OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2014. A resolution to increase the bank's authorized capital  by LTL 20 million from the bank's own funds was passed during the General Meeting of Shareholders of Siauliu bankas. The newly issued shares shall be distributed among the shareholders free of charge.

After registering the amended Charter Siauliu bankas' authorized  capital would reach LTL 270 million. Following the shareholders' resolution 20 million of ordinary registered shares with the nominal value of LTL 1 per share shall be issued from the capital reserve  and distributed to the shareholders in proportion to the total nominal value of shares owned by them at the end of the day of accounting of rights of the Meeting. 8 new shares will be allocated to a shareholder already owning 100 shares.  

"Conversion of the capital reserve into the shares which are distributed to the shareholders free of charge do not  influence  the capital adequacy ratio but allow each shareholder to dispose the share of his capital independently. In this way the investors are fostered to choose the bank's shares as the long-term investments. Siauliu bankas has been maintaining this tradition for many years making a break only during the crisis. The shares issued from the bank's funds and distributed to the shareholders free of charge account to 34 per cent from the increased authorized capital which comprises LTL 270 million", - said Vytautas Sinius, Chief Executive Officer of Siauliu bankas.

After listening to the summary of the annual report, audit's conclusions as well as comments and proposals of the bank's Supervisory Council, the Meeting of Shareholders of Siauliu bankas  approved the financial statements for 2013 and  distribution of the profit.  It was resolved to allocated LTL 1.8 million from the distributable profit to the mandatory reserve.  At the end of 2013 the retained profit of the bank comprised LTL 33.5 million.

During the Meeting the shareholders elected a new member of the Supervisory Council of Siauliu bankas - this position was taken by Valdas Vitkauskas, the Chief Banker of the Financial Institution department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) who has replaced his colleague Alexander Saveliev, further continuing his career in the EBRD. The new member of the Supervisory Council shall take this position till the end of the tenure of the present Supervisory Council, i.e. until the end of 2016.

Moreover, an independent audit company was also elected during the Meeting - „PricewaterhouseCoopers“ UAB shall carry out the audit of the consolidated annual financial statements of Siauliu bankas this and next year.

During the Shareholders' Meeting Chief Executive Officer of Siauliu bankas Vytautas Sinius told that 2013 was an exceptional year in the history of Siauliu bankas, though difficult and full of challenges but also successful at the same time.   The bank has significantly changed , grown and become the biggest bank of Lithuanian capital.  We are glad that last year the bank made a weighty contribution to improvement of the country's economic environment both by rendering financial services to its customers and by giving them new cooperation opportunities arising from the bank's development after takeover of part of the assets and liabilities of the bankrupt Ukio bankas.

In 2013 the increased Siauliu bankas Group  generated  LTL 18.4 million of the pre-audited net profit , which by 41 per cent more than in 2012.  The audited net profit of Siauliu bankas comprised LTL 10.7 million and was by 28 per cent smaller than in 2012. In 2013 the network of the bank increased up to 77 outlets and  the number of clients significantly exceeded 300 thou.

Siauliu bankas has been working with corporate and private customers for 22 years, however, its greatest experience is focused on the field of small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises where it will continue to strengthen its exclusive competence. The bank's shares are quoted in the official trading list of  NASDAQ OMX Vilnius.  The major shareholder of the Bank - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development owned 19.57 of Siauliu bankas' shares at the end of 2013.