NKECHI NAECHE–‘Nigeria’s top lender Zenith Bank Plc on Tuesday proposed a final dividend of N2.50 per share to investors in addition to the interim dividend of N0.30 paid earlier.
This is contained in a notice to the Nigetian Stock Exchange that this is culminating to N2.80 and representing 3.70 percent as against N2.70 paid at the close of business in 2017.
The gross earnings despite the dividend came down by 15.4 percent from N745.18 billion in 2017 to N630.34 billion in the 2018.
However its pretax profit for the period ended December 31, 2018 rose by 16.2 percent from N199.31 billion in 2017 to N231.68 billion in 2018.
The notice added that post-tax profit for the review period also appreciated 11.1 percent to N193.14 billion from N173.79 billion declared the same period of 2017.
The bankmsaid that qualification date for the proposed dividend is March 8, 2019 while closure date is March 11, 2019, payment and Annual General Meeting dates has been scheduled for March 19, 2019 respectively.
