Qatar- QFIB net income rises to QR94m 

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), Qatar's independent investment bank regulated by Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority, reported total income of 233.7m (QR850.6m) and a net income of QR94m, representing a 20 percent increase over 2010. Total capital invested to date reached 333m (QR1.212bn).

The company held its Annual General Meeting(AGM) followed by an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) yesterday. The AGM approved the Bank's audited financial results for 2011, QFIB's third full year of operation, marking a number of significant milestones across all of QFIB's business units. The Extraordinary General Meeting addressed several issues including QFIB's proposed listing on Qatar's Stock Exchange by the end of 2012.

QFIB Chairman Abdulla bin Fahad bin Ghorab Al Marri said: "The year 2011 was full of challenges for investment banking in the region. The still-daunting European sovereign debt crisis and closer home, the Arab Spring certainly impacted the global and regional economies. Fortunately for us, the GCC economies were slightly shielded from this market instability mainly due to strong oil prices and robust government spending."

He said: "Navigating the prevailing market conditions, we continued to maintain a strategic and prudent approach to principal investment acquisitions and when managing liquidity. The result is a sound balance sheet coupled with strong performance and dividend distribution. Furthermore, winning the accolade of "Best Investment Bank in the GCC" in the Islamic Business and Finance Category from CPI financial is a clear testament that the bank is on the right path to becoming a regional investment player."

For the second consecutive year, the AGM ratified the distribution of a cash dividend of 6 percent of paid share capital to QFIB shareholders. The AGM also marked the election of the board of directors for another period of three years and the re-election of the bank's auditors for a year.

The EGM approved filing of an application with the Qatar Financial Markets Authority to list QFIB shares on the Qatar Exchange in accordance with the laws of Qatar. This strategic move will provide the existing shareholders with the ability trade their shares on the Qatar Exchange and will provide QFIB with access to capital for future acquisitions and growth plans.

In order to facilitate the listing process, the EGM approved to change the currency denomination of the bank from US Dollar to Qatari Riyals. Furthermore, the EGM approved to re-adjust the authorised capital of the bank from 1bn (QR3.65bn) to 550m (QR2bn) in a step to waive the remaining non-paid portion of the authorised capital.

The EGM also approved to amend the bank's name to become "Qatar First Bank". This initiative will better reflect the future plans of the bank, where it hopes to build upon its strong foundation and successful track record to become a full-fledged financial institution offering a suite of services ranging from commercial banking and investment banking to asset management.