Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012

Samba Financial Group (1090.SA), Saudi Arabia's second-largest lender by market value, said Tuesday it will distribute SAR890 million in dividends at SAR80 per share for the first half of 2012.

Shareholders listed in the bank's shareholders register as of the end of the trading day on Sunday, July 27, will be eligible for the dividend. Payment of the dividend will begin from Saturday, Aug. 4.

Last week, the company said its second-quarter net profit rose 5% to SAR1.16 billion from SAR1.10 billion a year earlier, boosted by a 6.7% increase in total operating income.

Samba's shares ended 1.57% lower Tuesday at SAR44.00.

Write to Iman Dawoud at iman.dawoud@dowjones.com; Twitter: @ZDJnews

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

17-07-12 1538GMT