In accordance to the transparency principle, disclosure and fair access to information for all investors and to preserve the stability of the market, Bank of Palestine announced its success in attracting a number of international investment funds, local and expatriates Palestinians and Gulf investors, particularly from Kuwait, as Mr. Qais Abdullah Thunayan Al-Ghanim, an investor for the past eight years, raised his share in the Bank’s stocks to 5%.
These purchasing transactions are due Kuwait Kharafi Group, one of the investors in Bank of Palestine’s shares, to sell its entire share today, in the value of about 7% of the Bank’s shares, due to reasons particular to the Group. The Group has invested in the Bank’s shares for nearly eight years, as they believed in the vitality and stability of the Palestinian banking sector, which reflects their trust in the standards adopted by Palestinian Monetary Authority, Palestine Capital Market Authority and Palestine’s stock exchange to preserve the rights and property of shareholders in the Palestinian financial institutions.
Al-Wasata Securities Co., a subsidiary of Bank of Palestine, arranged the transaction so that all shares are bought by investors without affecting the stability of the market and the price of Bank of Palestine’s shares in the stock exchange.
Bank of Palestine continuously seeks to expand its shareholder’s base, as the number of Bank of Palestine shareholders increased by 70% since its stock was listed in Palestine stock exchange in 2005; the Bank also established a unit for investor relations in 2011, in order for the Bank to communicate with current and potential shareholders on a regular basis and provide them with information about the Bank’s performance and the Palestinian market. The Bank also organizes and participates in a number of promotional tours in many countries in the Middle Ease, Europe, North and South America. In addition, the Bank created a new website dedicated for investor relations (www.bop.ps/en/ir), to publish all information related to the Bank in accordance with corporate governance system, which combines the best international practices and systems in Palestine. The Bank provides investment information in a clear and simple manner and accessible to all investors, Fund Managers and international financial media channels. These efforts and activities were culminated by the Bank obtaining the “Best Company for Investor Relations in Palestine” award by Middle East Investor Relations Society, for the third consecutive year.
The Bank recently participated in the activities of the eleventh EFG-Hermes Conference, which was held in Dubai and included meetings with more than 107 companies from the Arab world and 200 Arab and international financial institutions, funds and investment banks. This contributed in enhancing the Bank’s relations with these institutions and inform them about the economic and investment environment, to enhance their trust in the Bank and the Palestinian economy and banking sector.