Dividend Declaration

RNS Number : 0384X

Witan Investment Trust PLC

08 February 2012

 



WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

8 February 2012

WITAN INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

Payment of a Second Interim Dividend

Witan Investment Trust plc hereby announces that a second interim dividend of 6.55p per ordinary share of 25p will be paid on Friday 30 March 2012, in respect of the year ended 31 December 2011 (2010: 6.5p), to shareholders registered at the close of business on Friday 2 March 2012.  Taken together with the first interim dividend of 5.45p paid in September 2011 (2010: 4.4p), this represents a total dividend payment of 12p in respect of 2011 (2010: 10.9p), an increase of 10.1%.  This compares with the 4.2% rise in the consumer price index in the year to December 2011.  The dividend is fully covered by the Company's 2011 revenue earnings per share (subject to finalisation of the Annual Results for 2011).

Shareholders are reminded that under the revised policy announced in the Interim Results in August 2011, the first interim payment was set at 50% of the previous year's total payment.  Accordingly, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, the Company expects the first interim dividend in respect of 2012 to be 6p (2011: 5.45p).

The Board has declared a second interim dividend instead of a final dividend, in order to ensure that, as in previous years, the distribution is made before 5 April.

The Company's policy is that it intends (subject to market conditions) to grow the dividend in real terms, ahead of inflation.  The Company has increased its dividend each year since 1974, making 2011 the 37th consecutive year of increases in the dividend.

For further information please contact:

Andrew Bell, Chief Executive Officer

Witan Investment Trust plc

Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]

James Frost, Marketing Director                                    Jain Castiau, Director

Witan Investment Trust plc                                            Cauldron Consulting

Tel: [phone]                                                        Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]                                               [e-mail]

 

END

 

 

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