The shareholders of GT Bank on Tuesday approved the final dividend of N42.68 billion declared by the bank for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2014.
The shareholders gave the approval at the bank’s 25th Annual General Meeting in Lagos.
The dividend translated to N1.50 per share against the final dividend of N1.45 paid in 2013.
The bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of 25k, bringing the total dividend declared in 2014 to N1.75 or N50.03 billion against N1.70 or N45.62 billion paid in 2013.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Boniface Okezie, the President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), commended the bank for the dividend declared in spite of the unfriendly environment.
Okezie also lauded the bank’s performance during the period in spite of the stringent regulatory environment, saying that the tempo should be maintained in the years ahead.
He said that the bank should continue to maintain high level of corporate governance in all its operations to avoid unnecessary penalties.
Also, Mr Nona Awoh, a shareholder, called on the bank’s management to work out the strategies aimed at reducing the bank’s unclaimed dividend figures.
Awoh said that the bank should reach out to the affected shareholders to reduce the unclaimed dividend which stood at N13.5 billion as at December 2014.
Mr Sunny Nwosu, the National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria, commended the bank for the dividend it declared.
Nwosu said the bank should strengthen its investment strategies to improve shareholders’ returns.
Mr Segun Agbaje, the bank’s Managing Director, said that the bank would work very hard to reduce the unclaimed dividends profile.
Agbaje said that the bank would also continue to advertise to ensure reduction in the unclaimed dividend figures.
He urged the shareholders to embrace the e-dividend payment system introduced by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Agbaje said that the bank would remain committed to efficient service delivery to ensure robust returns to all stakeholders in the years ahead.
The bank posted a profit after tax of N98.69 billion during the period under review against N90.02 billion posted in 2013.
The profit represented a growth of 10 per cent when compared with the figure for 2013.
Its profit before tax stood at N116.39 billion against N107.09 billion achieved in the comparative period of 2013, representing an increase of nine per cent.
The bank’s gross earnings stood at N278.52 billion against N242.67 billion achieved in 2013, representing a growth of 15 per cent.
The bank’s interest income grew by eight per cent to N200.60 billion compared with N185.38 posted in 2013.
Also, the net interest income rose to N142.36 billion from N136.94 billion recorded in 2013, representing a marginal increase of four per cent.
