Best bank
Hansabankas
Best debt house
Parex Bank
Best equities house
Suprema Securities
Best M&A house
Suprema Securities
Three banks dominate: Hansabankas, Latvijas Unibanka and Parex Bank. Hansabankas scoops best bank for its consistent market shares and strong performance figures.
Unibanka has the biggest market share in loans and Parex the biggest in the deposits market. However, Hansabankas is the most consistent, with the second-largest share of both the loans and deposits markets. The bank?s corporate banking lending portfolio increased by 30% year on year, its SME loan portfolio increased by 113% during 2003 and trade finance volumes were up 34% to reach $84 million. In addition, Hansabankas had the highest turnover on the Riga stock exchange in 2003.
The bank was also the most profitable, with good return on equity and return on assets ratios. Profits were up by 39% to Lats14.6 million ($27.3 million). Parex?s profit reached Lats13.423 million, 44% up. Unibanka?s profit was Lats13.3 million.
The largest primary market debt transaction completed was the e400 million issue for the Republic of Latvia. Citigroup was sole bookrunner and Parex Bank, Unibanka and Nord/LB were co-managers.