GDP Growth Made Up 9% In March Y-O-Y

Article 81 of the Company sets out a limit on the maximum total remuneration payable to directors. The limit may only be changed by resolution of the shareholders.At the 2024 Annual General Meeting held in London today, shareholders were presented with a revised remuneration policy, which sets out the maximum total remuneration cap for directors at $1,750,000 (the “Cap”).According to the resolution, the shareholders were proposed to increase the cap to $2,500,000, taking into account the expected appointment of additional directors to the management in 2025, as described in the annual report. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the cap for remuneration to accommodate the financial effect of this change. The said policy and cap were approved by the shareholders.As a result of the vote, the issue of increasing the maximum total remuneration payable to directors was supported by 100% of the shareholders participating in the vote (38,442,500 shares). 68.39% of the issued share capital of the company participated in the vote.The remuneration policy, approved at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and reflected in the 2024 Annual Report, remains unchanged in all other respects.

1747818442

After a long wait, the 100,000 GEL loan limit has been removed (from 16.05.2025), which also limits the long-term partnership of the financier with the business client, because with the expansion of the business, the 100,000 GEL limit can no longer meet the increased needs and is losing customers.Since May 16, along with the increase in the loan limit, the lending opportunities have also increased. However, at the same time, the regulation has also been tightened. The sector will have to increase capital. Loans exceeding 100,000 GEL in the MFO portfolio should not exceed 50% of the regulatory capital.With the new norms (which the NBG introduced to the sector last week), MFOs will have to improve corporate and operational risk management. Compliance with the new standards will require additional resources and, accordingly, increase costs. So, MFOs will not be able to reduce lending rates until they reach equilibrium. But in the future, when they improve management; reduce costs arising from risks; gain greater trust from consumers and investors, there will be an opportunity to make loans cheaper.Earlier, as MBC (Microbank, former MFO) Risk Director Nino Devdariani noted on 1TV.ge, “At the initial stage, regulation is an additional cost, its implementation. The organization has more upfront costs than revenues.”The Chairman of the Board of the Microfinance Association expects the increase in the business portfolio by increasing the limit, as pawnshops and consumer loans are sold with a smaller volume. At the moment, pawnshops prevail.As of Q1/2025, 29 MFOs are represented on the market with a retail portfolio of more than 1.5 billion GEL (791,481 loans), where up to 730,000 loans worth up to 1.2 billion GEL are pawnshops. The quarterly (Q1/2025) net profit of the MFO sector is 29.06 million GEL.

1747818145

As of April 2025, the number of transactions of residential flats in Batumi has decreased by 6.7% to 1,178 units. The market size has increased by 2.2% standing at USD 67 millions.In April 2025 the weighted average price of newly-built flats in Batumi increased by 9.1% equaling USD 1,201 per sq m.As of March 2025, the number of transactions of residential flats in Batumi has increased by 5.7% to 1,233 units. The market size has increased by 4.9% standing at USD 64 millions.

1747817974

The growth is mostly driven by the primary market, where weighted average price increased by 13.8% citywide (some primary transactions are registered late, resulting in a price growth trend that does not reflect reality.) In the secondary market of newly built apartments, the weighted average price across the city increased by 5.5%.In April 2025, the number of transactions in new projects in Tbilisi increased by 5%, driven by growth in the primary market. It should be noted that some transactions in new projects within the primary market are recorded later by developers, which could potentially distort the data and fail to present an accurate picture of the primary market. The declining trend in old projects has persisted - the figure for old flats features a 21.3% decrease compared to April 2024.As of April 2025 in Tbilisi the weighted average price of old flats has increased by 7.5% in the suburbs compared to April 2024, in the city centre 4.4% growth was witnessed, while in the wide centre the weighted average price decreased by 1.5%.In April 2025, in Tbilisi the number of transactions of residential flats amounted to 3,256 units, reflecting only 2.6% YoY decrease. Market size increased by 6.6% standing at USD 244 millions.As of March 2025 the weighted average price of newly-built flats in Tbilisi has increased by 27.7% in the wide centre compared to March 2024, 21% growth was observed in the city centre , while in the suburbs 7.3% increase was witnessed. The significant growth is mostly driven by the primary market, where transactions are registered late, resulting in a price growth trend that does not reflect reality. In the secondary market of newly built apartments, the weighted average price across the city increased by 11.6%.

1747817848

The macroeconomic update states that the net effect of the variables affecting the GEL has recently been more pronounced in the direction of strengthening. In this regard, external factors play a leading role, although some improvement is also observed in the domestic component. Strengthening by only 2.7% YTD against the USD, the GEL has largely been resisting appreciation pressures from both external and domestic components in 2025; On the external side, two particular drivers – improving net foreign currency inflows and global USD weakness - have been supporting the GEL; The combination of rising interest rates and a depreciating currency, common for emerging markets and unusual for a developed economy, has been underscoring the ongoing  USD weakness; Domestically, demand on foreign currency has relatively eased, with early signs of deposits gradually switching back to the GEL; On this backdrop, appreciation pressures have largely translated into the NBG replenishing foreign currency reserves, buying 102 mn in March and, per our estimates, only accelerating purchases since; As for other arguments going forward, while the pressure stemming from inflation dynamics seems relatively insignificant, the recent GEL REER undervaluation implies risks of higher imported inflation and thus possibly more pronounced GEL appreciation.

1747817595

Ameriabank’s standalone profit for the same period was GEL 113.9 million, up 35.2% year-on-year.This difference is due to the fact that Ameriabank’s standalone figures exclude certain adjustments and group expenses that AFS’s consolidated financial statements include.According to Ameriabank’s standalone results, the bank’s operating income increased by 30.3% (y.y.) to GEL 248.2 million, mainly driven by a 37.9% increase in net interest income. Return On Equity (ROE) was 24.7%, compared to AFS of 21.1% (29.4% 4Q24 / AFS – 25.3%).Quarterly, operating income decreased by 8.6% — mainly due to one-off, high commission income and foreign exchange gains in the previous quarter. However, net interest income increased again by 5.8%.Operating expenses decreased by 6% - mainly due to lower personnel and administrative expenses, which were related to seasonal expenses in the previous quarter.The loan portfolio remained stable - the credit risk ratio was only 0.2%.

1747738691

Lion Finance Group (BGEO LN) shares closed at GBP 63.65/share (- 2.60% w/w and +17.54% m/m). More than 445k shares traded in the range of GBP 60.35 - 67.95/share. Average daily traded volume was 70k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of BGEO shares traded was at 1.00% of its capitalization.TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN) closed the week at GBP 45.40/share (+3.53% w/w and +5.46% m/m). More than 367k shares changed hands in the range of GBP 44.00 - 46.85/share. Average daily traded volume was 104k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of TBCG shares traded was at 0.65% of its capitalization.Georgia Capital (CGEO LN) shares closed at GBP 18.74/share (-2.19% w/w and +35.01% m/m). More than 420k shares traded in the range of GBP 18.00 - 19.58/share. Average daily traded volume was 124k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of CGEO shares traded was at 1.06% of its capitalization. 

1747738587

In the I quarter of 2025, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the ports and terminals of Georgia received 2.6 times more specialized carriers, 32.2 percent more - general cargo carriers, 12.8 percent less container ships, and 11.5 percent less  -liquid bulk.In the I quarter of 2025, 18.2 percent of the ships arriving at the ports and terminals of Georgia sailed under the flag of Panama, 16.6 percent - under the flag of Turkey, 10.2 percent - under the flag of Malta, 8.4 percent - under the flag of Liberia, and the rest 46.6 percent were distributed among other countries.In the I quarter of 2025, Georgian seaports served 2.1 thousand passengers, which is 16.5% more compared to the corresponding figure of the previous year. Note, the share of passengers departed was higher than the share of passengers entered and stood at 56.8%.In the I quarter of 2025, ports and terminals of Georgia processed 3.7 million tons of cargo, 9.2 percent more compared to the corresponding figure of the previous year. 52.5 percent of freight carried was general cargo, 28.8 percent was liquid bulk, and 18.7 percent - dry bulk.

1747738510