Listed firms` FY 2009 2nd-half dividends to top 3 tril. yen+

TOKYO, May 1 Kyodo -
The total amount of stock dividends to be paid by listed firms for the latter
half of fiscal 2009 is expected to top 3 trillion yen for the first time in two
years amid improvement in business performance, an economic think tank said
Saturday.
The combined amount of dividends for the September-March period of fiscal 2009
to be paid by about 1,300 companies listed on the First Section of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange is expected to total 3.36 trillion yen, up 24.0 percent from a
year earlier, according to a tally by the Shinko Research Institute as of April
26.
The institute attributed the sharp rise to improving corporate performances due
to high growth in emerging economies and the favorable effects of economic
stimulus measures taken by many countries.
The amount of the dividends for fiscal 2008 second half had plunged 30.4
percent to about 2.7 trillion yen due to the global economic downturn.
Mirroring an economic recovery, the number of companies which plan to increase
dividends or resume dividend payment for the latter half of fiscal 2009
increased 73.2 percent from a year earlier to 265, the think tank said.
Precision motor maker Nidec Corp. said in its earnings statement it will pay a
second-half dividend of 40 yen per share, up from 30 yen a year earlier, making
a full-year dividend of 65 yen, up from 60 yen, amid robust sales of motors in
China.
Cosmetics and household goods maker Kao Corp. said it will pay a second-half
dividend of 29 yen, up 1 yen from a year earlier, making a full-year dividend
of 57 yen, up from the 56 yen it paid the year before, in line with improvement
in business performance.
But the total amount of full-year dividends expected to be paid by firms listed
on the bourse's first section is likely to decline 7.2 percent from the
previous year to 5.31 trillion yen, due to slumping business performance in the
first half of the fiscal year, the think tank said.
==Kyodo