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Historical Milestones


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  • 1921
    ​Fransabank was first established in Beirut as a full branch of one of the major French banks, Crédit Foncier d'Algérie et de Tunisie (C.F.A.T.).

    Fransabank is registered n° 1 on the list of banks operating in Lebanon, it is the oldest Bank in the country.
  • 1963
    C.F.A.T. changed its name to Société Centrale de Banque.
  • 1971
    Société Centrale de Banque in Beirut was acquired by Banque Française pour le Moyen-Orient SAL (B.F.M.O.), a Lebanese company whose shares were predominantly owned by Banque Indosuez Group.
  • 1979

    ​​Banque Indosuez (now Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank – CACIB which is the investment arm of Crédit Agricole SA) was also the major shareholders of Banque Sabbag SAL. Banque Indosuez merged these two banks under the name of Banque Sabbag et Française pour le Moyen-Orient SAL.
  • 1980

    ​Banque Indosuez sold its shares in Banque Sabbag et Française pour le Moyen-Orient SAL to a financial group headed by Messrs. Adnan & Adel Kassar.
  • 1984

      The Bank's denomination was changed to Fransabank SAL.

      Fransabank concluded a cooperation agreement with Crédit Agricole SA – France. It led at first to the joint creation in Paris of Fransabank (France) SA, and to the participation of Crédit Agricole SA - France in the shareholding of Fransabank SAL. In line with its global strategy, Crédit Agricole SA exited from Fransabank (France) SA in 2007 and from Fransabank SAL shareholding in 2012. ​
  • 1985

    ​Fransabank acquired the Assets & Liabilities of Chase Manhattan Bank's branches in Beirut.

  • 1993

    Fransabank acquired Banque Tohmé SAL.

    ​
  • 1995

    Fransabank concluded an agreement with Deutsche Investitions Und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (D.E.G.), which led to the acquisition by D.E.G of 5% of the Bank’s share capital.

    Fransabank established the Lebanese Leasing Company SAL.
  • 1997

      A private placement of shares took place, pursuant to which 5% of the Bank's shares were sold to Lebanese, Arab and foreign investors.

      The Public Institution for Social Security – Kuwait acquired 2% of the Bank's share capital. ​
  • 1998

    ​Fransabank acquired Universal Bank SAL.

  • 1999
    Fransabank and Predica SA – the insurance arm of Crédit Agricole SA – France established Bancassurance SAL.
  • 2001
      Fransa Invest Bank (FIB), investment banking subsidiary of Fransabank started its operations.​
  • 2002

    ​Fransabank acquired United Bank of Saudi & Lebanon SAL.

  • 2003

    ​Fransabank acquired all the shares of Banque de la Békaa SAL. Subsequently, in 2007, the Bank sold Banque de la Békaa.
  • 2005

    Fransabank became one of the major shareholders (37.067%) of Bank of Beirut & the Arab Countries SAL (BBAC).

  • 2006

     Fransabank was the first Lebanese Bank to enter the Algerian market with the    opening of its subsidiary Fransabank El Djazaïr SPA.

     Fransabank launched its operations in Sudan through an associate bank, United Capital Bank.

  • 2007
    Advised Fransabank on acquiring BLC bank, “Deal of the year 2008”
  • 2008
    Advised Fransabank on acquiring Golden Taler Bank in Belarus
       
    Involved in the launching of Fransabank Syria IPO

    Acted as placement agent for the issue of Fransabank Series A preferred shares, “Deal of the year 2009”
  • 2009

    Arranged and participated in a USD 12 million loan to finance the completion of the first phase of a USD 90 million real estate project in Al Abadiyeh
  • 2010

    Acted as placement agent for Fransabank’s second issue of preferred shares,  series B

    Acted as co-lead manager for the USD 1.2 Billion of the Republic of Lebanon Eurobond issue
  • 2011

    Represented Fransabank Group in a selected committee of prime Lebanese commercial banks for discussing the role of the Lebanese banking sector in the public sector’s projects initiated under the new Public Private Partnership (PPP)

    Participated in the USD 175 million senior secured term loan to the second largest insurance company in the region, “Deal of the Year 2012 - Loans - Middle East”

    Acted as co-lead manager for two Republic of Lebanon Eurobond issues, totaling about USD 3 billion
  • 2012

    Awarded "Best Investment Bank in Lebanon 2012” by The World Finance

    Participated in the USD 400 million acquisition financing of Medgulf Insurance, “Deal of the Year 2012’ – Loans – Middle East"

    Acted as co-lead manager for the Republic of Lebanon voluntary debt exchange offer for Eurobonds totaling USD 1.98 billion, “Highly Commended Deal of the Year 2012 – Bonds: Sovereigns, Supras and Agencies – Middle East"
  • 2013

    ​Launched its first fund, Fransa Invest Beehive Fund, an open-ended, global balanced fund established in the Republic of Lebanon

    Conducted financial and legal due diligence and advised Fransabank Group on a participation in a USD 1 Billion senior secured syndicated loan to one of the most prominent regional construction group
  • 2014
     Fransabank inaugurated its two new branches in Baghdad ​and in Erbil – Kurdistan, Iraq

     Fransabank acquired Ahli International Bank SAL

     Fransabank issued its series D preferred shares for USD 85 million as additional Tier 1 capital​