2014 Annual Report
Total Page:16
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Chairman’s Letter Consolidated Financial Statements 06 86 Consolidated Financial Statements Key Figures 88 Auditors’ Report 08 89 Consolidated Income Statement for the year ended 31 December 2014 Organizational Chart 90 Consolidated Statement of 11 Comprehensive Income for the year ended 31 December 2014 91 Consolidated Statement of Financial Group Chart Position at 31 December 2014 12 92 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 December Corporate Governance 2014 96 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 16 for the year ended 31 December 2014 Code of Corporate Governance 97 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements BLOM BANK S.A.L. Major Common Shareholders Board of Directors List of Board Members Worldwide Information about Board of Directors Correspondent Banks Board Meetings held in 2014 186 Information on Key Members of BLOM BANK S.A.L. Management BLOM BANK S.A.L. Commercial Arrangements BLOM BANK Group General Management of BLOM BANK S.A.L. Management & Network 187 Management Discussion & 188 Banks & Financial Subsidiaries Analysis 2014 BLOM BANK S.A.L. 32 BLOMINVEST BANK S.A.L. BLOM DEVELOPMENT BANK S.A.L. 33 Operating Environment BLOM BANK FRANCE 46 Overview BLOM BANK (SWITZERLAND) S.A. 47 Evolution of Total Assets BANK OF SYRIA AND OVERSEAS S.A. 48 Sources of Funds SYRIA AND OVERSEAS FOR 51 Uses of Funds FINANCIAL SERVICES Ltd 56 Liquidity BLOM BANK EGYPT 56 Profitability BLOM EGYPT SECURITIES 62 Dividend Distribution and Preferred BLOMINVEST SAUDI ARABIA Shares Revenue BLOM BANK QATAR LLC 63 Risk Management and Basel Preparations BLOM SECURITIES 69 Corporate Governance 206 Insurance Subsidiaries 71 Universal Banking Services AROPE INSURANCE 77 Information Systems and Technology AROPE SYRIA - SYRIA 80 People Development INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE 83 Bank’s Operational Efficiency AROPE EGYPT INSURANCE 2 BLOM BANK S.A.L. Dr. Naaman AZHARI Chairman of BLOM BANK Group Mr. Saad AZHARI Chairman and General Manager of BLOM BANK S.A.L. Annual Report 2014 3 Annual Report 2014 5 Chairman’s Letter Net profit increased to $365.4 million, rising by 3.6% from 2013, and representing the highest absolute profits in the Lebanese banking system. The same was largely true for relative profitability, with ROAE reaching 15.8% and ROAA 1.35%, the highest among listed banks and, as important, among the highest in the wider region. The year 2014 was both challenging and successful for region in financial safety, strength, and durability. This is BLOM BANK. It was challenging because of the lingering reflected in the Bank’s capital adequacy ratio (Basel 3) political instabilities in Lebanon and the region; and which stood at 17%, its liquidity ratio at 66%, and its successful because, despite that, the Bank maintained coverage ratio for non-performing loans by provisions its track record of respectable profitability and growth. and real guarantees at 162%. With the highest liquidity Net profit increased to $365.4 million, rising by 3.6% and capital buffers, BLOM is widely viewed as the safest from 2013, and representing the highest absolute profits choice for depositors. In fact, with such a remarkable in the Lebanese banking system. The same was largely performance and financial standing, it is no surprise that true for relative profitability, with ROAE reaching 15.8% BLOM has been consistently, and unanimously in 2014, and ROAA 1.35%, the highest among listed banks and, selected as “The Best Bank in Lebanon” by the most as important, among the highest in the wider region. renowned and prestigious international institutions. What is also noteworthy is that the rise in net profit was mostly attributed to the increase in profits of the Bank’s The international and regional recognition of the Bank’s foreign units and subsidiaries that now contribute close achievements also attests to its strong foundations and to 22% of the net profit pool. solid strategy that allow the Bank to thrive in adversity. The Bank’s core strategy continues to be grounded in As impressive, the Bank’s balance sheet witnessed three rewarding anchors. First, is the consolidation of its notable and balanced growth, indicating once again the leading position in Lebanon, especially in retail where success of the Bank’s regional diversification strategy it has the highest market share in car, personal, and in geographic and product terms. Assets increased to housing loans, and increasingly in SMEs and corporate $27.98 billion, up by 7% on 2013; deposits rose to $24.01 loans. Second, is the expansion in its universal banking billion, up by 6.4%; loans increased to $6.91 billion, up activities in the Levant, especially in Egypt and Jordan by 8.9%; and shareholders’ equity rose to $2.53 billion, where the success of its brand name and reputable up by 7.4%. products has increased income to the BLOM Group by 61% in the former and 41% in the latter. Third, is the strengthening of its non-traditional banking franchises BLOM BANK has never been a bank that would in the Gulf, through its investment banking and asset compromise quality for quantity. The Bank’s conservative management services in KSA, its corporate banking strategy, prudent risk management and asset quality, services in Qatar, and its wholesale banking services in and its commitment to the highest standards across all the UAE. As important, a prime feature of this strategy business lines, make it one of the leading banks in the is the binding of all these markets together through 6 BLOM BANK S.A.L. Chairman’s Letter synergies and cross-border activities, that take advantage Index, and is open for Saudi and foreign investors. In of the specialized, competitive-edge products that we addition, we introduced a new “Money Market Fund-Euro offer in each country but that can be complemented or Class” to complement the success of the earlier LP and augmented region-wide. USD Classes. In information technology, an interactive mobile banking app was introduced, which has the unique As a result of the Bank’s policy of leveraging its presence and differentiating feature to open an interacting chat across countries and products, it has attained a with our Call Center within the app and without leaving balanced structure in assets, such that in 2014 its assets the banking session. Last but not least, BLOM BANK expanded to Iraq in 2014, opening up two branches, one distribution was: 36.8% in cash and central bank; 24.8% in Irbil and another one in Baghdad, to capitalize on the in securities; 24.7% in loans; and 11.1% in interbank. potential market opportunities in Iraq and its Kurdistan In addition, assets under management increased by a region. This increased the number of countries in which stellar 27.1% to reach $7.2 billion, helping to increase the Bank has an active presence in to 13. fee income to $167.1 million, up by 14.5%. And retail lending continued its robust performance, rising by Success at BLOM BANK is measured by the “Peace 11.5% to $2.7 billion, to the extent that in 2014 the of Mind” that we deliver to our stakeholders. We have Bank’s lending portfolio was structured as: retail 39.2%; always made sure that our clients receive the safest and corporate 25.9%; SMEs 16.7%; project finance 10%; most rewarding returns, and in no small measure similarly real estate 5.7%; and syndicated loans 1%. What is so to our stockholders. Though our earnings per share equally noteworthy is that the Bank’s activities were increased by 2% to $1.61, our market capitalization undertaken with the utmost efficiency, registering a cost- increased to $2.1 billion, up by 11.4%, and our price- earnings ratio rose to 6.1, higher by 9.3% -- both to-income ratio of 38.9%, the lowest among listed banks. increases the highest among the Bank’s comparable They were also accomplished with increasing regional peers. Also, the Bank distributed $0.66 per common diversification since 27% of all activities originated from share as dividends in 2014, amounting to a payout ratio outside Lebanon, a ratio that the Bank aims to increase of 42%. As to our wider community, the Bank did not to 50% in the medium-to long-term. spare any effort in supporting vital social, educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities. Moreover, its path- Being conservative does not mean being static, and breaking CSR activities – namely, BLOM “Giving Card”, this is what we believe in at BLOM BANK. A main driver “BLOM shabeb”, and “ProtectEd” – were meaningfully of the Bank’s strong and steady performance is our recognized, earning BLOM BANK the worthy award of constant renewal and innovation. And the year 2014 “Best CSR Company in 2014” from CSR Lebanon. was no different. In retail, we introduced “Flexi-Loan” that targets the non-domiciliated salary segment, and The mark of a true, prudent bank is that it can strive in the deposit product “Oumniyati” which allows low and bad times and lean against the winds in boom times. medium income individuals to save little amounts. We It is also marked by not being big for bigness and also expanded our card-issuing campaign by signing up scale’s sake, but solid for quality and safety’s sake. We “Le Mall”, the second largest mall operator in Lebanon, as a new partner in our successful “Beirut Traders’ Shopping strongly adhere to this belief at BLOM BANK, and we Card”, co-branded with Beirut Traders Association. have consistently delivered on its promise. The greatest In investment banking, the Bank co-managed in early contributing factor in this achievement has been our 2015 a new Eurobond issue of $1 billion, but due to management team and staff.