GFH Approves 6% Cash Dividends

GFH Financial Group Logo
GFH Financial Group Logo
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GFH Approves 6% Cash Dividends

GFH Financial Group Logo
GFH Financial Group Logo

The GFH Financial Group (“GFH” or “the Group”) announced the successful conclusion of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) by approving the Board of Directors’ recommendation for the distribution of a cash dividend of 6% of the nominal value of all the ordinary shares, save for treasury shares, equivalent to $0.0159 per share.

The group's shareholders also announced the appointment of Mr. Yousef Abdullah Taqi as a complementary independent director of the Board in its current term, the reappointment of the Group’s external auditors for 2023 and authorized the Board to appoint market maker(s) in any or all markets in which the Group’s shares are listed, subject to regulatory approvals, including the authority to determine the market maker(s), the duration of the contract and other relevant details.

Chairman of GFH Ghazi Al Hajeri said: “Following a year of strong financial results and progress, we continue to build on the support and confidence of our shareholders in the Group and our strategy. We are pleased to announce that shareholders have approved the distribution of another solid dividend as the Group continues to focus on creating value for our shareholders, investors and partners."

"We have been building on this momentum in 2023 and remain focused on further growth in the year ahead,” he added.

For his part, Hisham Alrayes, CEO of GFH, said: “We remain grateful to our shareholders for their continued support and confidence in GFH and our strategy, which saw us make further strides throughout the business in 2022 including delivering double digit growth in income, completing more than $1.2 billion of new investments across global markets, and the listing of our shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), marking the Group’s fourth regional listing and a further broadening of our shareholder base to create even more liquidity.”

"In 2022, the Group established new offices in London and Riyadh and concluded the acquisition of two new specialty asset management businesses in the US. These acquisitions will support the further growth of our investment activities and the Group’s pipeline of well-performing, income-yielding investments in the healthcare and residential real estate sectors,” he added.

GFH has more than $17.6 billion of assets and funds under management including a global portfolio of investments in logistics, healthcare, education and technology in the MENA region, Europe and North America.



Saudi Arabia to Host Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia to Host Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), will host the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF) in October, underscoring the Kingdom's significant industrial transformation, in line with Vision 2030, and aiming to expand the Saudi industrial base and solidify its position as a leading global industrial center.
Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in Riyadh, the forum is yet another substantial industrial development initiative the Kingdom relentlessly takes.
By carrying out programs focused on innovation, diversification, and boosting of the industrial sectors, including 12 strategic sectors identified in the National Industrial Strategy, Saudi Arabia seeks to raise competitiveness and support its national economy.
Beyond the National Industrial Strategy, the Kingdom has invested in developing industrial infrastructure, such as industrial cities and special economic zones, and fostered international cooperation to facilitate transfer of knowledge and technology. The forum, in which global experts and decision makers participate, is an ideal platform to exchange expertise and set best practices in industrial policies.
Saudi Arabia aims to develop policies that are in line with international standards, thus increasing the global competitiveness of its industrial sector. By leading initiatives for sustainable industrial practices, promoting international cooperation, exchanging expertise, and adopting environmentally friendly technologies, the Kingdom seeks to enhance the flexibility of its supply chains, in line with the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative.
The industrial sector in Saudi Arabia witnessed significant developments in 2023, including announcing major investment opportunities in targeted sectors, issuing a license for the first Saudi-made electric car brand "Ceer", and opening the first electric vehicle manufacturing factory "Lucid". The Kingdom aims to produce over 300,000 cars annually by 2030.
Attracting private sector investments is crucial to achieving the goals of the National Industrial Strategy. The industrial sector focuses on enhancing integration among various sectors and their supply chains, developing infrastructure, encouraging joint investments, promoting local content, and empowering national companies through policies, financing, and training.
In July 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources launched the Future Factories Program, which aims to transform 4,000 factories from labor-intensive models to efficient, automated operations utilizing advanced industrial solutions. This initiative seeks to enhance competitiveness, improve product quality, and increase exports of Saudi non-oil products.
The ministry has also made strides in improving the regulatory and legislative environment for the industrial sector, creating an environment conducive to investments and fair competition.
The ministry's goals for 2024 and 2025 include attracting investments in targeted industrial sectors, reaching a total investment volume of SAR451 billion, adding 1,500 products to the mandatory local content list, increasing the industrial sector's contribution to non-oil GDP to SAR412 billion, and boosting non-oil exports to over SAR300 billion. Moreover, the ministry aims to launch the industrial sector governance initiative to stimulate integration and concerted efforts among relevant stakeholders.
The second edition of the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum, hosted by Riyadh under the theme "Transforming Challenges into Sustainable Solutions through Industrial Policies", will bring together some 3,000 industry leaders from around the world, including decision makers, CEOs, industry specialists, and people interested in developing industrial policies.