The Malta Association of Small Shareholders (MASS) notes that a number of companies quoted on the Malta Stock Exchange are declaring that the profits made in the last year are much lower than in previous years, and even in some cases that they made no profit. This takes place when the overheads, as shown in these companies’ books, are always increasing and the allowances paid to CEO’s, directors and other Heads are in certain cases phenomenal.

The dividends being paid to the hundreds, if not thousands of shareholders, are miserable and in some cases no dividends are being paid at all. Unsurprisingly, this leads to a lot grumbling and rage among the shareholders, as demonstrated in the annual general meeting of Valletta Fund Management Ltd last week.

Frans Buhagiar

Secretary

Malta Association of Small Shareholders