Hewlett-Packard declares 8-cent-per-share dividend

PALO ALTO – The board of directors of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) has declared a regular cash dividend and adopted new policies for senior executive severance agreements and shareholders rights plans.

The board declared a regular cash dividend of 8 cents per share on the company’s common stock. The dividend, the fourth in HP’s 2003 fiscal year, is payable on Oct. 8 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Sept. 17. The company has approximately 3 billion shares of common stock outstanding.

The board also adopted a new severance policy where HP will seek shareholder approval for future…