Investors back Rio payout cut for climate

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 2-Mar-20

Camille Simeon of Aberdeen Standard Investments says mining companies such as Rio Tinto needs to consider the short-term financial costs of taking action on climate change compared with the long-term cost of inaction. She warns that miners may incur higher costs of capital, stranded assets, reduced demand and lower shareholder returns if they fail to reduce carbon emissions. Ross Illingworth of Kingfisher Capital Partners has praised Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques for asking shareholders whether they are willing to accept lower dividends in return for faster progress on reducing emissions.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KINGFISHER CAPITAL PARTNERS

Rio shareholders want dividends and climate action

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 28-Feb-20

Rio Tinto has released a report which notes that some of its investments aimed at reducing carbon emissions will generate returns that are below its typical thresholds. The resources giant has set a net zero emissions target of 2050, and CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques says this is likely to include the use of carbon offsets. He has used an investor briefing in London to raise the question of whether shareholders are willing to accept lower dividend payouts in return for faster progress on reducing emissions.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Global dividends on the rise

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 27 : 8-Feb-19

Data from Plato Investment Management shows that dividends increased across the majority of developed markets in 2018, with a total payout to shareholders of $1.8trn. Globally, companies in the information technology sector increased their dividends by 33 per cent in the December quarter, followed by consumer staples (up 17.9 per cent). The global materials sector is the only one that did not record growth in dividend payments. In contrast, Australia’s materials sector recorded year-on-year dividend growth of 26 per cent.

CORPORATES
PLATO INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 300 INDEX, BROADCOM CORPORATION, VISA INTERNATIONAL

Coal mining crisis to hit at home

Original article by Amanda Saunders, James Chessell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Dec-15

Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani has revealed plans to offload or close 35 of its mines worldwide and significantly reduce its global workforce. At least four of the group’s Australian mines are expected to be affected by the restructuring, although Anglo American is likely to retain the majority of its metallurgical coal mines in Australia. Anglo American will also abandon its progressive dividend policy, and shareholders will not receive a dividend payment in 2015 and 2016.

CORPORATES
ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, PENGANA CAPITAL LIMITED, GLENCORE PLC, ANTAMINA, CERREJON, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA, MITSUI AND COMPANY LIMITED

BHP may cut dividend if DLC changes fail

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 21-Oct-15

CGI Glass Lewis has recommended that BHP Billiton shareholders support a resolution to transfer funds from its Australian-listed entity to its UK-listed company. The proposed payment is necessary to allow shareholders in both companies to continue receiving the same dividend payout. CGI Glass Lewis has warned that all shareholders could face lower dividend payouts if the resolution is rejected.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, CGI GLASS LEWIS PTY LTD, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32

Global dividends tipped to hit $1.4 trillion in 2015

Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 17-Nov-14

Henderson Global Investors forecasts that $US1.19trn worth of dividends will be paid to shareholders globally in 2014, rising to $US1.24trn in 2015. Some $US288.1bn worth of dividends were paid globally during the September 2014 quarter, according to the Henderson Global Dividend Index. Australian-listed Westpac, ANZ Bank, BHP Billiton and Telstra were among the world’s 20 leading stocks in terms of dividend payouts during the period

CORPORATES
HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, WESTFIELD CORPORATION – ASX WFD, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK, GAZPROM, CHINA MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION