The B3 SA – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão bourse is expecting to see its debt-to-EBITDA ratio decline to 1.1x by the middle of 2019, Reuters reported May 11, citing investor relations head Rogerio Santana.

The figure — which compares debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization — would be a drop from 2x over the past 12 months.

The institution's dividend payout policy, which will distribute between 70% and 80% of net income to investors, is not up for a change this year, the report added.

The bourse had reported recurring net income of 448.2 million Brazilian reais for the first quarter.

As of May 11, US$1 was equivalent to 3.60 Brazilian reais.