More than 126,000 UTOF investors share record $9.19m payout

More than 126,000 Unit Trust of Fiji (UTOF) investors will receive a share of a record $9.19 million interim dividend after the fund announced the largest six-month payout in its history.

UTOF chairperson Lavinia Kaumaitotoya announced the record distribution at the UTOF boardroom in Suva this morning.

The payout covers the six months from January 1 to June 30, 2026, and comprises $8.46 million for the Income and Growth Fund and $728,193 for the Income Fund.

Ms Kaumaitotoya declared a dividend of 4.00 cents per unit for the Income and Growth Fund, amounting to a total distribution of $8,461,877.

The Income Fund recorded an annualised dividend rate of 3.25 per cent, equating to $728,193.

"This represents the largest interim dividend payout in UTOF's history and reflects the strength, resilience and quality of our investment portfolio," Ms Kaumaitotoya said.

She said total income available for distribution exceeded $19.3 million across both funds during the first six months of 2026, with more than $10.13 million to be retained and carried forward to support future distributions and growth initiatives.

Chief executive officer Vilash Chand said the record payout was driven by portfolio growth, the quality of investments and strong returns from investee companies.

"The number of unit holders has been coming to our fund these days in order to create their wealth and grow their savings," Mr Chand said.

He said UTOF was targeting a similar final dividend by December, which could see the annual payout approach the record 8 cents per unit distributed in 2019.

"There is something in the pipeline and we will see how we perform over the remaining six months," Mr Chand said.