The shareholders from Ethias have no idea when and if they’ll receive payments of their shares. This year and next year, the insurance group Ethias is not going to pay out the dividends, because now they have other priorities. The main priority is to rebuild the own capital says a good and reliable source in La Libre Belgique. That source tells us that Ethias is not going to pay out dividends because they made a deal with the government. The government gave Ethias 500 million Euros to save the bank and now they want their money back. The board of directors hasn’t given any more information.
Earlier this year, the bank also said that they are not going to pay any profit sharing to the 250 000 clients who have a first account. With this measurement they also want to save money. The return of this account will stay at its maximum of 3,5% without any bonus. The only thing that Ethias did say, is that they will do everything that’s possible to pay out returns, bonuses and dividends next year.
My opinion is divided. On the one hand I understand that Ethias doesn’t pay out any dividends or bonuses because the government must be able to keep up their good work and they need money to invest in projects to help the society. But on the other hand, the clients of Ethias are punished again, because they don’t earn extra money on their investment. They’ve opened an account with Ethias, because they want to gain some profits, but now they will just keep their money and will not receive some extra cash.
Nathalie COUDEVILLE
Source:http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=3C25VG3N&kanaalid=652
I think it is ridiculous that the government spends money on the insurance companies and they keep it for themselves.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIn my opinion Ethias is now doing something stupid, because this action will not restore the confidence. When they want people to invest in their projects, they have to do something in return. So keeping the profit for themselves to help their company survive is not a very good idea. I think that if they would pay the dividends to their customers, then the clients of Ethias will think the company is doing better so I want to invest in it. When the customers would invest in it, the company would have more money to improve.
Ruth Blommaert