Rita Kavashe BAT Kenya Chairperson (middle), Crispin Achola BAT Kenya Managing Director (right), and Philemon Kipkemoi BAT Kenya./HANDOUT
British American Tobacco increased its interim dividend by 100 per cent to Sh10 per share from Sh5 in 2024 after recording Sh4.3 billion.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed company reported a profit after tax of Sh2.983 billion, up from Sh2.136 billion last year, driven by lower financing costs, stable net revenue, and improved operational efficiencies.
The firm said the decision is in line with their commitment to deliver sustained shareholder returns and underscoring solid underlying business performance.
“The interim dividend, which is subject to withholding tax, will be paid on or about September 26, 2025 to shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 29 August 2025,” BAT said.
This announcement made the cigarette maker’s share price at NSE to close the week among top five gainers. The firm’s share price gained 5.08 per cent to close at Sh398.50 on Friday.
Sameer Africa and Crown Paint Kenya continued with the gaining trend for the third consecutive month, building on impressive financial results for the year ended December 2024 announced in April. Sameer's net profit surged 5.6 times to Sh259.89 million, the highest since 2013.
Crown Paint on other hand resumed paying dividends with a Sh3 per share distribution, after rebounding to a net profit of Sh544 million in the year ended December 31, fueled by a stronger and more stable Kenyan currency, effective marketing campaigns, and Improved cost control and efficiency in the Kenyan operation.
Meanwhile, NSE posted increased activities during the week on improving investor confidence on government assurance.
During the week, President William Ruto announced the impending Initial Public Offering of the Kenya Pipeline Company in September 2025, which will kickstart a long-awaited privatisation programme.
Speaking during the bell-ringing ceremony for the successful listing of the Linzi 003 Infrastructure Asset-Backed Security, Ruto said “privatisation is no longer optional.”
The announcement rallied activities at NSE, with the NASI, NSE 25 and NSE 20 share price indices rising by 1.6 per cent 1.2 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively during the week ending July 24.
Market capitalisation, equity turnover and total shares traded, also increased by 1.6 per cent, 48.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively.
Investor confidence in government securities also edged up despite dropping yields, with the Treasury bill auction of July 24 receiving bids totalling Sh40 billion against an advertised amount of Sh24 billion, representing a performance of 166.7 per cent.
Interest rates on the 91-day, 182-day and 364-day Treasury bills declined marginally to 8.1, 8.4 and 9.7 per cent in that order.
Bond turnover in the domestic secondary market however, decreased by 25.4 per cent during the week under review.
