Iberia shareholders will receive an gross interim dividend against 2005 earnings of 0.302 euros per share, the company`s board agreed today…
Iberia shareholders will receive an gross interim dividend against 2005 earnings of 0.302 euros per share, the company`s board agreed today. The dividend, stemming from the sale of Iberia`s stake in the Amadeus distribution system (GDS) will be made effective on August 10.
In April Iberia, Air France and Lufthansa began a process of divestment of their respective holdings -Iberia`s stake was 18.3%. Accordingly, Iberia has obtained a pre-tax cash revenue of 697 million euros and pre-tax capital gains of 600 million euros in its consolidated accounts. Following this divestment Iberia will hold a maximum stake of 11.44% in Amadeus through WAM Acquisition.
Today Iberia is Spain`s leading airline and also market leader on routes between Europe and Latin America. With sales of more than 4.8 billion euros in 2004, a net profit of 220 million euros, and an EBITDAR margin of 16%, it is one of Europe`s most profitable airlines. It is also outstanding for its commitment to the best social, economic, and environmental practices, which in 2004 led to its inclusion in the prestigious Dow Jones Stoxx index of sustainability. Its efforts to bring handicapped people into the workplace earned Iberia recognition as one of the three companies best perceived for social policies, and the first in programmes undertaken in cooperation with employees, according to a study conducted in 2003 by the Enterprise and Society Foundation. Along with its franchise partner Iberia Regional, Iberia operates some 1,000 flights each day to more than a hundred destinations. The airline carried 31 million passengers in 2004. Iberia is a member of the oneworld airline alliance along with Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN y Qantas.
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