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Petrobras investors approve payout of 50% of withheld dividends

Shareholders of Petrobras voted on Thursday for the Brazilian staterun oil firm to pay 50% of the remarkable dividends it kept in March, reducing investor concerns about the location of those funds.

Petrobras is set to administer about 22 billion reais ($ 4.26. billion) relative to its 2023 results, while the remaining 50%. will be kept in a fund for future disbursement, which the. government signified might occur by the end of this year.

The vote settled a matter that rocked the oil giant because. its government-controlled board decided to withhold the additional. dividends on March 7, which surprised markets and sent. Petrobras' shares tumbling the following day.

The choice sparked concerns that the government would. order Petrobras to use that money for investments, as President. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has actually expressed his wish to use the. state-run company to enhance Brazil's economy and develop tasks.

Preferred shares of Petrobras jumped after Thursday's. vote, closing the session up 2.4% as one of the top gainers on. Brazil's benchmark stock index Bovespa, which slipped. 0.1%.

According to a Petrobras filing last week, the federal government's. green light for it to distribute part of the kept dividends. followed its management made it clear to the board that doing. so would not compromise the firm economically.

We see today's event as expected, however believe that a future. choice on the payment of the remaining 50% of withheld. dividends is among the triggers that can move Petrobras'. shares, Ativa Investimentos experts stated in a note to clients.

Shareholders likewise voted on Thursday to elect the new. composition of Petrobras' board of directors, including brand-new. government appointee Rafael Dubeux, who was picked by Finance. Minister Fernando Haddad.

Haddad safeguarded Petrobras Chief Executive Jean Paul. Prates in a series of recent clashes with Energy Minister. Alexandre Silveira that began after the dividends were. kept.

The choice to designate Dubeux was made after board. members selected by Silveira voted to keep the dividends in. March, and signals

a dilution

of the energy minister's sway on the board.

Pietro Mendes was re-elected board chairman.

Petrobras logged a net profit of 124.6 billion reais in. 2023, its second-largest ever for a single year.

The oil giant's overall dividends for 2023 have actually now reached. 94.35 billion reais, consisting of quantities already paid and normal. dividends, likewise enhancing the government's coffers as Lula's. financial group tries to stabilize public accounts.