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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

3182.0. "preferred shares pay out ALREADY" by PEKING::POLLINGTONI (Ian Pollington) Fri Jun 17 1994 15:52

DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION DECLARES REGULAR CASH DIVIDEND ON SERIES A 
PREFERRED STOCK
                                     
From  Bradley D. Allen, (508) 493-7182

MAYNARD, MA -- June 16, 1994 -- The Board of Directors of Digital Equipment 
Corporation (NYSE::DEC) has declared a regular cash dividend on its Series 
A 8 7/8% Cumulative Preferred Stock for the period from April 16, 1994 
through July 15, 1994.  The dividend is equivalent to $.555 per depositary 
share.  Each depositary share represents ownership of one-fourth of a share 
of Series A 8 7/8% Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, 
issued March 21, 1994.

Dividends are payable on July 15, 1994 to stockholders of record at the 
close of business on July 1, 1994.  The dividend payment for the period 
totals $8,875,000 for 4 million shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.

Digital Equipment Corporation is the world's leader in open client/server 
solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information 
systems.  Digital's scalable Alpha AXP platforms, storage, networking, 
software and services, together with industry-focused solutions from 
business partners, helps organizations compete and win in today's global 
marketplace.
                                   ####

Note to Editors:  Digital, the Digital logo and Alpha AXP are 
                  trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.

CORP/94/537

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3182.1TOOK::DELBALSOI (spade) my (dog face)Fri Jun 17 1994 17:316
I'm no financial whiz kid.

Does this mean what it sounds like it means? That holders of the new preferred
stock are about to be paid a dividend by a company which is losing money?

-Jack
3182.2Gotta pay interest on money you borrow...SMURF::STRANGESteve Strange - USGFri Jun 17 1994 17:4111
>Does this mean what it sounds like it means? That holders of the new preferred
>stock are about to be paid a dividend by a company which is losing money?
    
    Yes, and this is as it should be.  Remember that a preferred stock
    offering is equivalent to borrowing money.  If you borrow, you've got
    to pay interest, and that's what this dividend is.  Of course, the
    per-share value of the preferred stock has dropped since the offering,
    so although investors are being paid interest on their investment, they
    still can't pull out (sell the stock) without a significant net loss.
    
    	Steve
3182.3possibly a good move...GRANMA::FDEADYFri Jun 17 1994 18:516
    The preferred stock holders also had filed a suit regarding
    questionable stock valuation, and its quick offering. Perhaps
    this was an olive branch, or an attempt to soothe investors'
    emotions.
    
    Fred Deady
3182.4NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Fri Jun 17 1994 19:093
This is a regular dividend.  That means it's scheduled, expected, etc.
The board's approval is a formality.  If they didn't approve it, we'd
effectively be bankrupt.
3182.5DIODE::CROWELLJon CrowellSat Jun 18 1994 01:406
    
    What is the dividend based on.. Eg; inital stock price or the current
    price?
    
    Jon
    
3182.6so you asked, so you now knowPOBOX::CORSONYOU CALL THAT A SLAPSHOT....?Sun Jun 19 1994 17:1117
    
    	Preferred stock is carried on a company's Balance Sheet as a
    financial category under Stockholders' Equity. On the Income Statement
    payout is treated as a separate line item usually after the Net
    Income(Loss) line.
    
    	Payout is based on a fixed percentage yield at issuance. Digital
    preferred "went public" at 8.775 yield at $25.00 a unit.
    
    	As the price of preferred stock flucuates, its yield (which is
    fixed) changes (called "adjusts"). Digital preferred is Baa rated (which
    is just barely above junk). It is cumulative also, which means if
    Digital stops paying the coupon rate it keeps accrueing. As an
    investment, the preferred is now considered "attractive" for agressive
    investors seeking a fixed income yield.
    
    		the Greyhawk 
3182.7SUBURB::FISHERTMon Jun 20 1994 09:3816
    
    Preferred stock also has a higher debt subordination than common 
    stock. If a company goes bust, preferred shareholders are treated
    as a form of creditor, though a a lower level of priority than the
    creditors who directly lent us money - i.e. the banks or vendors who 
    extended us trade credit.
    
    Issuance of preferred stock is usually a sign that a company is having
    trouble raising cash.  Logic goes that with the high(er) debt
    subordination and a dividend, investors feel safer.  Even so, I 
    understand that the preferred offering didn't generate the investor
    response hoped for.
    
    Regards,
    
    Tom
3182.8KERNEL::HOBBSAAndy Hobbs, UK CSC. Basingstoke.Mon Jun 20 1994 13:448
    
     Folks, 
    
    what is the difference between Preferred Stock and the 
    shares I buy through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ?
    
    Andy..
    
3182.9Difference is DividendsNESSIE::SOJDAMon Jun 20 1994 13:5916
 
  >>  what is the difference between Preferred Stock and the 
  >>  shares I buy through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ?
    
    
As noted in this string, they are considered to be two different classes of
stock and have different priorities of claim on the company assets should the
company go into bankruptcy or be liquidated.

However, the major immediate difference is if you hold Preferred stock you
will receive a dividend check each quarter.  With the stock you get the ESP,
you get nothing.

Larry

    
3182.10KERNEL::HOBBSAAndy Hobbs, UK CSC. Basingstoke.Mon Jun 20 1994 14:234
    
    Thanks Larry.
    
    Andy.
3182.11You have a voice in running the Co?!ISLNDS::KETZMon Jun 20 1994 17:353
    In addition to reply .10, the ESP stock is common stock, you get the
    right to vote for Directors, etc.  Preferred stock has no voting
    rights.
3182.12 Re.6 - but open to correction as always. 8-) SUBURB::POWELLMNostalgia isn't what it used to be!Tue Jul 05 1994 09:097
     
    	Greyhawke is not quite completely correct, the yield does indeed
    fluctuate, but the "interest" rate of 8.*** is based upon the nominal
    par value of the Prefered Stock which is $1.00, not the $25.00 or
    whatever at which they were sold.
    
    				Malcolm.
3182.13$$$$$$$PAKORA::KANDERSONHush!,Hush!Mon Jun 12 1995 12:207
    Does anyone know what the shares are at this morning???
    
    
    
    Cheers
    
    Katrina
3182.14QUARK::LIONELFree advice is worth every centMon Jun 12 1995 13:277
If you call DTN 223-6000 you can get a quote that is updated a couple of times
daily. There are Internet servers offering stock quotes as well. 

This note is about the Digital Preferred shares - is that what you're interested
in?

				Steve
3182.15PAKORA::KANDERSONHush!,Hush!Mon Jun 12 1995 13:331
    thanks....and no!