UK dividends surge 18% in Q2 to hit new record

UK dividends rose 18.4% in Q2 2012 to reach a record high of £22.6bn, fuelled by special dividends and strong underlying growth, according to the latest Capita Dividend Monitor.

The figure, which surpasses the previous Q2 high of £22bn seen in 2007, contributed to a record total H1 payout of £41.4bn, a rise of 21.1% year-on-year and well up on the previous record of £34.5bn set in 2008. Special dividends "flattered the total again", the report said, reaching £1.5bn in Q2 largely thanks to Old Mutual's £1bn payout, but underlying growth of 14.5% was also strong. Such trends have promoted Capita to increase its headline forecast for 2012 as a whole to a record £78.3bn, a 15.1% rise on 2011 and ahead of the pre-crisis peak of £77bn seen in 2008. Having trimme...