Sector: Food and Drug Retailers

The SThree Board has proposed to increase a final dividend to 10.2 pence per share (2018: 9.8 pence). Taken together with the interim dividend of 5.1 pence per share (2018: 4.7 pence), this brings the total dividend for the year to 15.3 pence per share (2018: 14.5 pence). This represents a 6% increase in dividend per share versus the prior year. The final dividend, which amounts to approximately £13.5 million, will be subject to shareholder approval at the 2020 Annual General Meeting. It will be paid on 5 June 2020 to shareholders on the register on 1 May 2020.

The NCC Group Board is recommending an unchanged interim dividend of 1.50p per ordinary share (H1 2019: 1.50p). This represents a dividend equal to that paid in the prior year as the Board is conscious of the need to invest in the SGT programme and other initiatives to support longer term growth. The dividend policy will therefore continue to remain under review.

The Berkeley Group Holdings plc ("Berkeley") is proposing to increase its returns to shareholders by approximately £455 million over the next two years. Under its existing programme, returns of £125 million were due to be made by 31 March 2020 (£155 million already having been made) and £280 million in each of the following financial years. Under today's proposals, approximately £500 million will be returned to shareholders by means of a B Share Scheme in March 2020 and a further £500 million to shareholders in March 2021.

The Board of GCP Asset Backed, which invests in asset backed loans, have announced a quarterly dividend in respect of the period from 1 October 2019 to 31 December 2019 of 1.55 pence per ordinary share (the "Q4 Dividend").

An interim dividend of 12.96 pence per share, calculated as 30% of the FY19 full year dividend of 43.2 pence per share, will be paid on 27 February 2020 to those members on the register at the close of business on 31 January 2020.

Winkworth ended the year with a strong net cash position and the directors are have announced that the Company will pay an increased dividend of 2.1p (2018: 1.9p) per share for the fourth quarter of 2019, bringing total dividend payments declared for the year to 7.8p (2018: 7.45p).

The Gately (Holdings) Board proposes an interim dividend of 2.9p (H1 19: 2.6p) per share that will be paid on 31 March 2020 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 21 February 2020. The shares will go ex-dividend on 20 February 2020. This ensures shareholders' dividend growth is in line with PAT growth of 12.0% (H1 19: 18.0%).

The Shoe Zone Board is proposing to maintain the final dividend of 8.0p (2018: 8.0p) per share, giving a total ordinary dividend for the year of 11.5p (2018: 11.5p) per share, despite the fall in underlying earnings in the year. They believe that this demonstrates confidence in the future growth of the business while rewarding shareholders for their ongoing support. This results in a pay-out ratio above historical guidelines of 60% of earnings. 

Reflecting the Safestore's strong trading performance, the Board is recommending a 7.6% increase in the final dividend to 12.0 pence per share (FY2018: 11.15 pence per share) resulting in an increase of 7.7% in the total dividend to 17.5 pence per share for the year (FY2018: 16.25 pence per share).

The Board European Assets Trust board has confirmed that the Company's stated distribution policy of declaring, barring unforeseen circumstances, an annual dividend equivalent to six per cent of the net asset value per share at the end of the preceding year will be continued in 2020.