Applied Finance

Dividend policyDividend Policy Of Fpl Dividend Policy of FPL, Inc.

Background: FPL Group, is the parent company of Florida Power & Light, Florida's largest electric utility. FPL has seen consecutive growth patterns since it's inception due to a heavily regulated market and efficiencies, headed by Chairman Marshall McDonald until 1989. Following his retirement in 1989, FPL experienced a re-structure of its businesses and operations ran by his replacement, James Broadhead.

At FPL, Mr. Broadhead brought forth a commitment to quality and customer service, increased its focus on the utilities industry, expanded capacity, and improved its overall cost position. This later result was the selling off of many of FPL's non-utilities businesses.

Problem: Due to deregulation in the current utilities market, FPL, had been undergoing many changes within its own organization. With the recent Executive turnover and the resulting sell off of many company assets, FPL had been contemplating the decision to downgrade its dividend payout. This would be the first cut