First HoldCo has shifted to a liberal dividend policy that seeks to distribute at least 60 per cent of its annual post-tax profit as dividends.
The board of directors of the bank holding company adopted the policy at a meeting on Tuesday, the group stated in a regulatory filing on Thursday, underscoring its resolve to prioritise shareholder returns over retaining most of its profits in the business to drive growth.
First HoldCo said the move highlights its directors’ confidence in its earnings capacity, enhanced capital position, improving asset quality, diversified revenue streams, and robust outlook for sustained profitability and growth. The move offers succour to shareholders who had to endure the last financial year without dividends—the first time in many years—after a massive bad-loan loss provision obliterated much of the cash that could have gone into rewarding shareholders.
The financial institution set aside ₦748.1 billion to cover problem loans on its books for 2025, after the Central Bank of Nigeria, in the spirit of international best practices, ordered lenders still carrying forbearance loans from the Covid-19 era to clear their balance sheets of toxic assets.
Profit for the year fell to ₦147.3 billion from ₦663.5 billion, following the provision.
