KCB Group shareholders okay Kes9.64 billion dividend payout
KCB Group shareholders have approved a Kes9.64 billion total dividends pay-out for the fiscal year ended 2021, signifying a sustained return to the investors amid a tough operating environment induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the 51st Annual General Meeting held virtually; the shareholders approved a final dividend of Kes2 per share as recommended by the Board.
The dividend shall be paid on or before July 7, 2022, net of withholding tax to the shareholders who were on the register of members at the close of business on April 25, 2022.
KCB Group Chairman Andrew Wambari Kairu told shareholders that in spite of the challenging business environment last year, the business continued to generate returns for investors.
“The Group made significant progress with our strategic priorities and delivered strong business and financial returns. This performance affirms the robustness of all other important aspects of our business, including customer excellence, employee commitment, sustainability, and digital solutions, just to mention a few,” Mr Kairu said.
“Moving forward, we are determined to sustain this momentum targeting to maintain return on average equity above 20 percent as our operating environment continues to improve,” he added.
The Group has over the years grown a diverse shareholder base of 193,274 shareholders, 89 percent of whom are local individual and institutional investors while 11 percent are foreign investors.
Read also: KCB first-quarter profit up 53 percent to Sh9.8 billion
In 2021, the total shareholder return was 27 percent significantly above the average inflation rate.
Mr Kairu also thanked the outgoing Group CEO Joshua Oigara for his contribution in steering the Group to greater profitability and expanded footprint over the nine-and-a-half years he has been at the helm of the regional lender.
The Board appointed Mr Paul Russo as the new Group CEO, effective May 25, 2022.
Mr Kairu said: “We have confidence that Paul will lead the organization to even greater heights, drawing from his extensive experience in corporate management and strategy,” he added.
Mr Russo noted: “I am excited about our future. We will deepen our focus on enhancing service delivery and customer experience and our resolve to drive more transformation in the society and running a business anchored on sustainable business practices.”
In the first quarter of 2022, the Group sustained the growth momentum to post a net profit of Kes9.9 billion for the period ending March.
The 54.4 percent growth in profitability from Kes6.4 billion a year earlier was on the back of increased net interest income.
