Online Reporter
Zimpapers Business Hub
TRANSFER secretaries recorded a solid performance in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the total value of listed shares under their administration rising to ZiG73, 20 billion as at September 30, 2025, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ) fourth-quarter 2025 newsletter.
The value represents an 11,84 percent increase from the ZiG65, 45 billion reported in the previous quarter, reflecting growth in the size of share registers administered by the sector during the period under review.
According to SECZim, based on the ZiG-denominated share register, First Transfer Secretaries maintained a dominant position, commanding a market share of 53,70 percent.
Corpserve Transfer Secretaries followed with a 35,96 percent share, while ZB Transfer Secretaries accounted for the remaining 10,34 percent.
Transfer secretaries play a critical role in Zimbabwe’s capital markets infrastructure, as they are mandated to maintain and update shareholder registers for listed companies, process share transfers, issue share certificates or electronic statements, and ensure accurate record-keeping of ownership.
This function is central to investor protection, corporate actions such as dividend payments, and the smooth settlement of securities transactions on the stock exchange.
According to SECZim, the sector’s earnings were rated strong during the quarter, with fee income generated and earned by all three licensed transfer secretaries sufficient to cover operating costs, resulting in each firm posting a positive net profit before tax.
However, aggregate operating profit for the industry declined to ZiG12,15 million, representing a 20,89 percent decrease from the ZiG15,36 million recorded in the prior quarter.
Despite the decline, the commission noted that the results continued to signal healthy profitability, particularly within an operating environment characterised by tight liquidity conditions, restrictive monetary policy measures and the delisting of some firms from the stock exchange.
Capital adequacy across the sector was also rated strong as at September 30, 2025.
Corpserve Transfer Secretaries recorded a capital adequacy ratio of 6,17 times, First Transfer Secretaries 7,52 times, and ZB Transfer Secretaries 4,40 times, all well above the regulatory benchmark of 1,0 times.
