OREANDA-NEWS.  Williams' (NYSE: WMB) board of directors has approved a regular dividend of USD 0.38 on the company's common stock, payable December 30, 2013, to holders of record at the close of business on Dec. 13.

The fourth-quarter 2013 dividend is 16.9 percent higher than the year-ago amount and 3.75 percent higher than the most recent quarterly dividend. Williams' full-year 2013 shareholder dividend of USD 1.44 per share is an increase of approximately 20 percent over the full-year 2012 amount.

The company continues to expect to increase the full-year dividend it pays shareholders by 20 percent in each 2014 and 2015 – to per-share amounts of USD 1.75 and USD 2.11, respectively. Williams' full-year dividend for 2012 was USD 1.20 per share.

The expected quarterly increases in Williams' dividend are subject to quarterly approval of Williams' board of directors.