Deal timing, dividend rates

[davidhmtk]

Palm - you are correct, the dividend would have to be paid this year and so would have to be declared this week.  (  My bad - I've done a lot of corporate accrual accounting).  We will know by Friday.

Since you are saying that it would only be declared and payable (not actually paid), why is it necessary that this take place before YE? Shorts get burned with a dividend no matter when the dividend is declared/payable/paid. Dividends can be paid at any time.