Ameren Corp (AEE) will lower its quarterly dividend by 39.4 percent from $0.635 to $0.385 per share in the first quarter of 2009. The utiltiy holding company had been paying a quarterly dividend of 63.5 cents per share since Q1 of 1999 and never increased its payout to shareholders since.
The next dividend is payable March 31, 2009, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 11, 2009. The ex-date for this lowered dividend of 38.5 cents per share is March 9, 2009.
Ameren Corporation is a utility holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, generates electricity, delivers electricity, and distributes natural gas to customers in Missouri and Illinois. The Company's subsidiaries include Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and Ameren Transmission Company (ATXI).