Business
Shareholders Approve APR N700m Dividend
Shareholders of Africa
Prudential Registrars (APR) have approved the company’s total dividend of N700 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2013.
The shareholders gave the approval at the company’s first annual general meeting in Lagos.
The dividend, which translates to 35k per share, will be paid to qualified shareholders on April 4, 2014.
Speaking at the meeting, the National Coordinator, Shareholders United Front, Mr Gbenga Idowu, commended the management of the company for the dividend.
Idowu said that the dividend was beyond shareholders’ expectations and should be improved upon in the years ahead.
He said that the company should improve on its service delivery to become the best in the industry and increase its customer base.
The President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr Boniface Okezie,said that the 35k dividend was very impressive compared with the prevailing rates in the sub-sector.
Okezie said that the company needed to be appreciated for making Nigerian investors proud.
He said that the company ensured proper training and re-training of its workforce for efficient service delivery.
APR Managing Director, Mr Peter Ashade, assured the shareholders of enhanced returns on their investments in the years ahead.
Ashade said that the company would take its acquisition strategy outside Nigeria to become an African registrar.
Reports say that the company’s revenue rose to N1.49 billion from N1.03 billion in 2012, an increase of 35 per cent.
Its profit after tax stood at N759 million from N562 million recorded in 2012.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.