Astral Media touts strong year at annual meeting

MONTREAL – Astral Media Inc. boasted the company’s ninth year of consistent growth at its 2005 annual and special meeting of shareholders in Montreal. Record net earnings for fiscal 2005 shot past $100 million for the first time, reaching $104 million, the company said. The company announced a 50% increase to its annual dividend, from 20 to 30 cents per share, as well as a renewal of its normal course issuer bid to buy back up to 5% of its Class A and Class B Shares. Astral’s earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.87 at fiscal year-end. “As a...