(Finance) – “I’m sorry that you judge the dividend to be low. We started with 6 cents, then 12 cents and now 30 cents. We had made a plan with a growth trend and pay-out of 50% by 2025, and therefore we are even in advance. It was calculated with a certain level of capitalization, guaranteeing us the possibility of supporting the development of the bank, which has made an important leap. We believe we have done a good job.” The CEO said this BPER, Piero Luigi Montanianswering an analyst’s question during the 2023 results conference call.
“For the future we are still proceeding on the basis of the June 2022 plan, and therefore we continue to follow it, for which we are in a linear projection – he added – This plan will be reviewed this yearit is also likely quite soon, after the renewal of the board which expires in April.”
“Up until now we have respected what was said – underlined Montani – Our intention is to favor members, but we must also have a solid bank that can look to the future, we don’t want to burn everything now to make a good impression“.
“We have a CET1 Ratio of 14.5% – he added – which is high, but we have to look around: the other banks also have it very high, also because I can expect that the ECB can make requests of me and I want to be calm. It’s true (that’s high, ed.), but one well-capitalized bank provides security for the future to shareholders“.