Sector: Commercial Transportation

The Plus500 Company's shareholder return policy has been to return at least 60% of net profits to shareholders as a normal return on a half yearly basis, with at least 50% of this distribution being made by way of dividends. In addition, the Board will also consider paying of special dividends at each year end.

Domino's Pizza took the decision to suspend the proposed FY19 final dividend, given the significant uncertainty around the Covid-19 situation and its impact on their performance at that time. They have ensured to have remained open throughout this period, and the Board believes it is appropriate at this time to reinstate our planned payment. They will therefore pay the deferred FY19 final dividend, of 5.56p, equating to a total cost of £26m, on 18^th September 2020 to all shareholders on the register as at 21^st August 2020.

Derwent London’s dividend has remained well covered by EPRA earnings in recent years and they assume the value to their shareholders of a consistent and sustainable dividend policy. They are also aware of the risks facing their tenant base, the potential impact upon their earnings and the importance of maintaining demonstrable liquidity and a strong financial position. Their rental income will be helped in H2 2020 by 80 Charlotte Street and they have further trading property sales of apartments either exchanged or under offer at Asta House. Taking all these things into account,they have raised the 2020 interim dividend by 4.8% to 22.0p per share, all to be paid as a PID on 16 October 2020 to shareholders on the register as at 11 September 2020.

The Witan Investment Trust's revenue earnings per share for 2020 are likely to be around half of the level earned in 2019, owing to the unprecedented cuts in market dividends by companies seeking to conserve cash during the Covid-19 lockdown, particularly in the UK. The Company began 2020 with revenue reserves amounting to over 1.5 times the annual dividend, having added to these reserves in each of the past nine years. Consequently, it is able to take advantage of investment trusts' ability to smooth dividend pay-outs using revenue reserves and has stated its willingness to do so. Investment Companies also have the ability, where warranted, to use capital reserves to support distributions and a number of leading investment trusts already partly fund their dividends in this way. Although permitted by its Articles of Association, the Company would only propose such a step if this were judged to be sustainable, based upon the total returns earned by the portfolio over time.

The Gamesys Group Board is to declare an inaugural interim dividend of 12p per share to be paid in October, as well as the implementation of a broader dividend and capital allocation policy.

● Today the Company declares a second quarterly dividend for 2020 of 4.0591 USD cents per share or $27m, or 3.1077 pence per share, which will be paid on 25 September 2020 to shareholders on the register at 4 September 2020

As announced on 27 March 2020, the Board deferred the decision on the amount and timing of the 2019 final dividend to protect the Company until the impact of COVID-19 on the business became clearer. The robust performance and cash position of the Company means that the Board has now decided to pay the equivalent of the 2019 final dividend of 53p per share as an interim dividend on 21 September 2020 to shareholders on the register on 7 September 2020. 

The Diversified Group announced a dividend of $0.0350 per ordinary share. The dividend will be paid on 25 September 2020 to shareholders on the register on 4 September 2020. This dividend was not approved by shareholders, thereby qualifying it as an "interim" dividend. No liability was recorded in the Group Interim Financial Information in respect of this interim dividend as at 30 June 2020.

In the first half of 2020, the final dividend for Spirent in 2019 of $20.5 million was paid (first half 2019: $16.7 million) and 2.0 million shares were purchased and placed into the Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) at a cost of $4.7 million (first half 2019: 3.0 million shares at a cost of $6.1 million). 

The Aviva Board has declared a second interim dividend in respect of the 2019 financial year of 6 pence per share. While the Board continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and the economic outlook, they have decided to take the opportunity to review their longer term dividend policy, in light of our strategic priorities and the future shape of the group, with the objective of a sustainable pay-out and lower levels of debt. They will update shareholders on all dividend matters, including the 2019 final dividend in the fourth quarter.