They are most concerned about the level of the share dividend, the stock market valuation of their company, and the potential for longer term profits.

The company said the loss for the latest first quarter was after the payment of preferred share dividends of $3.2 million.

He went on to claim that tax changes on share dividends, company cars and the married couple's allowance would hit the highest paid most.

The share dividend in 1900 was 2,100 fr, in the early 1890s it had been around 2 fr per share.

Gordon Brown's controversial decision to remove tax credits on share dividends in 1997 had already cost pension schemes billions of pounds.

This was disastrous for Macneill as many of his commissions were to be rewarded through share dividends on any profits.

The company said after preferred share dividends, there were no earnings applicable to common shares in either period.

There were no share earnings in the year-ago quarter after preferred- share dividends.

It should be noted that the group's ordinary interim share dividend was cancelled back in September 2007.

It fell into arrears on its preferred share dividends and on loans from other banks.