Ahlibank’s Net Profit QR 675.2 million for the year ended 2019
19 January 2020
Doha, 19 January, 2020 - Ahli Bank QPSC (ABQK) is pleased to announce a net profit of QR 675.2 million for the year ended 2019 with an increase of 1.5% over 2018 (2018 :- QR 665.5 million)
The following is a summary of the Bank’s strong financial standing:
- The Bank’s Balance Sheet grew by 8.7% over December 2018 to QR 43,915 million.
- Loans and Advances grew by 14.8% over December 2018 to QR 31,591 million
- Investment Securities grew by 27.1% over December 2018 to QR 7,521 million
- Customer Deposits grew by 17.2% over December 2018 to QR 25,500 million
- Cost to Income Ratio for 2019 improved to 27.3% from 28.1% in 2018 reflecting efficient management of the Bank’s operations.
- The Return on Average Assets (ROAA) and Return on Average Equity (ROAE) stood steady at 1.7% and 11.9% respectively, despite an increase in balance sheet size and equity base.
- Total Capital Adequacy Ratio as of December 2019 stood at a healthy 17.1%, reflecting strong capital position of the Bank.
Commenting on the results,
Sheikh Faisal Bin AbdulAziz Bin Jassem Al-Thani, Chairman and Managing Director of Ahlibank stated: “We are very pleased with our performance for this year, as the Key Growth drivers were positively reflected in the overall Business Growth. The Bank has successfully met one of its Key Strategic Objectives of improving Stable Funding by completing the third bond issuance for US$ 500 Million under its US$ 1.5 Billion EMTN Programme in the International Debt Capital markets. The issue was oversubscribed by more than three times with orders from more than 85 investors from Asia, MENA and Europe. This demonstrates the continued vote of confidence from international investors in both Qatar and Ahlibank.
As a further testimony to our performance, Ahlibank continues to enjoy higher Credit Ratings A2/P1 from Moodys and is the second highest Rated conventional Bank in Qatar after QNB. Fitch Ratings has also affirmed Ahlibank’s Long Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'A'.”
The Chairman further added, “On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to thank our customers for their loyalty, the shareholders for their confidence in our mission, the management and staff for all their dedication and hard work, and extend a special gratitude to Qatar Central Bank for their uninterrupted guidance and support.”
The Board of Directors of Ahlibank has proposed a cash dividend of 15% (QR 0.15 per share) and a bonus share of 5% (1 new share for every 20 shares held) as the dividend distribution for the year 2019. The dividend proposal takes into account maximisation of shareholders’ wealth, the Bank’s internal capital requirements, liquidity and balance sheet growth projections.
These results are subject to the final approval of the Qatar Central Bank and the shareholders in the General Assembly.