Recent articles for private investors with a focus on dividend announcements

Ashtead Group Q3 2011/12 results
Unaudited results for the nine months and third quarter ended 31 January 2012

Intertek Final Results
Intertek Group plc ("Intertek"), the leading international provider of quality and safety solutions, announces its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2011.

Glencore Final Results
Industrial activities Adjusted EBIT up 18% compared to 2010, benefiting from generally stronger commodity prices and increased production.

Stagecoach IMS March 2012
Stagecoach Group plc ("the Group") is today publishing an interim management statement, covering available information for the period to the date of this announcement.

MAN Group 2011 final results - dividend declared
Peter Clarke, Chief Executive of Man, said: "Our final results for the nine months to 31 December 2011 are in line with the January trading statement. More recently, we have seen a positive start to the year in the first two months of 2012. Assets under management have increased to around $59.5 billion at the end of February, principally as a result of performance, with strong returns at GLG and a smaller positive contribution from AHL.

Carillion Final Results
2011
2010
Change
Revenue
£5.1bn
£5.1bn
-
Underlying operating margin
4.7%
4.2%
n/a
Underlying profit before taxation
£212.0m
£188.1m
+13%
Underlying earnings per share
43.0p
39.4p
+9%
Profit before taxation
£142.8m
£167.9m
-15%
Basic earnings per share
32.0p
36.9p
-13%
Net (borrowing)/cash
£(50.7)m
£120.2m
-142%
Proposed full year dividend per share
16.9p
15.5p
+9%

Henderson Group Finals
Commenting on the 2011 full year results Chief Executive, Andrew Formica said:

UBM Final Results
David Levin, UBM's Chief Executive Officer, commented:"2011 has been a strong year for UBM, with EPS up over 13% to a record 56.8p.An outstanding performance from our Q4 biennial events capped off a year ofconsistent delivery in which all our businesses met or exceeded their targetsfor the year. On the back of these results, the Board has declared a finaldividend of 20p, up 1p over 2010, resulting in a record dividend for the year.These results are the fruit of our consistent strategy to focus on providingmarketing, communications and data services, in winning formats, to thrivingbusiness communities. Our Emerging Markets revenues grew by more than 24%during 2011 and contributed just under a third of our overall profits: in 2011we generated more revenue in China than in Europe for the first time. OurEvents business performed particularly well and 1.7 million people attendedUBM events in 2011, up from 1.3 million in 2010 with profits growing by 45%.The solid performance of Data Services and PR Newswire in 2011 reflects theinitial benefits of our continuing investment in these businesses. OurMarketing Services businesses also continue to develop well, with the combinedeffects of continuing strong digital growth and print disposals likely toresult in online revenues outstripping print revenues in 2012.2012 trading has started well. We anticipate continued underlying growth and apositive performance across the business whilst recognising the continuinguncertainties of the global economy."

Serco Final Results 2011/12 - dividend increased 14%
Solid operational performance and contract awards across the portfolio

HSBC Final results
Reported profit before tax US$21.9bn, up 15% on 2010, including US$3.9bn of favourable fair value movements on own debt*

Pru office move?
Prudential said it is considering moving its headquarters away from London in view of possible negative impacts from European Solvency II regulations on capital requirements. The Sunday Times had reported the Co may move its HQ to Hong Kong.

BP Court case
BP Plc announced; "BP and the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (PSC) confirmed that the U.S. District Court has today adjourned the start of the Deepwater Horizon Multi-District Litigation 2179 civil trial by one week, until Monday, March 5th. This adjournment is intended to allow BP and the PSC more time to continue settlement discussions and attempt to reach an agreement."

Wood Group Contract
Wood Group (John) Plc said it has won a £250M contracted from Premier Oil to deliver integrated operations and maintenance support services to the Balmoral floating production vessel (FPV) situated 122 miles North East of Aberdeen

Capita final results
Paul Pindar, Chief Executive of Capita plc, commented:"2011 was a challenging year in which we achieved reasonable revenue growthand maintained our underlying operating margin. However, it was alsoa successful year for Capita in respect of major sales wins, with a recordtotal value of £2.0bn new and extended contracts secured during theyear (2010: £0.8bn). This strong sales performance underlines our continuedability to present innovative service solutions that deliver quality and costbenefits to our clients, whilst delivering attractive rewards to Capita. Wealso completed a series of acquisitions in 2011 which will play a key role inextending our capabilities, enhancing our propositions to clients and making avaluable contribution to our long term growth.We already have good visibility of stronger revenue growth this year due torenewed organic growth from our major contract sales performance in 2011and to date in 2012 and the contribution from acquisitions. This visibilityand the current buoyant sales environment, evidenced by the rapid replenishmentof our bid pipeline, underpin our confidence in good growth prospects andperformance for 2012 and beyond."Settlements consist of a £17.9m settlement for Arch cru and an additionalpension contribution of £10.0m on the transfer back of the Cumbria CountyCouncil pension scheme.

Go Ahead Group Half yearly results
Continued growth in business volumes across all companies, helped by roll-out of smartcards

Ashmore Interim 2011/12 Results - dividend announced
Total net revenue up 4% to £181.0 million (H1 2010/11: £173.7 million)
Net management fees increased 30% to £151.4 million from £116.1 million
Performance fees decreased to £23.0 million from £60.1 million
Profit before tax up 2% to £129.8 million (H1 2010/11: £127.6 million)
EBITDA margin of 70% (H1 2010/11: 73%)
Assets under management ("AuM") of US$60.4 billion at 31 December 2011, a decrease of US$5.4 billion (8%) from 30 June 2011 with net inflows maintained across the period
Basic EPS of 13.83p (H1 2010/11: 14.30p)
An interim dividend of 4.25p per share will be paid on 4 April 2012 (H1 2010/11: 4.16p)

Hays half yearly results
HighlightsInternational businesses drove good Group net fee growth of 11% and operating profit growth of 14%Temporary net fees, which represent 56% of the Group, grew 14%, permanent net fees grew 8%Continued diversification of the business with 69% of Group net fees generated outside the UK (2010: 62%)Good performance in Asia Pacific with 16% net fee growth - Australia & New Zealand net fees up 15% driven by Resources and MiningStrong overall growth in Continental Europe & Rest of World with 27% net fee growth - The Group's largest division delivered record net fees driven by 31% growth in GermanyThe UK market remained challenging with net fees down 6% - Private sector net fees down 1%, public sector down 18% but sequentially stable since April 2011Trading conditions in several markets became more difficult as the half progressedStrong cash performance with 95% conversion of operating profit into operating cash flowInterim dividend down 55% to 0.83p, rebased to a more appropriate level within the revised cover range of 2.0x-3.0x EPS

Centrica aquisition
Centrica has reached an agreement with Total E&P UK (and its affiliates) to acquire their non-operated portfolio of producing oil and gas assets and associated infrastructure in the Central North Sea (CNS) for a total cash consideration of $388M (£246M). The acquisition is expected to add immediate strong cash flow and increase Centrica's scale in the CNS region. The transaction will also help to maintain the mix of oil in its upstream portfolio.

Royal Dutch proposes to buy Cove
Royal Dutch Shell has proposed an offer to buy Cove Energy of 195 pence a share in cash, valuing the Co at around £992.4M. The offer represents a 28.5% premium to the average closing price of 151.75 pence per Cove share over the five business days ending on 21 February 2012.

Hays slashes dividend
Capital structure and dividendThe Board's priorities for our free cash flow are to fund the Group'sinvestment and development, maintain a strong balance sheet and deliver asustainable dividend at a level which is affordable and appropriate.The increased global economic uncertainty impacted our business in the secondquarter and slowed the pace of the Group's profit growth as the first halfprogressed. Consequently, while operating profit was 21% above prior year, itwas only sequentially 2% higher than in the previous half. Considering thisslowing of profit growth and our current view on the likely growth in Groupprofitability in this uncertain environment, we have decided that whilst theprevious level of dividend remains affordable today, it is no longerappropriate to maintain the dividend at that level, which had been uncoveredfor the last two years. We have therefore decided to rebase the dividend andpay an interim dividend of 0.83p per share (2010: 1.85p). Furthermore webelieve that future dividends should be covered by earnings in the range 2.0xto 3.0x and consider this revised payout policy to be appropriatelycovered by earnings and cash flow.Going forward, the Board remains committed to paying a sustainable andprogressive dividend. It is our intention to grow the dividend from this newlevel when dividend cover reaches c.2.5x. The expected split of dividendpayout will be one-third interim and two-thirds final.The interim dividend payment date will be 10 April 2012 and will be paid toshareholders on the register at close of business on 2 March 2012.

Logica Final Results
HeadlinesFull year orders up 13% to £4.6 billion, driven by Outsourcing orders up 23% to£2.2 billionFull year revenue up 3% to £3.9 billion; adjusted operating profit downsignificantly on last year at £114 million including the impact of the £132million of restructuring and contract charges announced on 14 December 2011.Underlying revenue was up 4% to £3.9 billion. Underlying performance was:Outsourcing revenue up 9%, with second half revenue up 7%Consulting and Professional Services revenue flat, with second half revenuedown 1%Revenue in the commercial sectors was up 7%, offset by a 3% decline in PublicSectorFourth quarter weakness seen particularly in the Benelux and SwedenUnderlying adjusted operating profit at £247 million was in line with DecemberguidanceFull year cash conversion of 92% resulted in operating cash inflow of £226millionNet debt/EBITDA at 0.9x, with net debt at £295 million at year end (2010: £280million)Full year dividend recommended to be 4.4p, up 5% over 2010
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