IslamicFinance.de

Mohammed Abdulla, Chief Executive of Sharjah Islamic Bank rang the opening bell at Dubai Financial Market (DFM) to celebrate the listing of a Sukuk issued by Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) on NASDAQ Dubai. The listing of SIB's 500 million dollar Sukuk provides further support for the campaign to promote the 'Dubai the Global Center of Sukuk' initiative launched in January 2013. SIB's listing brings the nominal value of Sukuk listed on Dubai exchanges to 12.125 billion dollars. SIB's Sukuk was more than 6 times oversubscribed with 53% of the Sukuk allocated to MENA based investors, 30% allocated to investors based in Asia and 17% to investors based in Europe.

Sixty percent of Saudis save less than 10 percent of their monthly salary, according to a survey conducted by souqalmal.com. A recent report issued by Jadwa Investment confirmed that the Saudi consumer price index (CPI) inflation maintained the 3.9 percent year-on-year increase for the third consecutive month in March. According to the report, the main contributors to inflation are food and housing rent components. Financial experts have said Saudi families lack awareness on consumer consumption and financial management. Many reports confirm that Saudis are one of the highest spenders in the MENA region.

Barwa Bank has elected its new nine-member board of directors (for 2013-2015) with Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani as chairman and managing director. The other members on the board are Abdulaziz Mohamed Hamad Almana (vice chairman); Mohamed Esmail Ali al-Emadi; Abdulla Abdulaziz Abdulla al-Subaie; Mohamed Ebrahim Mohammad al-Sulaiti; Aisha Mohamed al-Noaimi; Sultan Yousef al-Sulaiti; Jamal Abdul Rahman al-Musalmani and Nasser Hamad Ali al-Sulaiti (all board members). The board of directors also appointed Talal Ahmed Abdulla al-Khaja as a secretary to the board, which will meet at least six times a year and ad hoc as required.

The Kuala Lumpur-based International Islamic Liquidity Management Corp (IILM) plans to issue $500 million through its sukuk programme in the second quarter of this year. The long-awaited announcement was overshadowed by the unexpected pull-out of Saudi central bank, selling its shareholding to Qatar and Malaysia. According to industry executives, the pull-out would not necessarily deter Saudi commercial banks from buying the IILM sukuk - and that even if it did, demand in other countries would be more than ample. A key factor will be the yield that the IILM sukuk pays versus the cost of funds at individual banks.

Arcapita Bank and its debtor affiliates have filed a first amended joint plan of reorganisation and a related disclosure statement in their Voluntary Chapter 11 cases in the US. The agreements implemented by the plan allow for the orderly sale of the portfolio investments at a time and price that maximises recoveries for both Arcapita's creditors and its investors. The plan avoids expensive litigation and facilitates a prompt emergence from bankruptcy. A hearing on approval of the proposed disclosure statement related to the amended plan is scheduled before the US Court on April 26. A confirmation hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

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The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) announces that the suspension of Saudi Basic Industries Corp Sukuk 3 took place on Monday 15/04/2013 based upon the CMA approval of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. request to purchase (redeem) the SABIC SUKUK 3 issue. Accordingly, the SUKUK will be delisted from the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) on Wednesday 15/05/2013.

Qatar Financial Centre Authority in its first ‘Mena Asset Management Barometer‘ has predicted that Qatar will soon become a “key international distribution hub” for Shariah-compliant products. It suggests that Qatar’s position in the Islamic finance market will be boosted with the development of new infrastructure projects that will help in the growth of alternative fund structures and encourage public-private partnerships. However, the report also highlights that the asset management sector in Qatar is still in its infancy and the alternative sector will need time to develop. Besides, Qatar was also chosen by hedge fund management firms as the most favored location to establish a presence in the GCC.

Barwa Bank Group held its annual general meeting (AGM) on the 14th April at which the financial results for 2012 were approved and a new Board of Directors was elected. The Chairman, H.E. Sheikh Mohamad Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, gave a detailed report on the bank's activities, and highlighted the group's strong growth in both balance sheet and profitability. The bank's net income for 2012 increased by 41% to QR345m, total assets increased by 32% to reach QR25.3bn. Following the AGM, Barwa Bank Group also held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to approve QR1bn in additional capital through a Rights Issue of 50 million shares at QR20 per share and an Initial Public Offering of 50 million shares at QR21 per share.

Omani lender Alizz Islamic Bank, the second full-fledged Islamic bank in the sultanate, plans to begin operations in the third quarter of this year, according to its chief operating officer Jamal Darwiche. Last October, the bank raised OMR40 million ($104 million) by selling 40 per cent of its capital through a month-long initial public offer of shares. It is targeting a 3.5 per cent share of financing and a 3.6 per cent share of deposits in Oman’s banking sector by 2017. Moreover, it aims for annual growth in total assets, financing and deposits of 15-20 per cent, and to build a customer base of between 65,000 and 100,000 accounts over five years.

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has launched its new investment product called International Sukuk Portfolio. It will be invested predominantly in global sukuks issued by sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate issuers using well defined investment guidelines and is designed to keep risk exposure under control. The portfolio will be managed by QIB’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom QIB-UK, which has experience in asset management. Since International Sukuk Portfolio is priced and available for trading on a weekly basis, liquidity will be ensured. The portfolio will be diversified across sukuk issuers, a wide sector split and a broad geographic allocation. Part of the profits will be distributed to investors on a quarterly basis.

Saudi's Bank Aljazira has gotten the approval to sell shares in its insurance unit Aljazira Takaful Taawuni Co. The unit will offer 10.5 million shares at 10 riyals per share in IPO. Bank Aljazira plans to own 30 percent in the new firm. The new firm is to have capital of 350 mln riyals.

Al Salam Bank-Bahrain has successfully completed and sold a joint venture comprising seventy three villas worth an estimated gross development value of RM260.6 million ($86m), in one of Malaysia's Penang Island's largest seafront residential developments. The venture, Martinique Villas By-the-Sea, was named as the Best Villa Development in Malaysia at the South East Asia Property Awards 2011. Successful completion of this project was a result of a tripartite venture involving Al Salam Bank-Bahrain, Eastern & Oriental and CIMB-Mapletree Management Sdn, who entered into the agreement in 2006. The successful collaboration was celebrated at a private event in Penang.

The CMA Board has issued its resolution approving the initial public offering of 10,500,000 shares, which represent 30% of Aljazira Takaful Ta’awuni Company’s share capital. The offer price will be SAR 10 per share, and the subscription period will be from 03/07/1434H (13/05/2013G) to 09/07/1434H (19/05/2013G). The prospectus will be published within sufficient time prior to the subscription period. The prospectus includes all relevant information that the investor needs to know before making an investment decision, including the company's financial statements, activities and management.

According to a report titled "Record Low Borrowing Costs Are Boosting Gulf Issuers' Credit Quality, But Will They Last?", published by Standard & Poor's, corporate and infrastructure issuers in the Gulf region are benefitting from sustained positive macroeconomic fundamentals and strong appetite from regional and international investors. Moreover, GDP growth of 4% and above in 2013 is expected for most of the GCC nations. All GCC sovereigns have stable outlooks. The key risks to this rosy picture are an escalation in regional political instability or an unexpected fall in oil prices. Fortunately, these risks are negatively correlated, with any threat to supplies of hydrocarbons normally resulting in immediate price hikes.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said that it has assigned its 'A-1' rating to International Islamic Liquidity Management 2 SA's US$500 million Islamic finance program. The vehicle has been established with the sole purpose of purchasing sovereign, sovereign-linked or supranational sukuk assets with long-term ratings that correspond to an 'A-1' rating. In addition, the vehicle is to issue short-term Sharia-compliant certificates with maturity profiles of less than one year. IILM will act as the program administrator of the vehicle.

Dubai-based GFH Capital, owners of English football club Leeds United, have confirmed the appointment of Brian McDermott as the club's new manager with immediate effect. McDermott has agreed a three-year contract and will be joined by Nigel Gibbs as his assistant. The pairing previously worked together at Reading, where McDermott won promotion to the Premier League last season. McDermott brings with him the experience of having clinched promotion from the Championship last season when he guided Reading to the Premier League.

Simply Sharia Human Capital (SSHC) is now offering the Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) in collaboration with the Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB). The SRB-SSHC partnership will deliver the internationally recognised and UK-certified IFQ across the Gulf region. The IFQ is accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI), equipping candidates with a practical understanding of Islamic finance principles, products and models of business. The qualification will prepare candidates with knowledge of Islamic finance including Sukuk, Takaful, Mudaraba, Musharaka and Murabaha as well as offer an insight into the influence of Shari'ah in a business context.

Investors labelled a $500m sukuk from Sharjah Islamic Bank this week as exceptionally tight, but the deal nonetheless drew $3.2bn of orders on Tuesday. The sukuk priced inside the initial guidance range, ending up with a profit rate of 2.95% after the leads mooted low 3% on Monday.

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) organized in collaboration with the Islamic Finance Club at Gulf University for Science and Technology a scientific trip for a delegation of the university students to the United Kingdom. The trip that lasted for 7 days aimed to develop scientific knowledge in Islamic finance and increase awareness of the latest development of this industry. 17 students from various majors of the university participated in this trip. Moreover KFH organized, on the sidelines of the visit, a lecture on the principles of Islamic economy and its impacts on the lives of communities.