Atlantia predicts for 2012 a drop in network traffic of 5%, a marked worsening compared to -1,3% in 2011. Only in the first quarter of the year, due to bad weather and strikes, traffic decreased by 8,7%. This was announced today by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, John Castellucci, during the shareholders' meeting, explaining that the figure for the first three months “is heavy, but not worrying for the prospects of Atlantia's results for the rest of the year. We do not plan to slow down investments to address these prospects.
However, the data had an impact on the Stock Exchange, where the company's stock was down by more than one and a half points at the beginning of the afternoon.
Furthermore, today the Atlantia shareholders' meeting approved the 2011 budget. The company ended the year with a profit attributable to the group up 4,5%, equal to 830 million. Green light also to the distribution of a dividend of 0,746 euros per share. “We think, to this day, we can maintain this dividend policy” which foresees “a 5% growth in the dividend”, Castellucci explained again.
