02 September, 2010 - Qatar National Bank Group (QNB) and Bank Kesawan recently signed a “Letter of Intent” which, when complete, would make QNB the “Standby Buyer” for a planned Rights Issue and may result in QNB Group becoming the controlling shareholder of the Indonesia-based bank.
The conclusion of the transaction remains subject to obtaining all relevant regulatory and shareholder approvals in Indonesia and upon the completion of an already initiated due diligence process, by an independent third party. The rights issue is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.
Bank Kesawan currently operates a network of 33 branches throughout Indonesia, with total assets of approximately 2.3 Trillion Indonesian Rp. (US$260 million) and shareholders’ equity of approximately 180 Billion Indonesian Rp. (US$20 million), with a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 12%.
QNB is the leading financial institution in the state of Qatar and one of the largest banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with branches, offices and affiliates in 24 countries spanning Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, and Asia.
At 30 June 2010, QNB’s net profit reached QR2.7 billion, up 30.8% on the net profit delivered in June 2009. During the same period, Total assets grew to QR186.0 billion, representing an increase of 26.5%. Total equity attributable to the Bank’s shareholders also grew since June 2009 to QR21.1 billion, representing an increase of QR3.4 billion, or 19.0%.
QNB’s capital adequacy ratio, meanwhile, remains at an extremely healthy 13.2% compared to the minimum capital standard of 8% prescribed by Basel II and the 10% mandated by the Qatar Central Bank.
The Letter of Intent with Bank Kesawan supports QNB’s international expansion plans, which in recent years have become an integral part of the Bank’s growth strategy and commitment to diversify the sources of its revenue by exploring new and promising opportunities.
QNB reinforced its international position by opening its first branch in Mauritania recently and obtaining regulatory approval to operate in Lebanon.
QNB Group provides a full range of banking services and products for individuals, corporate entities and governments. These include conventional retail, corporate, treasury, private (QNB Private) and investment banking (QNB Capital) services, as well as a broad range of bespoke Islamic banking solutions through QNB Al Islami, the Group’s Islamic banking arm, which is one of the fastest growing Islamic banking windows in the GCC region.
Bank Kesawan was founded in 1913 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is one of the leading financial institutions in the country and is currently targeting growth to meet the growing demands of one of the fastest growing emerging market economies in Asia.