Swedish Firms Pay Out Billions to Owners Despite Pleas to Stop
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Some of Sweden’s best known companies have ignored lawmakers’ entreaties to show restraint and paid out billions to shareholders, despite taking advantage of state aid programs.
The government of Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has shied away from placing explicit restrictions on dividends. As a result, companies including Volvo AB, Assa Abloy AB and SKF AB plan to pay out dividends totaling nearly 15 billion kronor ($1.5 billion) after cutting jobs and making workers reliant on state support.