KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Group Holdings Bhd reported a 26% increase in earnings at RM916 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2010.

It had on Monday, Nov 22 also declared a special dividend of 13.45 sen (single tier) amounting to a net payment of RM1 billion for the 3Q.

Group revenue was RM2.91 billion, down 4.1% on-year.

For the nine-months ended, net profit was RM2.643 billion, up 31.9% on-year and equivalent to net earnings per share of 37.2 sen.

"The annualised net return on equity of 16.7% is higher than the group's full-year target of 16%," CIMB said.