- It is very positive that the government has done this. With all certainty, we would have had to start thinking about notice otherwise, says SKF's CEO Alrik Danielsson to SVT.

 SKF has short-term permits 1,650 people in Gothenburg and Katrineholm and expects 40 million in state support for this. They have received advance notice on approval from Tillväxtverket.

But when the Riksdag clubbed more money for crisis support, all parties signed that companies should not at the same time be able to pay dividends and receive state support. It was said that "it is not considered justifiable that employers who receive support from the public simultaneously carry out dividends"

SVT's survey also shows that many of the largest stock exchange companies have withdrawn spring dividends for the time being, not least those who leave, such as H&M, Electrolux and SSAB.

"Don't think it is reasonable"

But SKF has distributed SEK 1.3 billion to shareholders this spring. That's half of what you originally thought. The company hopes to be able to call an extraordinary general meeting this fall and distribute the rest then.

- We give out, but I don't think it's reasonable. This shows that the shareholders also take their share of the responsibility, ”says SKF's CEO Alrik Danielsson.

Assa Abloy distributed $ 2.2 billion to shareholders last week. Even half of what you planned. At the same time, the company has laid off 1,200 employees and is requesting state aid. 

Can adjust the support afterwards

It is Tillväxtverket that grants the layoffs. 

Those who apply for the aid can read on the website that Tillväxtverket thinks "it is inappropriate for companies to make large share dividends and at the same time receive state support for short-term work", and that it is possible to regulate the support afterwards if the company "acts in a manner that shows that it is not in a difficult financial position ”. But the law that the Swedish Growth Agency follows does not say anything about dividends.

- The support will go to companies that are in difficulties due to the corona crisis. The Riksdag talked about stock dividends, but it did not end up in the law. We have to get on the law, says department head Tim Brooks to SVT.

He thinks the issue of stock dividends is more complex:

"These are difficult assessments, we have not developed any practice yet," he says.