Best bank - Blom
Best local partner - Banque Audi
Best debt house - JPMorgan
Blom continues to stand out in Lebanon as the best-run, most efficient, and most profitable bank in the country. The largest bank in the Lebanon, Blom's greatest strength is in the retail sector where it has a consistent record for growth and innovation.
Despite a tough environment, Blom managed to increase its share of deposits from 13.76% to 14.58% in 2002 and to increase its profits from $80.2 million to $83.6 million. In fact, the bank's profits and total assets have increased every year for over a decade. Its conservative approach to risk has also enabled it to maintain the lowest ratio of non-performing loans of any bank in Lebanon. At just 1.04%, Blom's NPL ratio is less than half that of its leading competitors.
Despite Blom's excellent credentials, Banque Audi takes the award for best local partner in Lebanon. Audi is the leader in structuring complex financing deals and is considered the most sophisticated player in the local capital markets. Its good IT infrastructure, extensive branch network and skilled deal makers make it the local partner of choice for some of the largest foreign banks in the region.