Ithmaar Bank AGM approves $53.7 million cash dividend payout
MANAMA, BAHRAIN – 24 March, 2008 – The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain- based investment bank with global reach, today approved a $53.7 million cash dividend payout for the year ended 31 December 2007, as recommended by its Board of Directors. The Bank announced record earnings last month, achieving a consolidated net profit of $188.3 million. Shareholders also approved the Directors’ Report, the Auditor’s Report and the consolidated financial statements at the AGM, which was held at the Regency InterContinental Bahrain, and presided over by Ithmaar Bank Chairman, Khalid Abdulla-Janahi.
“The Bank is pleased to continue dividend payment to its shareholders for the second consecutive year. The Ithmaar banking group, which Ithmaar Bank heads, was unaffected by the challenging conditions that afflicted global financial markets last year. The Bank and all its subsidiaries and associates did exceptionally well, each posting a strong profit and reporting substantial growth,” said Janahi.
“Ithmaar Bank will be reinvesting the rest of its profits into augmenting its direct lines of business, launching new products, and further expanding its client base, all with the aim of becoming indisputably the benchmark investment bank, operating globally from the Middle East,” he added.
Janahi added that 2008 will be an important year for Ithmaar Development Company, the development arm of the Ithmaar banking group, as it implements its $3.3 billion projects portfolio.
“Reclamation work has already started on Dilmunia, our $1.6 billion ‘health island’, which is set to revolutionise healthcare in Bahrain and turn the Kingdom into a health tourism hub. Work is also set to begin this year on the $1.5 billion Aljazayer Beach redevelopment, which will turn the existing facility into a world class beachfront attraction, and the $175 million hotel and tower project, to be located off the Seef District,” continued Janahi.
Ithmaar Bank’s 2007 result is up from the $181.1 million profit earned during 2006, a result which benefited from a one-off gain of $105.5 million on the sale of a subsidiary, Islamic Investment Company of the Gulf (Bahamas) Limited. Excluding this item, the Bank’s net profit more than doubled in 2007, when compared with the previous year. A key event in 2007 was Ithmaar Bank’s acquisition of the remaining 40 per cent of Shamil Bank held by minority shareholders, making Shamil Bank a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ithmaar Bank. The acquisition through a share swap also made Shamil Bank’s subsidiary Faisal Private Bank (FPB) wholly owned by Ithmaar Bank, while Ithmaar’s effective stake in Pakistan-based commercial and investment bank Faysal Bank Limited (FBL) increased, from 51 per cent to 65.72 per cent.
In addition to Ithmaar Bank, Shamil Bank, FPB, FBL and Ithmaar Development Company, the Ithmaar banking group also includes Solidarity (a global takaful company based in Bahrain) and First Leasing Bank (the first bank specialising in equipment leasing in the GCC).
“The year 2008 will see further consolidation among the companies that make up the Ithmaar banking group. We have already begun some cross selling activities and will continue to explore new opportunities of benefiting from the global reach our group enjoys. We have also started grouping certain support services to achieve greater efficiency and economies of scale,” Janahi added.
Financial Highlights
|
|
|
2007 |
2006 (Restated) |
|
|
Net profit ($ million) |
188.3 |
181.1 |
|
Operating income ($ million) |
339 |
124 |
|
|
Total equity ($ million) |
1,284.4 |
1,123.7 |
|
|
Shareholders’ equity ($ million) |
1,087.8 |
792.1 |
|
|
Total assets ($ million) |
4,078.8 |
3,318.8 |
|
|
Funds under management ($ million) |
1,723.8 |
1,059.9 |
|
|
Return on average equity (%) |
15.64% |
26.31% |
About Ithmaar Bank
Ithmaar Bank B.S.C. is licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange (“ITHMR”). It has a paid-up capital of $543.6 million, total equity of $1.3 billion and is a full investment bank with its direct business covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as South Asia, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Besides holding significant investments in the banking, financial services and real estate sectors in different markets, the main direct activities of the Bank include underwriting (equity and other financings), private equity (structuring, participation and portfolio management), Islamic financing and advisory services covering project financing, investments, capital markets and mergers & acquisitions.
Ithmaar Bank’s flagship subsidiaries and affiliates include Shamil Bank of Bahrain, Solidarity (an Islamic insurance company, headquartered in Bahrain), Faisal Private Bank (Switzerland), Faysal Bank Limited (Pakistan), First Leasing Bank and Ithmaar Development Company.
For more information on Ithmaar Bank, please visit the Bank’s website at www.ithmaarbank.com
About the Ithmaar banking group
The Ithmaar banking group consists of: Ithmaar Bank, Shamil Bank, Solidarity (an Islamic insurance company, headquartered in Bahrain), Faisal Private Bank (Switzerland), Faysal Bank Limited (Pakistan), First Leasing Bank and Ithmaar Development Company. The group’s services, including investment, private, retail, and commercial banking, private equity, mergers & acquisition advice, takaful, equipment leasing, and real estate development, form a 360 degrees value chain that embraces the entire spectrum of banking and financial services.
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