ZESPRI International Limited is a consumer-driven, 100 per cent grower-owned company dedicated to the global marketing of kiwifruit. We are a relatively large company in terms of the number and diversity of our stakeholders.
Growers and shareholders entrust a great deal to the company, through both the investment that they have in their shares, as well as the broader reliance they have on ZESPRI as the world’s marketer, strategic leader, innovation provider and steward of the ZESPRI® System.
New Zealand kiwifruit growers, past and present, are ZESPRI shareholders. To be eligible for shares, ZESPRI growers must demonstrate current production of kiwifruit and register for the purchase of shares during an allocated share issue. The ZESPRI Board regularly conducts share ‘buy-backs’ to recover shares from past growers, known as ‘dry shareholders’.
At the end of each financial year the ZESPRI Board reviews available profits, and declares a dividend payment per share. The ZESPRI Board is committed to paying a strong a stable dividend into the future, whilst building a strong capital base to support anticipated future growth. The Board currently have a policy of paying between 70% to 90% of each year’s available profits as dividends. The ZESPRI Board is committed to paying a strong a stable dividend into the future, whilst building a strong capital base to support anticipated future growth.