 to 3.25p.

The Alumasc Board is recommending to shareholders a final dividend of 2 pence per share (2018/19: 4.4 pence), applicable to members on the share register on 25 September and to be paid on 30 October. The interim dividend for 2019/20, that was due to be paid on 7 April 2020 at a cash cost of £1.1 million, was cancelled as part of the Group's COVID-19 cash conservation programme, making a total dividend for the year of 2 pence per share (2018/19: 7.35p).

As a reflection of their confidence in the financial strength of the Fevertree Group, the Directors declared an interim dividend of 5.41 pence per share, 4% ahead of the 2019 interim dividend. The dividend will be paid on 16 October 2020, to shareholders on the register on 25 September 2020.

The Belvoir Board has reinstated its progressive dividend policy with the payment of an interim dividend of 3.4p per share (H1 2019: 3.4p) with interim dividend cover at 2.1x (H1 2019: 2.0x)

The Dechra Board is proposing a final dividend of 24.00 pence per share (2019: 22.10 pence per share). Added to the interim dividend of 10.29 pence per share (2019: 9.50 pence per share), this brings the total dividend for the financial year ended 30 June 2020 to 34.29 pence per share (2019: 31.60 pence per share), representing 8.5% growth over the previous year.

The Board of Temple Bar has today declared a second interim dividend for the year ending 31 December 2020 of 11.0p per ordinary share, to be paid on 30 September 2020 to those Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 11 September 2020.

Dividends of £12.9m paid in the year (2019: £12.9m) comprised the final dividend for 2019 of 3.15p and the interim dividend for 2020 of 1.50p. 

Foresight Solar Fund announces a second interim dividend, in respect of the period 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020, of 1.73 pence per ordinary share (the "Dividend"). The shares will go ex-dividend on 29 October 2020 and the Dividend will be paid on 27 November 2020 to shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 30 October 2020.

As a key measure to conserve cash, the Macfarlane Board took the decision not to propose the 2019 final dividend of 1.76p per share, detailed in the preliminary announcement.  The Board recognises the importance of recommencing the payment of dividends to our shareholders as soon as possible.  Given the stronger than anticipated profit performance and cash position, the Board is recommending an interim dividend of 0.70p per share to be paid on 8 October 2020 to shareholders on the register as at 11 September 2020 (2019: 0.69p per share)

Hunting PLC's second interim dividend of 2.0 cents declared in respect of H1 2020 (H1 2019 - 5.0 cents), absorbing cash of approximately $3.3m (H1 2019 - $8.3m), payable to shareholders on 23 October 2020, with a record date of 2 October 2020. The Board is declaring this interim dividend given the Group's strong balance sheet and healthy cash position. An interim dividend of 3.0 cents per share was paid on 15 May 2020, which replaced the 2019 Final Dividend.

In March 2020, WPP announced the Board's decision to suspend the 2019 final dividend of 37.3p per share to protect liquidity in light of the threat to liquidity and cash flow from the COVID-19 impact. The Board has now decided to cancel this dividend to contribute towards lower leverage.

At this stage Anglo Pacific are not altering their dividend policy and will continue to pay an interim dividend of 1.75p per share on a quarterly basis, which sets a base level of 7p on an annualised basis. They will wait until Q1 2021 to determine the level of the final dividend taking into account market conditions at that time and the full year outturn for 2020.

The Fisher (James) & Sons board believe the Group has weathered the initial storm of Covid-19 and have seen a significant improvement in the financial headroom on their committed banking facilities. Global economies are slowly recovering, and the price of oil has partially recovered from the low point in April. They operate in diverse markets and have a wide geographic spread so whilst certain parts of business have been seriously impacted by Covid-19, other parts of business have been resilient.

AGA's objective is to provide shareholders with capital appreciation from its investment portfolio and regular dividends. The Company is targeting an annualised Total Return, across economic cycles, of 12-15% (net of fees and expenses) including a dividend yield of 5% of Net Asset Value.

The Clipper Logistics Board is recommending a final dividend of 6.2 pence per share, making a total dividend in respect of the year ended 30 April 2020 of 9.7 pence (2019: 9.7 pence).

As highlighted in the Company's first quarter trading statement issued at the beginning of April, due to the heightened uncertainty at that time relating to the macroeconomic environment in which the Company was trading, the Bunzl Board decided it would no longer propose a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 at the Annual General Meeting held on 15 April 2020. However, we stated at the time that the Board recognised the importance of dividends to shareholders and, as such, intended to consider the appropriateness, quantum and timing of an additional interim dividend payment relating to the year ended 31 December 2019 when the Board had a clearer view of the effects of Covid-19 on the Company's business.

With the major social and economic disruption resulting from the action taken to mitigate the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, after careful assessment of the capital needs of the business, the Perisimmon Board concluded that the return of surplus capital by way of a 125p per share interim dividend previously scheduled to be paid to shareholders on 2 April 2020 would be cancelled. In addition, the Board postponed the payment of the final dividend for the 2019 financial year of 110p per share that was previously scheduled to be paid on 6 July 2020. This preserved the Company's ability to re-invest this capital in the business should appropriate opportunities arise, generating enhanced value over the longer term in the best long-term interests of all stakeholders. The Board has now announced a  dividend of 40p per share.

The BHP dividend policy provides for a minimum 50 per cent payout of underlying attributable profit at every reporting period. The minimum dividend payment for the June 2020 half year period is 38 US cents per share, or US$1.9 billion.

The KAZ Minerals Group's dividend policy, established at the time of Listing, is for the Board to consider the cash generation and financing requirements of the business before recommending a suitable dividend. This maintains flexibility, which is appropriate given the underlying cyclicality of a commodity business and the Group's growth ambitions.

The Directors of Berkeley Group Holdings have today announced that an interim dividend of 107.0 pence per share will be paid on 11 September 2020 to shareholders on the Company's register of members at close of business on 21 August 2020. The ex-dividend date is 20 August 2020.

Subsequent to 30 June 2020, the M&G Board has declared an interim dividend for 2020 of 6.00 pence per ordinary share, an estimated £155m in total. The dividend is expected to be paid on 30 September 2020 and will be recorded as an appropriation of retained earnings in the financial statements at the time that it is paid.

The Sprirax-Sarco Board has declared an interim dividend of 33.5 pence (2019: 32.0 pence) per ordinary share, an increase of 5%. The dividend will be paid on 6^th November 2020 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 9^th October 2020. The final dividend of 78.0 pence per share in respect of 2019 was paid on 22^nd May 2020 at a cash cost of £57.5 million.

In April, the CLS Board made the decision to proceed with the recommended final dividend for 2019 of 5.05 pence per share, given the Group's strong cash position and resilient tenant base. In September, the Group will pay an interim dividend for 2020 of 2.35 pence per share, which is at the same level as the 2019 interim dividend. Any full year dividend increase will be assessed with the final dividend.

The Admiral Board has declared an interim dividend of 70.5 pence, made up of a normal dividend of 55.0 pence per share and a special dividend of 15.5 pence per share, 12% higher than the 2019 interim dividend of 63.0 pence per share. The payment represents 85% of first half earnings.