Total has declared a special dividend

[jft310]

Some think Total is cash poor but the reality is they have excess cash and have declared a special dividend to shareholders.

If they needed the cash there would be no special dividend.

Total SA (NYSE:TOT) announced a special dividend on Monday, February 2nd, American Banking News.com reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 20th will be given a dividend of 0.6892 per share on Wednesday, April 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 18th.

[jft310]

Last balance sheet shows $88 Billion current assets on the books .A mere $25 Billion in cash This is cash poor ???
Hint they can afford to build IOC as quick as possible .

In Millions of USD (except for per share items) As of 2014-09-30 As of 2014-06-30 As of 2014-03-31 As of 2013-12-31 As of 2013-09-30
Cash & Equivalents 24,307.00 22,166.00 22,787.00 20,200.00 20,111.00
Short Term Investments 1,205.00 1,003.00 872.00 739.00 457.00
Cash and Short Term Investments 25,512.00 23,169.00 23,659.00 20,939.00 20,568.00
Accounts Receivable - Trade, Net 20,511.00 21,698.00 23,359.00 23,422.00 24,883.00
Receivables - Other - - - - -
Total Receivables, Net 20,511.00 21,698.00 23,359.00 23,422.00 24,883.00
Total Inventory 20,873.00 23,484.00 21,755.00 22,097.00 21,469.00
Prepaid Expenses - - - - -
Other Current Assets, Total 21,125.00 20,836.00 18,345.00 18,145.00 18,297.00
Total Current Assets 88,021.00 89,187.00 87,118.00 84,603.00 85,217.00
Property/Plant/Equipment, Total - Gross - -