New World Infrastructure (NWI) plans to deliver its first dividend since listing five years ago after reporting a 44.07 per cent gain in profit to HK$1.26 billion in the year to June 30.
The infrastructure arm of New World Development said yesterday it would pay 25 HK cents per share because of the promising results.
Chairman Henry Cheng Kar-shun said: 'NWI is coming off its best year ever. The fact that we announced a dividend for the first time ever is an important gesture to our shareholders.'
Mr Cheng said the group hoped to maintain the dividend payout policy in future but that business performance would determine whether a dividend would be paid next year.
The company attributed the strong performance to the contribution from the technology segment.
NWI said the disposal of chinadotcom shares contributed 34 per cent, or HK$709.2 million, of the HK$2.05 billion attributable operating profit.