Autoliv Inc. (NYSE:ALV) (STO:ALIV), the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, today announced a 5% increase in its quarterly dividend to shareholders. The dividend per share will be raised in the third quarter 2008 to 41 cents from 39 cents per share for the second quarter.
The dividend will be payable on Thursday, September 4, 2008, to Autoliv stockholders of record on the close of business on Thursday August 7, 2008. The Ex-date when the shares will trade without the right to the dividend will be August 5
Over the past six years, the quarterly dividend has been raised ten times and nearly quadrupled from 11 cents per share. This corresponds to a compounded annual average growth rate of 25%.
In order to create even more value for its shareholders Autoliv also has a share repurchase program. Through this program, the Company has returned $1.4 billion to shareholders since the program was adopted in 2000, and $400 million during the last twelve months. During the same period, Autoliv has paid quarterly dividends totaling $120 million. In relation to the Company's average market capitalization this total of $520 million having been returned to shareholders represents a total yield of more than 12%.
Shareholders Meeting
The Company also held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Shareholders. Proxies from Shareholders were received in sufficient quantity to approve the proposals that came before the shareholders meeting. This means that Jan Carlson, Sune Carlsson, William E. Johnston, Jr., and S. Jay Stewart were re-elected directors of the Board for a regular three-year term until the Annual General Meeting in 2011 and that Ernst & Young AB was ratified as Autoliv's independent auditing firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.
Autoliv Inc., the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, develops and manufactures automotive safety systems for all major automotive manufacturers in the world. Together with its joint ventures, Autoliv has 80 facilities with approximately 43,000 employees in 29 vehicle-producing countries. In addition, the Company has technical centers in twelve countries around the world, with 21 test tracks, more than any other automotive safety supplier. Sales in 2007 amounted to US $6.8 billion. The Company's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ALV) and its Swedish Depository Receipts on the OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm (ALIVsdb).
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Contacts:
Mats Ödman, VP Corporate
Communications
+46 (0)8 58 72 06 23, or +46 (0)708 32 09 33
or
Ray
Pekar, Director Investor Relations
+1 248 475 0427
