Listing candidate Quality Food International has paid to its founders dividends amounting to 85.15 per cent of its $69.4 million net profit in the past three financial years, according to its listing prospectus.
In the year to April 30, 1997, $14.42 million in dividends were paid, exceeding the company's net profit of $13.88 million.
Executive director Juleus Lee said the numbers were subject to some 'restructuring' of the company's accounts before listing, adding 'as a private company, it can freely decide on the amount of dividend'.
The processed-eel maker aims to raise $70 million by issuing 70 million new shares. Its forecast net profit of $53 million for the year to April 30, next year represents a pro forma diluted prospective price-earnings multiple of 5.15.
About $15.5 million of the listing proceeds will be used to repay short-term debt, about $29.5 million as working capital and the remainder for acquisition of new facilities.
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