Bangkok--9 Apr--SET Thirty-eight listed companies (or 76% of the total) on Thailand’s Market for Alternative Investment (mai) have announced their dividend payments for 2007, amounting to THB 1,731 million at an average dividend yield of 4.1%. Multibax PCL (MBAX), Chuo Senko (Thailand) PCL (CHUO) and Pico Thailand PCL (PICO) are the highest-yielding firms at 12.03%, 10.10% and 10% respectively. Unique Mining Services PCL (UMS), Unimit Engineering PCL (UEC) and Goldfine Manufacturers PCL (GFM) delivered the best returns to shareholders. Of the total dividends from mai-listed firms, THB 1,565 million is as cash and THB 166 million is as stock dividends. The dividend is about 61% of their combined net profits of THB 2,834 million, mai President Chanitr Charnchainarong said. In terms of dividend amount, UMS paid the highest, at THB 2.00 per share. The company paid a THB 0.50 interim and a THB 1.50 period-end dividend. UMS paid a total of THB 288 million in dividends, accounting for 6.45% yield at the price before book-closing at period-end. UEC paid a THB 0.70 interim dividend while having a par value of THB 1.00, followed by another THB 0.20 while having a par value of THB 0.25 at period-end. With total payment of THB 0.90 per share, the firm paid a total of 214 million in dividends, or 4.97% dividend yield at the price before book-closing at period-end. GFM paid THB 0.80 dividend per share or THB 120 million in total. This is a 9.09% dividend yield at the price before book-closing. Aside from cash, Demco PCL (DEMCO), Mill Con Steel Industries PCL (MILL) and TRC Construction PCL (TRC) also paid stock dividends. Although many mai-listed stocks have closed their registration books and are posted with an XD sign, there are 13 firms which haven’t yet done so. Therefore, by investing in those companies today, investors could receive dividends which are higher than the banks’12-month fixed interest rate of 2.5% per annum, Mr. Chanitr added. All mai-listed firms have submitted their financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2007, recording THB 45,010 million in sales, an increase of 12% on the previous year’s THB 40,268 million. These companies posted a combined THB 2,134 million in net profit, a decrease of 2.8% on last year’s THB 2,196 million. Currently, there are 50 companies listed on mai with a total market capitalization of THB 40,403 million. The mai Index closed at 280.36 (as of Apr. 4). For more information on listed firms’ performance, please visit www.mai.or.th. Those interested in the alternative market are invited to apply for a free email update on mai by contacting [email protected] or calling SET Call Center on 0-2229-2222.