Shares and dividend payments, 2006, preliminary figures

The reduction must be seen in relation to the new rules of taxation of dividends introduced in 2006.

Shareholders in Norwegian limited companies received a total of NOK 148 billion in dividends in 2006, compared to NOK 252 billion the previous year. The general government got NOK 24 billion, an increase of NOK 6 billion compared to 2005. Norwegian corporations received NOK 69 billion. As a comparison, one third of all dividends, or NOK 48 billion, went to foreign shareholders.

Highest dividends from oil and gas

Limited companies engaged in oil and gas extraction paid the largest dividends in 2006, with NOK 49 billion. Foreign shareholders received 41 per cent or NOK 20 billion of these dividends, while the general government received NOK 16 billion.

The largest decrease in dividends was found in real estate and business activities. The decrease amounted to NOK 46 billion or 72 per cent. Electricity, gas and water supply and financial intermediation were the only industries where paid out dividends increased.

Share capital

Foreign shareholders owned 15 per cent of nominal share capital in Norwegian limited companies in 2006. Their largest ownership was in financial intermediation and manufacturing, mining and quarrying. In both industries they owned about NOK 21 billion of nominal share capital.

Households and non-profit institutions serving households owned 15 per cent of nominal share capital, while Norwegian corporations and the general government owned 62 and 8 per cent, respectively.

Tables:

• Table 1 Limited companies, class of shares, nominal share capital and paid share dividends, by main industry
• Table 2 Nominal share capital and received dividends for share holders, by sector. NOK million