Staff Correspondent: IPDC Finance has declared a 5% cash and 5% stock dividends for its shareholders for the year that ended on 31 December 2024.
The non-bank financial institution (NBFI) paid 10% cash the previous year. The dividend payout was recommended at the company's recently held board of directors meeting.
The company reported a strong financial performance for the year ended 31 December 2024, posting an operating profit of Tk 1,765 million, marking a substantial 35.8% year-on-year growth.
As of year-end 2024, IPDC's gross asset portfolio stood at Tk 79,048 million, reflecting a 5.3% increase compared to the previous year.
The company's investment portfolio-comprising government securities and other financial instruments-recorded a remarkable 110.5% growth during the period. This contributed significantly to investment income, which increased by Tk 452 million, representing a 194.6% year-on-year rise.
Despite a slight contraction in the loan portfolio, gross interest income rose by 18.5% year-on-year to Tk 8,811 million, primarily driven by elevated interest rates. However, interest expenses also increased by 28.1%, owing to higher deposit costs, Bangladesh Bank's policy rate hikes, and overall liquidity stress in the financial sector.
Total operating income reached Tk 3,242 million in 2024, up by 11.7% from the previous year, driven predominantly by robust investment returns. Net profit stood at Tk 363 million, representing a 5.9% year-on-year growth.
In response to the evolving macroeconomic environment, IPDC adopted a cautious stance on corporate lending, with strategic emphasis on small-ticket SME financing, consumer lending, and risk-free investments. Notably, investment in government securities more than tripled-from BDT 1,612 million in 2023 to BDT 5,206 million in 2024-ensuring a stable and secure income stream amid challenging economic conditions.
IPDC maintained prudent credit risk management practices throughout the year, containing the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio at 5.83% despite significant external headwinds. To safeguard portfolio quality, the company increased its accumulated provisions by 18.4%, which stood at Tk 3,571 million at the end of 2024.