MILWAUKEE, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith Investment Company (Pink Sheets: SMIC) announced today that its board of directors has determined that Smith Investment will not pay a dividend in the first quarter of 2009. In reaching its determination, the Smith Investment board of directors considered the costs expected to be incurred to complete the proposed merger of Smith Investment with and into a subsidiary of A. O. Smith Corporation and the board's desire to preserve financial flexibility in light of current uncertainty in economic and financial conditions.

About Smith Investment Company

Smith Investment Company (SMIC - PK), headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., owns a control position in A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS - NYSE).

This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

SOURCE Smith Investment Company