Investors scoop £67bn as dividends hit a record high Figures provided by Capita Registrars show that special dividends reached £2.9bn last year - £2.2bn more than 2010. These were boosted by a £1.6bn payment from International Powe, and £600m from Antofagasta, among others. In total, 19 companies paid special dividends in 2011, compared with 13 in 2010 and nine in 2009, when companies hoarded cash following the onset of the credit crunch. We are optimistic dividends will make further progress in 2012, unless the eurozone sinks deeper towards collapse and leads companies to retrench at home Capita said it expects to see dividend payouts reach £75bn in 2012, 11pc higher than last year. Special dividends will once again feature strongly with Vodafone due to pay out £2bn at the beginning of February due to income received from its holding in Verizon Wireless. As a result Vodafone is likely to supplant Shell's position as the UK's top payer this year, contributing almost one tenth of all dividends. "Expanding dividends mean the yield on equities looks remarkably attractive at present, although there are clearly risks to capital in holding shares, as with many other comparable asset classes," Mr Cryer added. Special dividends have been the icing on the cake for 2011, and look likely to sweeten investors' returns again in the coming year.