FRANSABANK

FRANSABANK
1. A. BACKGROUND AND HISTORY:

Fransabank Group banking and finance legacy dates back to more than ten
decades of excellence supported by its very responsible role in the multi-
dimensional development of the economies and communities it serves. The
Group has succeeded in establishing, developing and consolidating a
competitive edge that earned it a leading position amongst the Lebanese
banking community and the countries into which it expanded. Today,
Fransabank Group has a consolidated presence in five countries: Lebanon,
France, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq and in Ivory Coast. The Group has a strategically
spread branch network all over the country providing the Lebanese
community with all types of banking products and services to satisfy their
personal and professional banking wants and needs.
Fransabank Group succeeded in positioning itself as a forward-looking,
trustworthy, dynamic, innovative, creative, and socially responsible leading
financial Group that has been providing top-notch financial services to its
clients in particular and to the banking industry at large, while always
putting the client at the heart of all its activities. Fransabank Group offers
its large clientele universal banking services mainly through its main
commercial bank, Fransabank SAL, and its local and overseas subsidiaries
and associates.
1921 Fransabank was first established in Beirut as a full

branch of one of the major French banks then, Credit foncier
d'Algerie et de Tunisie.(C.F.A.T)
Fransabank is registered number 1 on the list of banks operating in
Lebanon.
1963 C.F.A.T changed its name to Societe Centrale de
Banque.
1971 Societe centrale de banque in Beirut was acquired by Banque

Francaise pour le Moyen-Orient SAL. (B.F.M.O), a Lebanese Company
whose shares were predominantly owned by Banque Indosuez Group.
1978 Banque Indosuez was also the major shareholder of Banque

Sabbag SAL. Banque Indosuez merged these two banks under the name
of Banque Sabbag et Francaise pour le Moyen-Orient SAL.
1980 Banque Indosuez sold its shares in Banque Sabbag et Francaise

pour le Moyen-Orient SAL to a financial group headed by Messrs.
Adnan and Adel kassar.
1984 The bank's denomination was changed to Fransabank SAL.

Fransabank concluded a cooperation agreement with Credit Agricole
SA-France. It led at first to the joint creation in Paris of Fransabank
(France) SA, and to the participation of Credit Agricole SA- France in
the shareholding of Fransabank SAL. In line with its global strategy,
Credit Agricole SA exited from Fransabank (France) SA in 2007 and
from Fransabank SAL shareholding in 2012. And in 1985, Fransabank
acquired the Assets and Liabilities of Chase Manhattan Bank's branches
in Beirut.
B. Objectives and strategic plans:

Fransabank implemented a Corporate Governance Framework in line with the regulatory requirements
and international best practices. This framework promotes fair and transparent relationship between
the Bank’s management, its Board of Directors, its shareholders and other stakeholders. In addition, it
specifies the distribution of responsibilities among the main concerned parties in the Bank, including
directors and managers; spells out the rules and procedures for making decisions on the Bank’s affairs;
and defines the rights of shareholders.
Fransabank believes in, and is committed to implement sound Corporate Governance practices, which is
considered the basis for its future development, enhanced performance and strong confidence in its
activities, and thus, enabling the Bank to share in the development of the Lebanese banking system and
in turn, in the expansion and growth of the economy.
The Bank is and has always been committed to the highest level of transparency, integrity and
accountability, which has become the cornerstone of its culture. It has implemented a Corporate
Governance Code, which sets out the Bank’s vision, mission and core values and identifies the rights and
responsibilities of each of the Shareholders, Board of Directors, Senior Management, and internal
control functions. This code was approved by Fransabank Board of Directors during 2012 and it was
communicated to the entire Bank’s staff.
Fransabank strategy is to standardize the Corporate Governance practices to all its local and foreign
subsidiaries, taking into consideration the Corporate Governance requirements of host jurisdictions.
C. Description of the Bank's Business:

Investment and Private Banking
Fransa Invest Bank (FIB) is the fully owned investment and private banking subsidiary of
Fransabank Group which was established in 2001.
Mission:
FIB strives to consistently provide its clients with creative financial solutions that make a
difference and bring added value to their investments while keeping an arm's length between
stakeholders' interests and clients' objectives and at the same time, remaining fully transparent
and compliant with international corporate governance standards.
FIB's solutions are unique, combining sound advice, solid investments, finance, advanced
technology, and smooth operations; all designed into comprehensive solutions to:
 Help professionals improve their business success

 Increase the value of the institutional investors business
 Secure that private client achieves his wealth objectives
Corporate Banking
Fransabank provides a diverse range of corporate banking services and products, tailor-made to
suit the needs of its clients.
A team of Fransabank specialized professionals, with broad expertise in the different economic
sectors, is the best partner to offer financial guidance, recognize client’s business needs and
tailor a spectrum of corporate finance services that includes working capital facilities, trade
finance services, project financing and long-term loans within the frame of BDL Circulars.
Corporate financing Services:
 Overdraft Facilities
 Short, Medium and Long Term Loans
 Special Purpose Term Loans
 Post Financing Facilities
 Letters of Credit
 Letters of Guarantee/Bonds
 Discounted Bills
 Foreign Exchange Facilities
SMEs
SMEs are firms whose financial requirements are too large for microfinance, but are too small
to be effectively served by corporate banking models. SMEs represent a large and economically
important sector in nearly every country in the world and Fransabank has long committed to
serve and support these productive sectors of Lebanon’s economy.
Fransabank offers currently comprehensive facilities for its customers that include:
Overdraft facilities: Granted to finance working capital needs for clients (individuals,
establishments and companies) on case by case basis.
Term loan : Used to reschedule &/or monitor an existing facility/loan.
Letter of Guarantee: An irrevocable commitment issued by the bank (the guarantor) in which he
undertakes to pay an amount to a third party (the beneficiary) if a bank customer defaults in a
payment of an obligation to the beneficiary. It could be requested by the client of the bank and
issued on his demand, in different types and under specific conditions:
a. Bid Bond
b. Performance Bond
c. Payment Bond
d. Advance payment
All Letter of guarantees should be provisioned and payable inside Lebanon
D. Competition:
Fransabank belongs to the alpha group; banks with deposits exceeding $2B,
is currently in competition with the following banks: BLOM, BLF, IBL, SGBL,
BOB, AUDI, CreditBank, Fransabank, BankMed, Lebanon and Gulf, FNB,
BBAC, Credit Libanais, and Byblos Bank.
E. The Management:
Board of Directors:
Biographies of Board Members:
Mr. Nadim Kassar

Chairman & General Manager
Born in 1964 - Lebanon
Mr. Nadim Kassar is the Chairman General Manager of Fransabank SAL He

is also Chairman and General Manager of BLC Bank SAL and the Founder
and Chairman of Fransabank El Djazaïr SPA. In 2019, Mr. Kassar was elected
Vice-Chairman for the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), where he was
Board Member since 2001.
Cedars I
Represented By H.E. Mr. Walid Daouk, ESQ
H.E. Mr. Walid Daouk, Esq is a specialized lawyer in commercial law, civil
corporate and property law. He started his career in 1981, as an associate
in Takla & Trad law firm becoming thereafter a partner. In 2005, he
occupied the position of Vice Chairman at the International Affairs
Commission at the Beirut Bar Association, and in 2008, he became a
member of the Arbitration Commission. In 2011, he was appointed Minister
of Information and Minister of Justice per interim. After the termination of
his appointment in 2014, he resumed his practice as lawyer, legal
consultant and managing partner in above mentioned firm. He is a lawyer
and legal advisor for multinational and Lebanese companies performing
business in various fields. Also, he is a Board member of many corporations
in Lebanon and abroad including Fransabank (France) SA, Fransabank El
Djazaïr SPA, Bancassurance SAL, Beirut Waterfront Development SAL,
Tourism and Hotel Development Company SAL.
Cedars II
Represented by Mr. Adel Kassar
Mr. Adel Kassar is the Executive Deputy General Manager of FRANSABANK

SAL and member of the Board of Directors of FRANSABANK (France) SA. He
is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of
Bancassurance SAL and Lebanese Leasing Company SAL. He is member of
the Board of Directors of BLC Bank SAL. He and his brother Adnan acquired
FRANSABANK in 1980.
Mr. Rafic Charafeddine

Mr. Rafic Charafeddine is a businessman, and has participations in various

companies. He deals in construction projects and real estate investments.
Mr. Henri de Courtivron

Born in 1950 - France
Mr. Henri de Courtivron joined Indosuez Bank in 1977. He was appointed to

various management positions within the international network of the bank
in Singapore and in London and seconded to its affiliate bank in Saudi
Arabia, Banque Saudi Fransi, before returning to the Head Office in Paris.
From 2007 to 2013, he served in Paris as Managing Director of Fransabank
(France) SA, where he currently is a Board Member. He is also a member of
the Board of Directors of BLC Bank in Beirut and of Kyrgyz Investment and
Credit Bank in the Kyrgyz Republic. In 2015, he has been elected consular
judge at the Paris Commercial Court. He graduated from ESCP Europe and
holds a degree in economics from Paris X University.
Mr. Ghantous Gemayel
Mr. Ghantous Gemayel has more than 20 years of commercial and

investment banking experience in Lebanon and abroad. Mr. Gemayel began
his banking career at Fransabank Group in 2001 as a Senior Manager in
Fransa Invest Bank (FIB), the former investment arm of Fransabank SAL and
was later elected as an Independent Member in its Board in 2017. In 2009,
he was appointed Deputy Head of the Corporate Banking Department at
Fransabank SAL.

FRANSABANK

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FRANSABANK

1. A. BACKGROUND AND HISTORY:

1921 Fransabank was first established in Beirut as a full

1971 Societe centrale de banque in Beirut was acquired by Banque

1978 Banque Indosuez was also the major shareholder of Banque

1980 Banque Indosuez sold its shares in Banque Sabbag et Francaise

1984 The bank's denomination was changed to Fransabank SAL.

B. Objectives and strategic plans:

C. Description of the Bank's Business:

 Help professionals improve their business success

Corporate financing Services:

Mr. Nadim Kassar

Mr. Nadim Kassar is the Chairman General Manager of Fransabank SAL He

Mr. Adel Kassar is the Executive Deputy General Manager of FRANSABANK

Mr. Rafic Charafeddine

Mr. Rafic Charafeddine is a businessman, and has participations in various

Mr. Henri de Courtivron

Mr. Henri de Courtivron joined Indosuez Bank in 1977. He was appointed to

Mr. Ghantous Gemayel has more than 20 years of commercial and

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