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corporate social

responsibility

annualreport

2011

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csr is adopting a balanced approach to economic, environmental and social issues nowadays, in such a way as to be beneficial to citizens, communities and society as a whole, going beyond simple observation of the law and voluntarily making the results of such activities public to maintain accountability.

with its ever avant-garde spirit, bank audi was the first lebanese institution to set up a separate csr unit as of april 2010. The establishment of this unit falls within bank audi’s permanent commitment to social, environmental and human well-being, which represents an integral part of the bank’s core strategy and objectives revolving around Transparency, human capital, heritage, Quality, civic role and innovation.

For a bank like bank audi, with a significant economic dimension mirrored by a ratio of domestic assets to Gdp exceeding 50%, and being the largest local bank in terms of financing the economy, the largest private contributor to Gdp formation, the largest tax payer and the largest employer in the lebanese private sector, commitment to the civic society and to the environment clearly imposes itself.

The feedback from various achievements has proven bank audi’s initiative to be a necessity and a success: primary beneficiaries and various stakeholders recognise it and value the bank for its perception and adoption of corporate responsibility. over and above, csr campaigns promoted by the bank have echoed with an outright positive response from customers and shareholders.

always aiming at “Growing beyond our potential” as a method of life entrenched in the way we work and live and in reflection of our Management’s attitude towards integrity and high ethical values, bank audi plays a major role, beyond banking, in developing communities through a large deal of active participation, partnerships and community support programs. it is through such nationwide csr engagements that bank audi is confirming its awareness that banking leadership entails civic duties and that it goes hand in hand with the standards of social welfare.csr sincerely, Raymond W. AudiChairman and General Manager

Samir N. HannaGroup Chief Executive Officer

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education and development

Samir Hanna, Group CEO, addressing Bank Audi employees’ children during “Live a day at Bank Audi”.

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development being at the core of our interaction as corporate citizens, it goes beyond education, training and assistance to reach society as a whole. The objective is to be involved in development projects, thus becoming a solid model to follow in our aspirations to achieve positive change.

with this in mind, bank audi launched “conscientious driver”, a special campaign intended to increase awareness to road safety. in partnership with the “kunhadi” association who spread the campaign to various educational and business institutions, and through bank audi’s wide branch network, clients were invited to take the pledge of becoming conscientious drivers. To date, we are proud to have gathered over 7000 signed copies of this pledge which coincides with the United nations decade of action for road safety, initiated in 2011.

Moreover, special attention was given, as always, to encourage and support young talents and tomorrow’s future leaders. in this context, students from different schools and universities across the country benefited from full or partial scholarship funding through bank audi’s partnership with educational institutions. This is the case, for example, for the “Mérite blé Vert” partnership which binds bank audi to la sagesse schools. besides, a special award program entitled “profamily” is organised by the bank annually to reward employees’ children for their outstanding academic performance in the lebanese baccalaureate by sponsoring their future academic pursuits.

Bank Audi’s CSR main theme campaign: over 7000 signed pledges spreading safe

driving guidelines to the community.

Band Audi closing a day of awareness sessions on May 11, 2011 – The United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety worldwide launch day in collaboration with “Kunhadi”.

“Mérite Blé Vert” 2011 group photo.

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and because happy children mean satisfied parents, bank audi invited 94 employees’ children to participate in the “live a day at bank audi” event where they visited the bank’s premises to get familiarised with their parents’ work environment. They also got to learn about the basics of banking, meet with members of Management, engage in different recreational activities, and write suggestion letters to the Group ceo.

bank audi also welcomes students for full day visits at its head office to introduce them to the business world through the “injaz” company program which gives them the opportunity to create and run their own company’s, gaining relevant experience in the vital aspects of a company life cycle. each participating school is partnered with a local company whose volunteer employees serve as consultants to students. students visiting the bank in the context of the “injaz” program have the opportunity to meet with Top Management and share success stories that can boost them in their future endeavours.

To sustain the bank’s growth strategy, development initiatives remain strong and on-going with a view to ensuring a competitive workforce equipped both technically and behaviourally, aimed at upgrading necessary competencies for enhanced individual and organisation performance, and benefiting new recruits as well as existing employees.

at bank audi, because we believe that sustainable development is achieved through the complete development of our human capital, we create opportunities for everyone to develop within the banking sector and in sectors as diverse as art, culture and education. This includes language courses, and even special painting and cooking classes.

in the same perspective, the bank’s retail department engages in training teenagers on the basics of banking through school visits and presentations. in this context, 3000 students learn everything they need to know on checks, credit cards and bank accounts every year.

Cooking classes for the benefit of “Faire Face” Association.

bank audi also plays a crucial role in developing the youth through its voluntary student internship program which allows it to reinforce long-term relationships with its stakeholders. interns are thus introduced to our business culture and values, increasing their employment opportunities. each year, the bank hosts over 400 interns from over 20 universities in lebanon and abroad, covering over 30 majors and specialisations. participants attend orientation sessions on the bank’s values, history, structure, products and services, in addition to an overview of banking operations. some interns are even offered employment opportunities at the bank. recently, and with the development of corporate social responsibility within university curriculums, a rising number of students have also been supported by the bank for their thesis studies in this field.

Furthermore, the bank’s recruitment Unit makes it a point to participate in various university job fairs and coaching initiatives for candidates who are preparing to apply for internships or embarking on specific career paths, as well as in professional job fairs aimed at attracting job seekers from different regions and backgrounds.

an online career portal was developed in this respect, giving candidates easy access to general information about bank audi’s values and expectations when it comes to recruiting and assessing potential employees. The portal also features training and development opportunities, as well as the wide array of advantages offered to employees and meant to improve their well-being. This electronic gateway, which is aligned with regional and multinational best practices and targets potential and existing candidates worldwide, is home to an average of 7000 résumés per year, which matches bank audi’s reputation of biggest lebanese employer (over 5000 employees and a turnover of 4%). it is worth mentioning at this point that the bank is keen on preserving equal employment percentages as regards gender: 47% of female staff versus 53% of male staff.

Introducing the “Conscientious Driver” campaign to students in the context of Bank Audi’s participation in the AUB Job Fair.

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as for Maxime chaya, the bank’s corporate ambassador, he was invited to 50 events in 2011 to share the experience of his journeys and inspire young and old on the importance of pursuing one’s dreams against all odds and no matter how high the summit. his outreach involves more than 10,000 persons per year, an additional testimony that bank audi is a solid role model that youth can look up to.

Maxime Chaya, an inspiration for the young community.

Maxime Chaya, Bank Audi’s Corporate Ambassador, reaching the Everest summit.

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in the same vein, bank audi values knowledge and offers its employees the opportunity to broaden their horizons through easy access to the bank’s library which contains a total of 5100 books on various topics, from accounting, banking, law, economy and finance, to all aspects of art. The library also includes a large selection of magazines and other publications, as well as a unique series of the official Gazette going back to 1964, and a number of bank audi employees’ thesis. other community development projects include supporting the initiative of the beirut Trade association and the MiT enterprise Forum – pan arab region for a national business plan competition (“Grow My business”), being actively present at arab net, the digital technology industry’s major yearly event, and supporting the harvard alumni association.

Awarding the best business plan in the context of the “Grow My Business” 2011 competition.

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humanitarianand health

Band Audi, Awdiyat and Bank Audi Children’s Choir perform “Songs for the Road” at Music Hall, a special concert part of the “Conscientious Driver” campaign.

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bank audi showed strong commitment to humanitarian issues in 2011 thanks to its wide social outreach through the development, support or sponsorship of activities and events that encourage the sustainability of individuals and nGos within the society.

Various fundraising requests reaching public, private, medical, welfare and humanitarian purposes were fulfilled. This includes child abuse prevention organisations, spreading peace and hope through the unity of blood, christmas carolling for a cause, nGo reward programs through credit card gifts, launching the Undp secure payment gateway service which gives people the opportunity to make donations from anywhere in the world to the “live lebanon” project, and other personal initiatives spread by colleagues, such as contributing to the UniceF fundraising initiative for famine in somalia, and many others.

Bank Audi’s exclusive sponsoring of Hady Sy’s “One Blood” project at the UNESCO Palace,

during the World Blood Donor Day.

Sponsoring “Christmas Carolling for a Cause” for the Naji Cherfan Foundation.

Those initiatives were widely welcomed and acknowledged by all beneficiaries, as they helped achieve individual goals in the realms of community development at large.

accordingly, the bank gained a higher level of motivation, loyalty and dedication from its own workforce on the one hand, and growing visibility as a responsible institution in society with a large array of csr activities dictated by its stance as the top bank in lebanon, on the other hand.

health is also important at bank audi where special health Fair days are organised in supplement to our full-time infirmary staffed with family doctors who give over 1300 consultations per year. in addition, 200 flu vaccines are offered each year to all employees interested in taking the shot.

Health Fair at Bank Audi’s infirmary, involving eight pharmaceutical companies.

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in parallel, a special focus on back-wellness was made over the past year through educating the bank’s staff on better exercising habits and on treatment when necessary. acknowledging that our employees’ health is important and that qualified assistance is available free of charge, be it through the bank’s infirmary or its gymnasium, is comforting and reassuring to our human capital.

on a different level, special health-oriented “enrich” sessions were held to increase awareness on various health issues: professor Jean-pierre pelletier from canada held a session on osteoarthritis,while another session animated by the national organisation for organ donation and Transplantation focused on organ and tissue donation.

Bank Audi’s gymnasium.

“Enrich” session on “How to Say No to the First Cigarette”, presented by the Tobacco Free Institute and Miss Lebanon 2009.

“Enrich” session on Organ Donation, presented by the Ministry of Health’s National Organization for Organ Donation and Transplantation (NOOTDT).

even more to the point, health awareness was highlighted with the bank’s adoption of a smoke-free environment in 2010, whereby its head office and branches were completely “cleansed”. To achieve this goal, a complete health-oriented program was conducted through our infirmary, including internal medical conferences which even included a special session to employees’ children on how to say no to their first cigarette. Today, we are proud to have made this project possible 15 months ahead of the adoption of the government decree, and to have had it recognised by the Ministry of health’s national Tobacco control program as a case study.

“Enrich” session on Osteoarthritis, presented by Professor Jean-Pierre Pelletier from Canada.

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arts and culture

Painting exhibition of Bank Audi artists at Bank Audi Plaza.

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True to its reputation of “patron of arts”, bank audi is above all an open mind to the world of art and heritage, and a leader in developing artistic talents in lebanon. indeed, the bank is proud to encourage lebanese artists, writers and performers through rising awareness on artistic issues, and through events which boost exposure to art and recognition of aspiring artists.

every year, bank audi sponsors different cultural events in lebanon and tickets received in return are distributed to employees. among these events, the baalbeck, beit el-dine, al-bustan, byblos and batroun festivals, as well as various ramadan and christmas celebrations. a specific budget was allocated to these events with a view to facilitating the spread of lebanese artists and welcoming

international performers, thus promoting all the aspects of art and culture. it is in this scope of action that the bank sponsored a concert hosted by the lebanese band association for the promotion of Music (lebaM), in collaboration with the lebanese national higher Music conservatoire, where 12 to 18 year-olds organised in community-based harmonic bands performed using donated instruments. bank audi is also proud to support the “heartbeat” association which holds a yearly special fundraising concert the procceds of which help cure children with heart diseases. “apeal” is yet another youth-oriented organisation which encourages arts and was recently sponsored by bank audi, in its quest to increase general interest in arts.

Bank Audi artists surrounding Raymond Audi, Chairman – General Manager.

Books sponsored by Bank Audi.

in the same context, bank audi also supports lebanese authors through the organisation of book signing events and the purchase of various publications. The bank recently sponsored two book publications, organised four book signing events, and purchased 4900 books of authors as dissimilar as clement Tannouri, paul wakim, dr. hareth boustany, pierre bared, and Ziad sawaya, among others. 2011 also witnessed the acquisition of over 40 paintings and sculptures, including works by our own bank audi artists, employees who took professional painting classes and were honoured by an exhibition held at bank audi plaza.

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Moreover, by hosting and sponsoring the annual “prix phénix de la littérature” every year, bank audi stands out again as the guardian of achievers for talented writers.

besides, Villa audi is the stronghold of events held in honour of artists, writers and special guests. in 2011, the villa was home to the visit of prince albert ii of Monaco, to the reception held for Mr. cosimo lacirignola who received the lebanese order of Merit, and to various unique exhibitions and book signings.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco surrounded by Raymond Audi and Samir Hanna during his visit to Villa Audi.“Prix Phénix de la Littérature” granted to H.E. Mr. Samir Frangie.

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social

Distribution of organic apples to Bank Audi staff, a way of encouraging Lebanese agriculture. C

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with the ever topical goal of supporting the lebanese economy, bank audi launched the “loubnani” card, the concept of which is purely illustrative of csr since it is based on the core characteristics of lebanon, its people and its currency, with the aim of re-empowering the lebanese lira through a memorable slogan, “let the lira have its say” and a product carrying the symbols of a country and of its economy.

on another level, the bank’s employees are granted a number of benefits without them having to request any. among those, 30,000 litres of olive oil and more than 3000 crates of apples distributed at the onset of every season accordingly. such gifts have the merit of playing a double role: encouraging lebanese agriculture and warming the hearts of our colleagues.

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المطاعم كمانبدا اللة ترجع تحكي

The “Loubnani” card award winning campaign, “Let the Lira Have its Say”: supporting the Lebanese

economy by empowering its currency.

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environment

One of the Bank’s recycling collection hubs.

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with valuable resources being depleted and energy requirements growing on daily basis, knowledge and awareness have become more important than ever. at bank audi, we believe that “Green” initiatives not only save our environment, but also help create alertness and brand recognition among our colleagues and clients. This is why we have adopted a sustainable program to which we can all commit by “re-using”, “recycling” and “reducing”. The “Grow Green” initiative was thus launched by setting up two collection hubs in the bank’s head office buildings (with more to come in the near future) destined to store plastic caps, paper, batteries and cans prior to sending them to separate recycling plants. The bank’s Green club is an active participant in our environment-oriented efforts which include, among other initiatives, supporting the “help the environment” organisation.

The Bank Audi way of developing colleagues’ awareness on “Growing Green”.

“Enrich” session on “Green Awareness” with the participation of Beeatouna, Formatech, G and Solicar organisations.

it is worth mentioning, at this point, that bank audi plaza, the bank’s headquarters, is in the process of getting leed certification platinum level.

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sports

Participation in the Beirut International Marathon in the context of the “Conscientious Driver” campaign and in collaboration with “Kunhadi”.

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bank audi takes pride in its different sports teams who participate actively in a considerable number of tournaments. it is in this context that the bank’s Futsal team won gold medals in the 2011 Football inc. and beirut corporate Games. as for its Men’s basketball Team, it won the silver medal in the blc sport evasion basketball Tournament, and the bronze medal in the lebanese syndicate of bank employees Tournament. bank audi is also pleased to announce a new women’s basketball Team who started training in 2011.

on a similar level, bank audi employees appreciate running for a cause: every year, a great many of them participate in the marathons organised by al younbouh, My school pulse, and the beirut Marathon association. in 2011, they were proud to run for the “conscientious driver” cause, for the benefit of “kunhadi”.

Bank Audi’s basketball team of the Beirut Corporate Games.

Bank Audi’s football team brandishing their trophy at the Football Inc. Games. “My School Pulse” fun run: running for a cause.

The Beirut International Marathon 2011: running for “Conscientious Driver”.

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2011 also witnessed employees’ first participation in the beirut corporate Games, where they brought back a total of 10 medals, placing the bank in third position.

bank audi spreads its sportsmanship to society by encouraging all kinds of sports through sponsorships. as such, it is currently sponsoring lebanese champion and national record-holder in long-distance running pia nehmeh, and lebanese swimmer wael kobrosly, both of whom will hopefully represent lebanon in the upcoming london olympic Games. The bank also sponsors the Maya hajjar Tennis Tournament and the lebanese Fencing championships, among others.

Bank Audi medalists at the Beirut Corporate Games.

Sponsoring the Lebanese Fencing Championship.

Sponsoring national champion Pia Nehmeh.

Bank Audi colleagues at the Beirut Corporate Games.

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«LEARN» program: employee clubs

Audience at Awdiyat concert on the occasion of Independence Day, at Audi Foundation’s Soap Museum in Saida.

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based on the objectives to “lead”, “explore”, “achieve”, “relax” and “nurture”, six employee clubs were created to promote extracurricular activities serving the bank’s corporate social responsibility and its various stakeholders in society.

The Community Clubcultural and social activities contribute significantly to the well-being and the enrichment of bank audi employees. The purpose of the community club is to help build communities through arts, culture and social actions. communities can include geographic locales, as well as communities of interest such as those involved in social issues, health, visual arts, music or crafts. not only does participation in artistic and cultural activities entertain us; it also teaches us more about who we really are.The activities of the community club include visits to rural areas in lebanon for a full day of exploration, discovery and hiking. They also give those involved the opportunity to develop skills and share ideas, via “enrich” sessions on different issues such as osteoarthritis or opera appreciation, for instance. sharing those relationships within and among communities makes our communities more vibrant and sustainable.bank audi’s community club led to the creation of a book club and an acting club.

“Kindermusik” proposed to Bank Audi employees’ children. Bank Audi’s acting club.

“Enrich” session on Opera Appreciation, presented by Mrs. Lama Tyan.

Outing to Rabbit Island in the North.

“Kazdoura”, an all day discovery of Tripoli on bicycles.

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The Green Club The Green club aims at initiating and supporting the bank’s environmental activities which will, in turn, reflect on social and cultural development among employees, their families, and all the concerned.

The Music ClubThe Music club is composed of three entities: “band audi”, a soft rock, pop group which has held six concerts to date and has become seriously solicited by the public; “awdiyat”, an oriental band which held a special independence day concert at the audi Foundation soap Museum in saida in november 2011; and “bank audi’s children’s choir” which includes twenty enthusiastic employees’ children. The three music entities perform for a specific cause every time, and the proceeds – if any – are donated to a worthy organisation.

The Sports ClubThe sports club actively supports the bank’s sports-related initiatives.

The Travel ClubThe Travel club organises trips to different countries on regular basis. it negotiates preferential group rates for the benefit of all interested. To date, the Travel club has organised trips to egypt, poland and cyprus. The Travel club’s journeys are shared by colleagues through the bank’s e-newsletter, “one Group”.

Band Audi celebrating “La Fête de la Musique”.

Bank Audi’s internal monthly newsletter, “One Group”.

Star Academy for Bank Audi employees’ children. Awdiyat celebrating Independence Day.

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in conclusion, it is only fair to say that we are as big as our dreams and that we thrive in the fact that we allow ourselves to dream and give others a chance to dream as well, always seeking to widen our horizons and achieve our goals. Today, bank audi’s philosophy – helping people “Grow beyond Their potential” – is translated by several types of interventions covering a wide scope of activities and a large number of sectors.