BP Plc (BP)

[Taurus]

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- BP PLC /quotes/comstock/13*!bp/quotes/nls/bp (BP 33.53, +0.75, +2.29%) is expected to defer payment of about $2.5 billion in second-quarter dividends by placing the funds in an escrow account until the company can determine its liabilities from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, The Times reported Friday in its online edition, citing people familiar with the situation. The newspaper said future dividends are likely to be treated in the same manner until BP is on more solid footing. BP board members are increasingly coming to a realization that such a move may be critical in placating public opinion in the United States, the newspaper said. BP is scheduled to announce a decision on their second-quarter dividend by July 27.