South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe to receive $27.1 million dividend

South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe is set to collect a sizable payout as African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), one of the continent’s largest Black-controlled mining groups, prepares to distribute an interim dividend to shareholders. The payment, scheduled for Monday, April 13, will see Motsepe receive R455.66 million ($27.1 million) based on his stake in the company.

ARM raises interim dividend payout

The dividend follows a strong first-half performance from the Johannesburg-listed miner. For the six months ended Dec. 31, 2025, ARM’s board approved a gross interim dividend of R5 per share, up from R4.5 per share paid in the same period a year earlier. In total, the company will distribute R1.044 billion ($62.1 million) to shareholders, subject to dividend withholding tax.

Motsepe, ARM’s founder and largest shareholder, holds a 43.66 percent stake, equivalent to 91,133,393 shares. That position gives him the largest portion of the payout. His dividend, which will be transferred electronically to shareholders’ accounts on the payment date, adds to the steady stream of earnings he has received from the mining company over the years.

Commodity prices lift mining earnings

The dividend comes as ARM reported a sharp improvement in earnings, supported by higher commodity prices and stronger performance across several operations. The company posted profit of R3.04 billion ($183.6 million) for the six-month period, more than double the R1.45 billion ($87.38 million) recorded a year earlier. Revenue climbed 31.63 percent to R8.4 billion ($507.3 million), reflecting stronger contributions from its mining assets.

ARM operates across iron ore, coal, copper, gold and platinum group metals. The company said higher platinum group metal prices and improved output at key mines supported results. Headline earnings for the half-year rose 10 percent to R1.67 billion ($100.78 million), or R8.66 ($0.52) per share, from R1.52 billion ($91.73 million), or R7.75 ($0.46) a year earlier. Basic earnings increased 69 percent to R2.35 billion ($141.76 million) or R12.2 ($0.73) per share.

Net cash jumps, assets up

The company also reported a stronger balance sheet. Net cash stood at R8.46 billion ($510.28 million) at the end of December 2025, up from R6.61 billion ($398.69 million) six months earlier. During the reporting period, ARM completed several transactions tied to its 50 percent joint venture in Assmang, including the permanent closure of the Cato Ridge Works complex and the sale of related land and properties valued at R453 million ($27.32 million).

Total assets rose to R83.65 billion ($5.05 billion) as of Dec. 31, 2025, up 20.68 percent from R69.32 billion ($4.18 billion) a year earlier. Retained earnings edged slightly lower to R40.53 billion ($2.45 billion) from R41.28 billion ($2.5 billion) as the company balanced cash returns to shareholders with asset sales and ongoing investment in its mining operations.