Dividend Plays

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Microsoft mulls dividend of $10-billion, report says

Friday, July 4, 2003 - Page A11


New York -- Microsoft Corp. is considering paying its shareholders a special dividend of more than $10-billion (U.S.) to reduce its $46-billion cash pile, according to the Web site of London's Financial Times, citing a report in its affiliated French newspaper, Les Échos.

Shareholders could receive the dividend in one payment or spread out over three or four quarters, an unnamed person close to the discussions told Les Échos.

The company, recently under pressure to distribute some of its cash, is also considering stock buybacks, a major acquisition and higher ordinary dividends, the report, on http://www.ft.com, said. A Microsoft spokesman would not comment on the report. Staff