The board of directors of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has approved an interim dividend of N1 per ordinary share for the six months ended June 30.

The company disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the payout, the company’s first interim dividend, reflects its strong financial performance in the first half of the year.

The company attributed its performance to strong cash generation, a resilient balance sheet and confidence in the sustainability of its earnings.

The company noted that the interim dividend represented 56 per cent of the total dividend of N1.78 per share paid for the 2025 financial year.

It said operating income rose by 92 per cent to N18.51 billion, driven by higher transaction fee income and growth in depository services.

Others included expanding collateral management revenues and increased contributions from data and technology-enabled services.

The company added that investment income also increased as it continued to optimise its investment portfolio.

It stated that operating expenses grew by only 38 per cent despite the sharp increase in operating income, resulting in a 186 per cent rise in operating profit to N10.11 billion.

The CSCS reported that profit before tax increased by 115 per cent to N13.21 billion, while earnings per share rose from 109.1 kobo in the corresponding period of 2025 to 190.1 kobo.

According to the statement, the company’s cost-to-income ratio improved to 45.4 per cent from 63.2 per cent in the first half of 2025, while the operating profit margin increased to 54.6 per cent from 36.8 per cent.

It attributed the performance to stronger market activity, improved operational efficiency, disciplined cost management and the scalability of its business model.

Commenting on the development, the chairman of CSCS Plc, Temi Popoola, said the interim dividend reflected the board’s confidence in the company’s financial strength, quality of earnings and long-term strategic direction.

He said the performance was driven by stronger market activity, sustained operational efficiency, disciplined cost management and continued diversification of revenue streams.

Mr Popoola added that the board remained committed to balancing shareholder returns with investments in technology, innovation, resilience and new growth opportunities.

This, he explained, would strengthen CSCS’s position as Nigeria’s leading financial market infrastructure and one of Africa’s foremost post-trade institutions.

Also commenting, the managing director of CSCS Plc, Shehu Shantali, said the company’s first-half performance underscored the resilience of its business model, the dedication of its workforce and the confidence of market participants.

Mr Shantali said the company would continue to strengthen its core market infrastructure, invest in technology and innovation, broaden revenue streams and enhance value for stakeholders.

He expressed confidence that the company’s strategic priorities would sustain its growth trajectory and support the continued development of the capital market.

 (NAN)