It has paid a cash dividend for 29 consecutive years as of 2010.
The cash dividend on those shares is worth roughly $20 million.
The company has never paid a cash dividend, and last year reported a loss of $64.8 million, its fifth in eight years.
He is also said to be considering a plan for a cash dividend.
The remainder would go to paying a special cash dividend of $35.50 a share.
It paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1853.
An example of a mandatory corporate action is cash dividend.
The securities will not pay cash dividends and interest for several years.
Beginning in 1935, it also paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since that time.
The company also recently sold nearly $1.3 billion in common stock that pays no cash dividend.