2019 UEM Edgenta Annual Report

34 Chairman’s Statement These included the productisation of existing technology platforms which we have developed over the years as well as the development of new digital solutions, for which we have made progress in 2019, as highlighted in our MD/CEO’s Statement on pages 36 and 39 of this Report. FOCUSED ON VALUE CREATION Our Edgenta of the Future vision is also anchored on maintaining the positive trajectory of our financial performance. In addition to our commendable financial results recorded in FY2019, our shares demonstrated its value as a defensive stock and in delivering yield. On 30 September 2019, our shares reached a high of RM3.52 for the year. Over the years, we have performed and improved our performance to provide consistent shareholder returns. In FY2019, we registered basic Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) of 21.9 sen and declared a dividend of 14.0 sen for FY2019, representing a 64% dividend payout ratio. This is in line with our revised dividend policy to distribute between 50% and 80% of Profit After Tax and Non-Controlling Interests (“PATANCI”), which we announced in 2018. For FY2019, the resulting dividend yield of 5.4% based on share price as at 26 February 2020 and since FY2014, we have distributed more than RM850 million in dividends. Over the past five years (1 January 2015 to 28 February 2020), our Total Shareholder Returns have exceeded the FBM KLCI by approximately 44.0%. This value is testament to the initial underlying rationale of unlocking the value from the merger of Faber Group Berhad (“Faber”), Projek Penyelenggaraan Lebuhraya Berhad (“PROPEL”) and Opus Group Berhad (“Opus”) in 2014, which formed the basis of our existence as UEM Edgenta today. Since then, we have demonstrated our position as a trusted partner which provides value-added solutions that are fit-for-purpose and relevant to our clients’ needs, paving the way for the resilience and sustainability of our business. Earnings Per Share 21.9 sen Dividend Payout Ratio 64 % Total Shareholder Returns 44.0 % have exceeded the FBM KLCI by Our efforts and approach have also received continued acknowledgement through multiple awards. For further information on our awards and recognition for FY2019, I invite you to read the Key Highlights section on pages 16 - 17 of this Report. CORPORATE CITIZENRY As a company, we have identified three core values which will shape our identity going forward: Purpose Driven, Powered by Technology and Sustainability. Please refer to the Group Strategy section on pages 47 - 48 of this Report. As one of our core values, we have identified Sustainability as a hallmark of industry leadership. This will be fundamental in driving business practices and operations where performance will be measured on the achievement of the triple bottom-line of People, Planet and Profit. The first focus area comprises stakeholder capitalism, under which we identify as an organisation with a social purpose and a strong corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) base. This is key in reinforcing our industry leadership and corporate citizenry, as well as in moving towards our triple bottom-line targets. Second, we are committed to preventing harm to the environment. This will be achieved by putting in place our strategy on sustainability, as well as setting and measuring our targets towards being carbon neutral. Our investor relations positioning represents another focus area for sustainability. We view sustainability as a gateway which enables us to leverage on better access to capital, such as ‘green’ sukuk and exposure to a new class of investors such as Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (“ESG”) funds. To achieve this, we will undertake measures to enhance our sustainability positioning, such as through improved reporting according to international standards, as with our continued journey into Integrated Reporting following the International Integrated Reporting Council’s (“IIRC”) framework. We will also look towards gaining admission into ESG indices such as the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index. Finally, to build our track record of sustainable businesses, we have also