Crystal Telecom closed its shareholder register yesterday as the firm prepares to payout its first dividend early next month.

The Rwanda Stock Exchange-listed firm announced last month it would pay shareholders a special dividend of Rwf3.75 per share on October 2. The total dividend payout amounts to Rwf1.017 billion. The money was kept on the firm’s balance sheet after MTN Rwanda sold its telecommunication towers to IHS Towers last year, according to officials.

Meanwhile, the RSE performance was better this week compared to the previous week’s, with the bourse recording a total turnover of Rwf94 million, an increase from Rwf46.4 million the previous week, according to the RSE market report for Friday. There were more deals traded during the week, with Crystal Telecom attracting a good number of investors as the September 11 registration deadline approached.

Crystal Telecom shares traded at Rwf120 yesterday, raking in close to Rwf2 million from 16,500 shares sold in three deals. The firm was also the biggest gainer, with its share price increasing Rwf2 from Rwf118 on Thursday to close at Rwf120. The Bralirwa counter, on the hand, shed Rwf3 to close at Rwf280, down from Rwf283 on Thursday. The brewer sold 7,700 shares in two deals worth Rwf2.1 million.