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State-owned companies promise higher dividends, stock buyback to help economy
All four state-owned banks have allocated larger dividends earlier than last year as the government struggles with low tax collection.
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A worker shows electronic money issued by state-owned Bank Mandiri and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) in Bandung, West Java, on Sept. 19, 2019. All four state-owned banks have allocated larger dividends earlier than last year as the government struggles with low tax collection and the need to disburse more money to stimulate a cooling economy. (Antara/M Agung Rajasa)
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tate-owned companies have come to the rescue against the backdrop of a crashing domestic stock market and cash-strapped state budget by promising share buybacks and disbursing higher dividends earlier to cushion the economic impacts of COVID-19.
All four state-owned banks have allocated larger dividends earlier than last year as the government struggles with low tax collection and the need to disburse more money to stimulate a cooling economy.
The country’s largest bank by assets, publicly listed Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), announced in February its plan to distribute Rp 20.6 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in dividends to its shareholders this year. The dividends are equal to 60 percent of the bank’s profits in 2019, higher than its previous payout ratio of 50 percent.
Bank Mandiri also decided to give out bigger dividends this year, with plans to distribute Rp 16.49 trillion to shareholders. The figure is equal to 60 percent of the company’s total 2019 profit and also higher than the previous dividend payout ratio of 50 percent.
Read also: Plunging credit demand slows state-owned banks' profit growth
Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) also allocated Rp 3.85 trillion in dividends or equal to 25 percent of the bank’s 2019 profit – the same as in the previous year. Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) set aside Rp 20.9 billion in dividend payments this year.
Of these, the government will get Rp 11.8 trillion from BRI, Rp 9.89 trillion from Bank Mandiri, Rp 2.31 trillion from BNI and Rp 12.5 billion from BTN.
