BM is listed on Muscat Securities Market, Bahrain Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange through GDRs. As of June 2011, the Bank has approximately 7,500 shareholders and GDR holders and has over 40% free float. The main shareholders are the Royal Court Affairs, Dubai Financial Group, Omani Pension Funds and Muscat Overseas Company LLC.

The proposed investment consists of a subordinated loan of up to $170 million and is expected to be made by the IFC Capitalization Fund, which is managed by IFC Asset Management Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IFC.

BM is headquartered in Muscat, Oman. The Bank also operates through its branches in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and representative office in Dubai (UAE) and Singapore, and has further international presence through its associates in Bahrain, India and Saudi Arabia.

The project is expected to achieve a significant development impact as it will allow IFC to enhance access to finance for job creation sectors such as SME and low-middle income households in Oman partnering with a strong bank with an established distribution capacity and reach.

Specific positive developmental impacts are expected to be:

- Job Creation: Through this project IFC will increase access to finance for SMEs and housing finance in Oman that play an important role in generating employment and economic growth.
- Enhance access to finance for SMEs: The project will support the underserved SME segment which in turn helps the industry diversification efforts.
- Enhanced Access to Affordable Housing and Social Impact: The project will promote the primary mortgage market enhancing the level of access to viable housing finance and the ability of the population to purchase their homes. The increased level of home ownership will also contribute to improve living standards in the country;
- Positive Signaling to the Market: IFC''s continued engagement at a time of global turmoil is expected to send a positive signal to markets.

IFC''s additionality in this project stems from:
- The provision of US Dollars long-term finance which is currently not available in the market to enhance access to finance for SME and low-middle income households;
- The capacity to mobilize other investors through the AMC to provide a significant amount of funding at a time of global instability; and
- The support to enhance the Environmental Management System to assess environmental and social risks of its SME lending activities.

This project has been classified as a Category FI project according to IFC’s Environmental and Social Review Procedure.

During appraisal, IFC will analyze the FI portfolio, and the activities proposed to be supported with IFC financing for types of transactions, size, tenor and industry sectors and determine the Applicable Performance Requirements, if any, that would include a combination of:
The IFC FI Exclusion List(s), and
The applicable National Social and Environmental Laws and regulations

IFC will also review, if required, the capacity of the FI to manage social and environmental risks and to establish and maintain an Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS).

Based on the review, the project will be required to:
Identify responsible, qualified persons to manage and implement the ESMS, prior to IFC commitment.
Develop an Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS), prior to disbursement to the satisfaction of IFC
Commit to implement the ESMS within an agreed time frame, to ensure that its investments/activities supported by IFC financing are in compliance with the Applicable Performance Requirements.
Submit a periodic report to IFC as per a format to be provided by IFC.