Yes, they are entitled to dividends but all major companies have been warned not to pay out these dividends if their Pension scheme is "causing difficulties".
So far I haven't seen anything to suggest that NATS is not intending to honour its pension liabilities. If it can fund the pension at 30% as it intends to do and pay the dividend then the pension regulator's warning is irrelevant.
sometimes you do wonder what agenda the likes of eglnyt have
I don't know if I have an agenda but I do feel that if you are going to debate issues it should be done on the basis of accurate facts. Whether or not NATS should pay the dividend is an important debate. I wouldn't disagree with anybody who said that the money should be kept in the business in these uncertain times but all I've seen so far is people saying it should be given to the staff rather than the shareholders.