Dividends

[Barquentine]

Are dividends paid to those owning the shares on the date the dividend is declared or on the dividend payment date?

[dancecaller]

There is another date, I think it's called the record date. After this date the shares are "ex dividend" and if you sell them you still get the divi. The company results give both dates.
E.g. Scottish & Newcastle recently published results. The divi will be paid on 2/5/07 to those owning shares on 30/3/07