Bank Audi sal – Audi Saradar Group was granted the “Best Bank in Lebanon” award, at the 2007 Euromoney Awards for Excellence Middle East ceremony, on June 13, 2007.
As the voice of the international capital markets, Euromoney Magazine has offered, for 38 years, unparalleled coverage of the global bond, equity and foreign exchange markets. Its annual Awards for Excellence program has been running for sixteen years and forms a benchmark for financial institutions featuring high-quality products and services across all areas of commercial and investment banking. The selection of Best Bank Awards is based on quantitative and qualitative criteria such as KPI’s, financial ratios, and innovation over the 12-month period. This year’s awards process has attracted over 100 submissions from the region’s banks and brokerage houses.
The esteemed Euromoney recognition for Bank Audi’s performance and regional expansion, was translated in its annual Best Bank Award which was remitted during a gala dinner for the Middle East Award winners at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The event was hosted by Euromoney and was attended by around 200 prominent guests comprising top executives of the banking sector and regional financial institutions.
On this occasion, Mr. Simon Brady, CEO of Euromoney Magazine stated: "The Best Bank Award went to Bank Audi for its significant growth potential. Bank Audi has delivered excellent results in difficult political conditions and continued its shrewd strategy of international expansion. Funded by the largest capital increase ever in the Lebanese banking sector, when it raised its capital to US$1.7 billion, the Bank is now represented in seven Middle East countries. Delivering US$165 million in consolidated profits, Bank Audi is fast joining the ranks of the very few Middle Eastern banks which can be called regional institutions."
Mr. Raymond Audi, Chairman and General Manager of Bank Audi sal – Audi Saradar Group, commented: “ We truly appreciate being selected by Euromoney as Best Bank in Lebanon, as an acknowledgement of our permanent development and expansion efforts. Coming for the 6 th time in recent years, such recognition actually means a lot to us, in view of the esteemed and distinguished position Euromoney holds in financial circles worldwide. This represents a significant recognition and an additional incentive for us to pursue our efforts in terms of new business development, product and service diversification and cross border expansion towards captive markets in our Middle Eastern and North African region at large.”
Founded in Lebanon in 1962, Bank Audi sal – Audi Saradar Group is a regional Bank with three fully owned subsidiaries in Lebanon, two in Europe, 5 in the Middle East and North Africa, a branch network in Jordan and a representative office in Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates. Bank Audi has a universal banking profile covering commercial, retail, private and investment banking activities, in addition to bancassurance. At end 2006, consolidated assets of the Bank reached US$ 14.2 billion and US$ 19.2 billion when including fiduciary deposits, security accounts and assets under management. Shareholders’ equity stood at US$ 1.7 billion. According to those criteria, the Bank is currently ranked among the top two banks in Lebanon and the 20 largest banking groups in the Middle East