Ibex companies pay shareholders 45% higher than in 2010

MADRID | EP | Spanish stock-listed companies have remunerated their shareholders with €33.24mn in the first eleven months of 2011, which means an increase of 45% compared to the same period last year and over 2009 record high, according to Bolsas y Mercados Españoles’ (BME) president, Antonio Zoido.

During the traditional Christmas lunch with the media, Mr Zoido highligthed this “effort” made by the listed companies in a very “complex” year, at the end of which it is estimated that the Ibex35 will accumulate a downward of around 16%.

Antonio Zoido, who did not hesitate to blame the risk country and the “weakness” of the financial sector for the losses of the Spanish selective index, specified that €27.8mn were given in cash dividends, which in combination with price decrease, rose yields up to 7.7%, almost four points over the recorded average in the last 25 years.

The president of BME also estimated that almost €4mn were paid via scip dividends, that is, including the option of being rewarded with shares.

Briefly reviewing the EU policies to alleviate the sovereign debt crisis impact, he regretted that the “lack of consensus” has deteriorated so much market confidence. In fact, he pointed at the high market volatility, which have reached 60% in the more dramatic moments of 2011.

In spite of these “pressures”, Antonio Zoido valued very positively that the equity market could manage to “challenge the situation” considering that the new corporate debt issuing grew by 14.2% until November, to €234.8mn.