Sector: Life Insurance

THE ConvaTEC share, whislt being mindful, have maintained in line with the prior year. 

The Aggreko Board withdrew its recommendation to pay the 2019 final dividend at its AGM in April and will not be revisiting this decision.  However, given its confidence that the actions that the Group has taken, together with the continued, disciplined execution of its strategy, will increase further the resilience of the business and position it well for the future, the Board has approved the payment of an interim dividend of 5 pence per share for 2020. The reduction on the prior year does not represent a change in the Group's dividend policy, but rather reflects lower current year earnings and a continued level of market uncertainty.

Given the performance throughout 2020, EVRAZ has announced an interim dividend. 

The interim dividend of 23.4p per share is expected to be paid on 4 September 2020. 

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.

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). 

Tritax have declared a Q2 dividend of 1.5625p resulting in H1 2020 dividend of 3.125p per share (H1 2019: 3.425p) representing a pay-out ratio of 96%. The Board will continue to monitor the dividend position for FY2020 with the potential to progressively increase the dividend when it has better visibility.

The interim dividend proposed is £29.8m (30 June 2019: £29.8m), a payout of 4.5p per share (30 June 2019: 4.5p per share). Dividends continue to be satisfied by the Group's free cash, which comprises Retail free cash generated and dividends received from AICL. 

The Segro Board has previously guided that the interim dividend will be set at one-third of the previous year's total dividend. As a result, and consistent with this guidance, the Board has declared an increase in the interim dividend of 0.6 pence per share to 6.9 pence (H1 2019: 6.3 pence), a rise of 9.5 per cent. The Board currently expects to follow its existing policy of targeting a pay-out ratio of 85 to 95 per cent of Adjusted profit after tax when considering the full year 2020 dividend. 

Legal & General businesses and balance sheet have shown resilience during the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a long term company, they take into consideration stakeholders. The Board has declared an interim dividend of 4.93p per share, in line with prior year, in order to maintain flexibility as the economic effect of COVID-19 becomes clearer. The Board will set a final dividend that is prudent, consistent with a risk appetite and in line with their dividend policy.