HDBank receives the Financial Large Cap Individual Investors’ Best Choice award at the 2024 IR Awards ceremony held in HCM City on September 24. — Photo courtesy of the bank

The Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank, stock code: HDB) received the Financial Large Cap Individual Investors’ Best Choice award at the 2024 IR Awards ceremony held in HCM City on Tuesday.

It won the award along with other listed banks Vietinbank and MBBank.

The award recognised HDBank’s sound corporate governance strategies and outstanding effectiveness in investor relations.

Over the years HDBank has stood out in the stock market with impressive business results, including being one of the listed companies with the highest profit growth rates in 2023 and the first half of 2024.

Its return on equity (ROE) for the first half of this year was 26.1 per cent, the highest in the industry.

It has also maintained a consistent and high dividend payment policy over the years, with a rate of 30 per cent in cash and shares for 2023.

Its 2024 annual general meeting of shareholders approved a dividend plan for 2024 (to be paid in 2025) of 30 per cent, including 15 per cent in cash.

HDBank’s market capitalisation has surpassed VNĐ78 trillion (US$3.16 billion) to rank it among the top companies in the VN30 and VNDiamond indices.

Outperforming 708 listed companies on the Hồ Chí Minh and Hà Nội stock exchanges to make it to the nomination list of the 2024 IR Awards, HDBank has demonstrated its capabilities through systematic and strategic practices in its investor relations.

Its constant efforts to adopt international corporate governance standards and ensure transparency and safety in operations have helped the capital market recognise HDBank’ s intrinsic value while maximising shareholder benefits.

In its focus on IR activities, HDBank has regularly organised open dialogues with both domestic and international investors, with its senior leadership taking part in them.

It has leveraged modern technology to enable investors to contribute their ideas.

IR activities are also a core part of HDBank’s ESG (environmental, social, governance) strategy and aimed at meeting international standards and building sustainable value for shareholders.

By developing IR activities aligned with ESG strategy, HDBank has not only won domestic investors’ trust but also attracted international capital.

Speaking at its AGM earlier this year, Fernanda Lima, representing LeapFrog Investments of UK, said Leapfrog has actively collaborated with HDBank on ESG development and credit programmes for women customers.

In 2024 the fund committed to continuing its partnership with HDBank particularly in green investments, agriculture and rural sectors, women-led enterprises, and community initiatives.

Also at the AGM, Marc Oliver Juenemann, representing DEG, a development finance institution under Germany’s KFW Bank, said DEG has invested in HDBank since 2020.

A strong emphasis on ESG and governance issues is the key for HDBank to creating value for shareholders and strengthening institutions.

DEG’s expertise in corporate governance is central to its support for HDBank’s forward-looking initiatives.

The interest and appreciation from foreign investment funds such as IFC, Proparco, PYN, Affinity, DEG, LeapFrog, and others is a testament to HDBank's established position in the international market, which also opens up many strategic cooperation opportunities for its future growth.

HDBank has been honoured by the State Securities Commission, stock exchanges and other prestigious organisations with various awards, including for “the Best Annual Reports among Listed Companies”.

Its board of directors has received the Board of the Year Award from the Vietnam Institute of Directors.

Held by Vietstock in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Financial Executives and FiLi e-magazine since 2011, the annual IR Awards aim to honour listed companies with the best IR practices, raise awareness about the importance of IR activities and improve transparency in the stock market. — VNS