MIDLAND, Mich., Jan. 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Chemical Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:CHFC) announced that on January 22, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a first quarter 2008 cash dividend of $0.295 per share of common stock, representing a 3.5% increase over the fourth quarter 2007 cash dividend of $0.285 per share. The first quarter 2008 dividend will be payable on Friday, March 21, 2008, to shareholders of record on February 29, 2008. The ex-dividend date is February 27, 2008.
In declaring this dividend, the Board indicated its intent to continue this quarterly dividend rate throughout 2008 resulting in an expected 3.5% increase in total cash dividends paid per share in 2008 over 2007. The year 2008 will mark the 34th consecutive year of annual dividend increases paid to Chemical Financial Corporation shareholders.
"The strong balance sheet and financial condition of Chemical Financial Corporation is enabling the Board of Directors to announce this intent, in the face of market and economic conditions," said David B. Ramaker, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO. "The dividend yield today, based on the new dividend, would be 5.6%."
Chemical Financial Corporation is the third largest bank holding company headquartered in Michigan. The Company operates through a single subsidiary bank, Chemical Bank, with 129 banking offices spread over 31 counties in the lower peninsula of Michigan. At December 31, 2007, the Company had total assets of $3.75 billion. Chemical Financial Corporation common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CHFC and is one of the issues comprising the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the financial services industry, the economy, and Chemical Financial Corporation itself. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "is likely," "judgment," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "should," "will," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("risk factors") that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Chemical Financial Corporation undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Risk factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described in Item 1A in Chemical Financial Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006; the timing and level of asset growth; changes in banking laws and regulations; changes in tax laws; changes in prices, levies and assessments; the impact of technological advances and issues; governmental and regulatory policy changes; opportunities for acquisitions and the effective completion of acquisitions and integration of acquired entities; the possibility that anticipated cost savings and revenue enhancements from acquisitions, restructurings, reorganizations and bank consolidations may not be realized fully or at all or within expected time frames; the local and global effects of the ongoing war on terrorism and other military actions, including actions in Iraq; and current uncertainties and fluctuations in the financial markets and stocks of financial services providers due to concerns about credit availability and concerns about the Michigan economy in particular. These and other factors are representative of the risk factors that may emerge and could cause a difference between an ultimate actual outcome and a preceding forward-looking statement.