At its Extraordinary General Shareholders' meeting, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME) voted in favour of the Board’s proposal to pay an extraordinary dividend of 100 million euros (1.20 euros per share gross). Bolsas y Mercados Españoles’ share capital currently stands at 334 million euros.
BME has paid an ordinary dividend of 37.8 million euros and an extraordinary dividend of 50 million euros so far this year. With this new dividend, total funds paid since the group was set up will stand at almost 307 million euros putting BME in an extremely favourable position vis-à-vis its international counterparts. Also on the Shareholders’ Meeting agenda was the reappointment of the ten Board members whose four year mandates are nearing expiry and who have been members since BME was founded in February 2002.
BME’s Chairman, Antonio Zoido, said in his speech that “2005 is proving to be a good year for BME and the positive stock market performance has prompted strong growth in the Company’s business areas”. Mr. Zoido stated that BME’s objective is “to continue to reward shareholders” and that “this extraordinary dividend has been made possible thanks to the Company's good performance during the first ten months of the year and its strong financial position”.
Antonio Zoido reiterated that BME was committed to floating the Company on the stock market as announced at the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting, confirming that the pertinent documentation was being collated and the administrative procedures required for the IPO being carried out.
To September, Bolsas y Mercados Españoles reported consolidated pre-tax profit of 111.05 million euros and net profit of 72.7 million euros, 37% more than in the same period last year. This was 5.1% higher than the year-earlier figure.
Javier Hernani, BME’s Finance Director, gave details of how the 1.20 euro per share gross dividend was to be distributed and highlighted BME’s favourable comparison with its international counterparts. According to Javier Hernani, BME posted the largest percentage increase in revenues and the second largest reduction in costs in comparison with its international counterparts.