Jordan’s Capital Bank Agrees to Buy Assets From Lebanon’s Bank Audi

The logo of Bank Audi is seen at the main entrance of the Bank's head office in Beirut, Lebanon January 24, 2017. (Reuters)
The logo of Bank Audi is seen at the main entrance of the Bank's head office in Beirut, Lebanon January 24, 2017. (Reuters)
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Jordan’s Capital Bank Agrees to Buy Assets From Lebanon’s Bank Audi

The logo of Bank Audi is seen at the main entrance of the Bank's head office in Beirut, Lebanon January 24, 2017. (Reuters)
The logo of Bank Audi is seen at the main entrance of the Bank's head office in Beirut, Lebanon January 24, 2017. (Reuters)

Jordan’s Capital Bank Group finalized a deal on Tuesday to acquire top Lebanese lender Bank Audi’s businesses in Iraq and Jordan in move to diversify and expand its operations, the bank’s chairman said.

Both parties agreed not to disclose the value of the deal, which has secured the necessary approvals from Jordan’s Central Bank and the Central Bank of Iraq, Capital Bank Group Chairman Bassem Al-Salem told Reuters.

“This agreement responds to Capital Bank’s plans to enhance its competitive position and expand its regional and local expansion in Jordan and Iraq,” Al-Salem said.

It will increase Amman-based Capital Bank Group’s assets by about a third to around 3.7 billion Jordanian dinars ($5.23 billion).

Shareholders equity will exceed 400 million dinars.

Bank Audi expanded in Jordan and Iraq as part of an aggressive regional push before a major financial crisis hit Lebanon and paralysed its banks, forcing some of them to try to divest assets.



Saudi Minister of Finance Approves 2025 Annual Borrowing Plan

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Finance Approves 2025 Annual Borrowing Plan

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Abdullah Al-Jadaan approved on Sunday the Annual Borrowing Plan for the fiscal year 2025, following its endorsement by the Board of Directors of the National Debt Management Center.

The plan highlights key developments in public debt for 2024, initiatives related to local debt markets, and the funding plan and its guiding principles for 2025, in addition to the 2025 issuances’ calendar for the Local Saudi Sukuk Issuance Program in Saudi Riyal.

According to the plan, the projected funding needs for 2025 are estimated at approximately SAR139 billion. The amount is intended to cover the anticipated budget deficit of SAR101 billion for the fiscal year 2025, as outlined in the Ministry of Finance’s Official Budget Statement, and the principals’ repayment of the debts maturing in the current year, 2025, amounting to approximately SAR38 billion.

To boost the sustainability of the Kingdom's access to various debt markets and broaden the investor base, Saudi Arabia aims in 2025 to continue diversifying local and international financing channels to efficiently meet funding needs.

This will be achieved through the issuance of sovereign debt instruments at fair pricing, guided by well-defined and robust risk management frameworks.

Additionally, the Kingdom plans to benefit from market opportunities by executing private transactions that can promote economic growth, such as export credit agency financing, infrastructure development project financing, capital expenditure (CAPEX) financing, and exploring tapping into new markets and currencies based on market conditions.