General Motors (NYSE: GM) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.59375 per share on its Series B mandatory convertible junior preferred stock. The dividend (4.75% annually) is payable 1 March 2013 to Series B holders of record as of 15 February 2013. The dividend on the hybrid stock – a mixture of stock and debt – is cumulative. GM has not paid a dividend on its common stock since 2008 before it entered bankruptcy.
The total amount of the dividend is approximately $59.4 million. The convertible preferred stock was offered at $50 per share when GM emerged from bankruptcy. The shares automatically convert to a variable amount of GM common stock on 1 December 2013. If GM common is trading at $33 for a period preceding that, preferred shareholders will at least break even on the $50 per share price paid. The leverage works both ways on the conversion price, though.
GM forecasts modest global auto industry growth in 2013, mostly by sales increases in the United States and China. Europe is expected to decline yet again. Based on this outlook and new vehicle introductions, GM expects its global profitability to rise only modestly in 2013 on earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) adjusted basis, with improvements anticipated from each region. The outlook was shared with investment analysts attending the Deutsche Bank 2013 Global Auto Industry Conference in Detroit.
GM CFO Dan Ammann noted that 2012 was a year in which the company improved its competitiveness, positioning it for “sustained, positive growth.”
- GM South America results – returned region to profitability
- GM Europe action – outlined plan to break even by mid-decade
- Pension risk lowered – reduced by $29 billion
- Financial flexibility increased – obtained an investment grade $11 billion revolver
- Continued strong liquidity – total liquidity of $37.5 billion (Q3, 2012)
- Capital expenditures increased – total of approximately $8 billion for 2012
- Ownership by U.S. Treasury – overhang addressed and capital returned
- GM Financial expanded – acquisition of Ally international operations to help close financing gap with coverage in 80 percent of markets where GM competes
Some of the vehicles GM is launching around the world include the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups, Chevrolet Impala and Corvette Stingray, and Cadillac CTS in North America; the Opel Adam, Cascada and Mokka, and Chevrolet Trax in Europe; the Chevrolet Onix and Spin in South America; and the Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Sail in China.
