Business
Zenith Bank Shareholders Approve N29.8 bn Dividend
Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc on Tuesday approved the bank’s dividend of N29.8 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2011.
According to reports, the dividend translates to 95k per share as against 85k or N26.7 billion paid in 2010.
The approval was given at the bank’s 21st annual general meeting, held in Lagos.
The National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, commended the bank for surpassing stakeholders’ expectation in terms of dividend declared.
He urged the shareholders to claim their dividends in order to reduce the unclaimed dividend figure.
Nwosu urged the bank to aspire to be the preferred bank through strong innovations and efficient service delivery.
He added, however, called on the management not to engage in forced acquisitions that would bring problems to the shareholders, at the long run, due to incomparable differences.
The National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mrs Bisi Bakare also lauded the management for the growth recorded in spite of the harsh operating environment.
She assured the management that the shareholders would continue to support the bank to ensure steady growth.
The bank’s Chief Executive officer, Mr Godwin Emefiele reiterated the commitment of the management to deliver superior returns on shareholders’ investments.
He attributed the improved performance of the bank to support from its shareholders.
Emefiele said that the bank would continue to monitor developments, both in the local and global economy, and apply pragmatic solutions to remain on top.
He said that the future of the bank “remains bright as challenges in the country ware surmountable’’.
Our correspondent reports that the bank’s profit after tax rose by 11 per cent from N33.3 billion in 2010 to N37.1 billion in the period under review.
Its gross earnings stood at N215.6 billion as against N169.4 billion in 2010, an increase of 27 per cent.