Media and marketing research firm Arbitron (NYSE: ARB) announced today its fourth-quarter dividend of $0.10 per share, the same rate it's always paid since 2005.
The board of directors said the quarterly dividend is payable on January 1 to holders of record at the close of business on December 16.
Arbitron is in the process of merging with Nielsen Holdings. If the transaction is completed before December 16, the dividend will be prorated at a rate of $0.001098901 per share per day for each day after September 17, the record date for its previous dividend.
The merger agreement ensures that, regardless of when the deal is consummated, stockholders will receive a dividend at the current rate. The pro rata dividend will be payable within 30 days after the merger closes to shareholders of record at the close of business on the day before the merger is completed.
The regular dividend payment equates to a $0.40-per-share annual dividend, yielding 0.8% based on the closing price today of Arbitron's stock.
ARB Dividend data by YCharts.
