Higher dividends in prospect as Contact Energy debt ratios fall

Higher dividends in prospect as Contact Energy debt ratios fall
Pattrick Smellie
By Pattrick Smellie Feb. 13 (BusinessDesk) - Contact Energy shareholders can expect an increase in annual dividend policy later in the current financial year as the electricity producer and retailer's debt levels fall to within its target ratio against operating earnings. Contact today announced an interim dividend of 11 cents per share for the six months to Dec. 31, the same as it has paid every year since 2008, although final dividends, special dividends and share buybacks have put total annual distributions on a steadily increasing tre...