Sharjah Islamic Bank Net Profits Rose by 13% and Propose to Distribute 10% Bonus Shares

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates-Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has announced its 2016 financial results and achieved a net profit of AED 462.9 million in 2016 compared to AED 409.9 million last year; a 13% increase. SIB Board of Directors will propose a 10% bonus shares dividend, one share for each existing 10 shares, during the next AGM meeting. 

Total assets reached AED 33.5 billion at the end of 2016 compared to AED 29.9 billion at the end of 2015, representing an increase of 12%.

On the asset side of the balance sheet, customer financing reached AED 17.1 billion at the end of 2016 compared to AED 16.3 billion at the end of 2015, an increase of 4.5%. Investment in securities, which mainly represent investment in sovereign and investment grade rated tradable Sukuk, increased significantly by 73.7% to reach AED 4.1 billion compared to AED 2.4 billion at the end of 2015.

Moreover, SIB continues its strategy to maintain liquid assets ratio above 22% of total assets and has reached AED 7.8 billion or 23.4% at the end 2016. Displaying a strong liquidity position, during May 2016 SIB repaid a Sukuk amounting to USD 400 million through its own sources, before issuing the latest Sukuk last September.

On the liability side, despite the tight liquidity during the year, SIB successfully attracted more customer deposits during the year to reach AED 18.3 billion growing by AED 1.4 billion or 8.1% compared to AED 17.0 billion at the end of 2015.

As part of the SIB’s ongoing strategy to continue to diversify the funding sources, the bank has successfully issued a new five years Sukuk of USD 500 million during September 2016, as part of USD 3 billion medium terms Sukuk approved programme. SIB currently has three outstanding Sukuk totaling USD 1.5 billion.

This transaction is testament to investors’ confidence in SIB’s long term operating model and business strategy, and represents another key milestone in the bank growth strategy.

Lending to stable deposits ratio (LSRR) reached 69.3%, which is well below the Central Bank requirement.

SIB is strongly capitalized with a strong capital adequacy of 21.35% as at 31 December 2016. Shareholders’ equity reached AED 4.9 billion or 14.5% of total assets.

Non-performing receivables/NPL’s ratio has improved and declined from 6.3% to 5.9%. Despite this improvement SIB has strengthened its financial position by increasing the provisions coverage ratio to reach 100.1% of the NPL’s in 2016 as compared to 86.1% in 2015.

On the income statement side, despite the impact of SIB’s improved coverage ratio, SIB has made an additional provision of AED 254.8 million and reported a net profit of AED 462.9 million in 2016 compared to AED 409.9 million in 2015.

As a result of these achievements, Return on Average Shareholders’ Equity (ROAE) reached 9.68% by the end of 2016 compared to 8.82% in 2015, while Return on Average Assets (ROAA) stood at 1.46% by the end of 2016 compared to 1.47% in 2015.

Earnings per share stand at AED 0.19 for the year 2016, as compared to AED 0.17 for the year 2015, an improvement of 11.8%.


Contacts

SAHARA Communications

Wafa Ahmad 

Senior Account Manager, +971-4-3298996, wafa@saharagcc.com   


Permalink : http://me-newswire.net/news/3286/en

IMA Middle East Conducts Train the Trainer Workshop in Doha, Qatar

Dubai, United Arab Emirates -Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants), the association of accountants and financial professionals in business, has announced its upcoming Train the Trainer workshop in Doha, Qatar on February 17-19, 2017.

The workshop is intended for current and potential CMA trainers to enhance their delivery and teaching skills in the field of management accounting. Trainers will obtain a Certificate of Completion from the IMA that they can use to become a respected CMA Trainer or start their own enterprise such as a training center offering CMA review classes.

“CMA Trainers handle adult learners. Aside from needing outstanding presentation skills, a prerequisite is to establish their credibility first as they train people who are professionals in the field of accounting and finance,” states Hanady Khalife, Director of Operations, IMA Middle East/Africa region.

“The IMA is conducting these workshops to ensure that CMA exam preparation courses are being administered in the best possible manner, while equipping CMA trainers with modern training methodologies that cater to the diverse platform of CMA candidates,” adds Khalife.

The CMA is IMA’s flagship certification and is the leading management accounting credential in the world. 

Globally, more than 6,000 new candidates have enrolled in the CMA program so far in Fiscal Year 2017.  In the Middle East and Africa region, the IMA has 14,349 members out of which 2,506 are CMAs.

Previously, the IMA has conducted two workshops in Cairo, Egypt and Manama, Bahrain. A total of 21 participants have become IMA-certified CMA trainers from these two workshops.

“We were very keen during the workshop to provide and showcase the latest training methods for CMA trainers, through interactive, activity based sessions that focused on the presentation skills required in delivering different areas of accounting and finance,” states financial consultant Ammar Al Khayat, CMA, who serves as IMA’s Trainer.

“I highly recommend the workshop to anyone looking for growth in the CMA training industry. Finance professionals need to realize that growth in the industry also means building your self-confidence in the field of public speaking. This course was definitely a step forward towards my career goals,” concludes Zainab Mearaj, one of the workshop participants in Manama, Bahrain who is now an IMA-certified CMA Trainer. To register for the workshop, visit www.imamiddleeast.org/ttt

About IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)

IMA®, the association of accountants and financial professionals in business, is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 80,000 members in 140 countries and 300 professional and student chapters. Headquartered in Montvale, N.J., USA, IMA provides localized services through its four global regions: The Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Middle East/Africa. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imamiddleeast.org.

Contacts

Janice Sevilla  

+971 56 208 8948

janice.sevilla@imanet.org

Permalink : http://me-newswire.net/news/3285/en

Ibsen Awards: International Funds for Theatre Performances.

SKIEN, Norway-Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ibsen Awards are announcing The Ibsen Scholarships 2017.

Funds amounting to NOK 2.000.000,- (approx. Euro 221.000,- /USD 235.000,-) are awarded theatre projects worldwide.

The Scholarships are applicable to individual artists, theatre companies, organizations and institutions.

Scholarships guidelines:

    The Ibsen Scholarships award innovative theatre projects.
    The projects must act as incentives for critical discourse in regards to existential and society-related subject matters concerning Henrik Ibsen’s plays.
    Applications are submitted electronically through www.ibsenawards.com.
    Performances already staged are not eligible.

The Scholarships are awarded biennially and the applications are subject to scrutiny by an appointed jury.

The Ibsen Scholarships were initiated by the Norwegian government and will be handed out for the 9th time in 2017.

Ibsen Awards has until now handed out 29 scholarships in 22 different countries.

The application deadline for The Ibsen Scholarships is April 30th 2017.

The winners of The Ibsen Scholarships 2017 will be presented at Skien International Ibsen Conference October 18. and 19. at Teater Ibsen in Skien, Norway.

For further information, statutes and application form, kindly visit our website www.ibsenawards.com.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibsenawards/

Contacts

Teater Ibsen
Hilde Guri Bohlin
Email: hildeguri@teateribsen.no
Phone: +47 35 90 50 50
Cell: + 47 917 67 903

Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3288/en

Hilton Honors Unveils More of What Matters Most: Industry-First Benefits Including Amazon Shop with Points

Hilton and Hilton Honors Also Introduce New Branding


MCLEAN, Va. -Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton (NYSE: HLT), the world’s fastest-growing hospitality company, today announced industry-first benefits for all 60 million members of its award-winning guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors, including Shop with Points at Amazon.com.

Guided by extensive consumer feedback, Hilton Honors is now the first and only loyalty program that will offer members the choice to flexibly combine Points and money for a hotel stay, to use their Points at Amazon.com, to allow family and friends to combine their Points for free, and the ability to extend Diamond status when life puts travel on pause.

Today, Hilton also introduces a new corporate identity and logo for Hilton and Hilton Honors. This rebranding comes at a time when Hilton is more simplified and streamlined than ever, after the successful spin-offs of its real estate and timeshare businesses.

MORE USEFUL WAYS TO USE POINTS: SHOP WITH POINTS AT AMAZON.COM

Today, Hilton announced that starting this summer, Hilton Honors members will be able to use their Points to purchase products on Amazon.com.

“At Hilton, we are committed to continually innovating to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton. “Enabling our Hilton Honors members to use their Points to shop at Amazon.com, along with the other industry-first perks we’re announcing today, are some of the many ways we are honoring that commitment.”

MORE FLEXIBILITY TO USE HILTON HONORS POINTS: POINTS & MONEY

Hilton Honors is the only guest loyalty program where members can redeem their Points for an award night or a stay using a flexible combination of Points and money. Beginning in late February, members can use the new Hilton Honors Points & Money slider to select how many Points they want to redeem toward a room. This means members will now be able to use their Points faster for hotel stays, any time, with no blackout dates.

MORE VALUABLE BENEFITS: POINTS POOLING

Beginning in April, Hilton Honors members will be able to combine – or “pool” – their Points with up to 10 friends or family members for free. A total of 11 members can pool their Points for stays in great locations for family reunions, bachelorette parties or any other event that brings people together.

NEW BENEFIT FOR DIAMOND MEMBERS

Whether bringing home a newborn, going back to school or launching a new career, Hilton Honors’ most loyal members have shared that life sometimes puts travel on pause. Beginning in March, eligible Diamond members may receive a one-time, one-year extension of their status – for any reason. No other hospitality industry program offers this level of flexibility.

“These new perks revolutionize how all Hilton Honors members can use their Points. Frequent travelers told us they want more flexibility while less frequent travelers want to be able to use their Points in more ways and more quickly,” said Mark Weinstein, senior vice president and global head, customer engagement, loyalty and partnerships. “Now more than ever, Hilton Honors is the most flexible, useful, and valuable guest loyalty program – giving our members more of what they want most.”

NEW BRANDING TO REFLECT EVOLUTION

Hilton Honors members will notice an update to the program’s name and logo, shifting from HHonors (with two H’s) to Honors. This rebranding is reflective of the continual evolution of Honors.

As part of the rebranding, Hilton has revealed a new corporate identity and logo. From today forward, the company will no longer use “Worldwide” in its name and be known simply as “Hilton.”

Today’s Hilton Honors announcement is the latest in Hilton’s “firsts” for the hospitality industry. Digital check-in with room selection, the industry’s first-and-only way for travelers to check in and select the exact room they want, is available worldwide at more than 4,700 hotels and has been used more than 22 million times since it launched in the summer of 2014. And Hilton guests can now access their rooms through the Hilton Honors app via Digital Key, currently available in nearly 800 hotels, and with 2,500 hotels around the globe expected to offer the service by the end of 2017.

For more information about these new Hilton Honors perks, click here. To enroll in Hilton Honors, click here. It’s fast, free and easy to join.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, with a portfolio of 14 world-class brands comprising more than 4,900 properties with over 800,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. Hilton is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company by delivering exceptional experiences – every hotel, every guest, every time. The company's portfolio includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton Honors. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose exactly how many Points to combine with cash, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Visit newsroom.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors is the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 14 world-class brands comprising nearly 4,900 properties with more than 800,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. With more than 60 million members, Hilton Honors offers hundreds of ways to earn and redeem Points. Members can redeem their Points for free nights, premium merchandise or items at Amazon.com with Amazon Shop with Points, as well as make charitable contributions or gain access to unique events through the Hilton Honors auction platform (hiltonhonors.com/auctions), such as exclusive artist experiences and hotel concert events with Live Nation®, or race experiences with the McLaren-Honda Formula 1 team. The program is free to join, and travelers may enroll online by visiting www.HiltonHonors.com or connect with Hilton Honors at news.hiltonhonors.com.

Contacts

Blake Rouhani
Hilton
+1 703 883 6615
blake.rouhani@hilton.com







Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3284/en

SES Continues to Lead HDTV Development

 SES Largest Provider of HD Channels with 14% Growth in Europe in 2016



LUXEMBOURG -Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SES S.A. (Euronext Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) continues to lead High Definition TV (HDTV) development representing the largest HD and Ultra HD (UHD) platform.

In 2016, the number of HD channels on the SES fleet grew by 7% to 2,495 channels. Today, 33% of all the 7,538 channels on the SES fleet are in HD, with SES carrying 27% of all HD channels globally. In addition, over 60% of all channels on SES’s fleet are now broadcast in the MPEG-4 compression standard.

The on-going trend of the increasing HDTV penetration in Europe was the key driver of SES’s overall HDTV development, where the number of HDTV channels grew by 14% to more than 750 channels. This performance was complemented by the growth in HDTV across the Americas.

SES is also continuing to maintain its strong momentum in the introduction of commercial agreements now secured for 21 UHD channels, compared with eight channels a year ago. Today, SES is broadcasting nearly 50% of all the UHD channels carried over satellite globally.

In 2016, the acquisition of RR Media and the subsequent creation of MX1 through a merger with SES Platform Services supported SES’s unrivalled market traction on new HDTV and UHD channels across Europe and North America, as well as the further expansion of SES’s Video business across fast-growing emerging markets.

The launch of SES-9 and the continued development of SES’s HD and Ultra HD business were also significant factors supporting growth in Asian markets, where the company is applying its differentiated strategy. The launch of SES-10 and SES-15 later this year will deliver further growth potential for the Americas.

“With more TV channels than ever before, this confirms SES’s leading role as a TV broadcasting infrastructure and driver of global digitisation” said Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer of SES. “Through the growth of its channels portfolio and through major acquisitions in 2016, SES is exceptionally well placed to leverage major growth opportunities, especially in new and emerging markets. Our current launch programme is a dynamic engine for this future growth. With more and more channels being broadcast in HD and Ultra HD, 2017 and beyond will see continued growth and accelerated development for SES’s video segment."

Follow us on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SES.YourSatelliteCompany

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SESVideoChannel

Blog: https://www.ses.com/news/blogs

SES White papers are available under https://www.ses.com/news/whitepapers

About SES

SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 12 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (Video, Enterprise, Mobility and Government). It provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions, and businesses worldwide. SES’s portfolio includes the ASTRA satellite system, which has the largest Direct-to-Home (DTH) television reach in Europe, and O3b Networks, a global managed data communications service provider. Another SES subsidiary, MX1, is a leading media service provider and offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. Further information available at: www.ses.com

Contacts

SES
Markus Payer
Corporate Communications
Tel. +352 710 725 500
Markus.Payer@ses.com


Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3283/en

Chiltern Expands Footprint in Bangalore, India, to Meet Global Data Demand

LONDON & WILMINGTON, N.C.-Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chiltern, a leading global contract research organization, has announced the opening of its new process and technology center in Bangalore, India. The new office is a direct result of the company’s continued success and fulfills a need to further enhance its global data capabilities.

“We believe we have compiled one of the best teams in the industry,” said Mark Penniston, executive vice president, clinical analytics, and general manager at Chiltern. “We need this facility to maintain pace with our continued growth, and having an office in the heart of the city provides shorter commutes and a better quality of life for our industry-leading employees.”

The first Chiltern office in India opened more than a decade ago with five programmers. In total, the company’s offices in India will be able to support more than 600 employees and give Chiltern substantial capacity to advance operations as needed.

The process and technology center in India also increases Chiltern’s existing 24-hour global presence, positioning data teams in time zones around the world. Chiltern’s process and technology teams around the globe, including Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia — composed of more than 1,600 data professionals supporting analytics, risk-based optimization, biometrics and pharmacovigilance — continually improve data quality and speed and reduce costs for clients everywhere.

About Chiltern

Chiltern, a global contract research organization, is a leading provider of clinical services and solutions in a variety of therapeutic areas with engagement models for biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. Chiltern’s team of more than 4,300, located across 47 countries, provides comprehensive Clinical Development, Medical & Scientific Affairs, Data & Analysis, Pharmacovigilance and Strategic Regulatory services using a collaborative approach for more efficient clinical trials. Visit Chiltern.com to learn more about how Chiltern is Designed Around You®.

Contacts

SCORR Marketing for Chiltern
Lea Studer, +1 308-237-5567
lea@scorrmarketing.com



Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3280/en

SES: Israel Premier Football League Chooses MX1 360 Platform to Speed Up Sports Highlights Production and Distribution

MX1 makes it easy to manage, deliver and monetize content from its MX1 360 cloud-based service platform for Israel Premier Football League


LUXEMBOURG & TEL AVIV, Israel -Wednesday, February 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SES S.A. (Euronext Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) announced today that MXI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, is providing the Israel Premier Football League (IPFL) with its end-to-end MX1 360 service for live editing of sports content.

MX1 360 is providing the IPFL with a sophisticated, yet simple-to-use, cloud-based media asset management solution, with fast turnaround for live highlights production of multiple weekend games. All content, highlights and metadata are archived and can be repurposed at a later point to enable additional monetization opportunities. This makes it easy for the IPFL to deliver high-level highlights of its football matches with data and statistical information, which increases viewer engagement.

“In today’s fast-paced sports environment, having an advanced and user-friendly tool for live event editing is essential,” said Gil Halevi, Head of Digital at IPFL. “MX1 360 gives us full control over sports content, in real time, allowing us to manage our broadcast partners and their access to the different content we produce quickly and effortlessly. In the future, we look forward to leveraging the flexibility of MX1’s service and expanding our content highlights into the OTT and online realm.”

“Sports organizations need an easy to use content management solution that’s capable of meeting the rapid and demanding workflows of the live sports environment,” said Elad Manishviz, CMO and CBO of sports and events at MX1. “With MX1 360, the IPFL is well-equipped to provide highlights of multiple games, on-the-go, for delivery over traditional broadcast or OTT networks. We’re excited to collaborate with Israel’s top football organization.”

Follow us on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SES.Satellites

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SESVideoChannel

Blog: https://www.ses.com/news/blogs

SES White papers are available under https://www.ses.com/news/whitepapers

About SES

SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 12 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (Video, Enterprise, Mobility and Government). It provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions, and businesses worldwide. SES’s portfolio includes the ASTRA satellite system, which has the largest Direct-to-Home (DTH) television reach in Europe, and O3b Networks, a global managed data communications service provider. Another SES subsidiary, MX1, is a leading media service provider and offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. Further information available at: www.ses.com

About MX1

MX1, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES (Euronext Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), is a leading global media services provider. The world’s first media globalizer works with leading media businesses to transform content into the ultimate viewer experience for a global audience. With more entertainment, more innovation and more impact, MX1 offers a full range of content management, delivery and value-added digital media services.

Every day, MX1 distributes more than 2,500 TV channels, manages the playout of over 500 channels, delivers syndicated content to more than 120 leading subscription VOD platforms, delivers over 8,000 hours of online video streaming and delivers more than 500 hours of premium sports and live events. The new company has 16 offices worldwide and operates six global state-of-the-art media centres, enabling customers to reach billions of people around the world.

To find out more, visit http://www.mx1.com and Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

For further information please contact:
Markus Payer
Corporate Communications
Tel. +352 710 725 500
Markus.Payer@ses.com

Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3282/en