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Bahrain investment firm Arcapita Bank has time until Dec. 14 to submit a reorganization plan without the threat of rival proposals. The company shall not seek any further extensions after that date. The extension was approved by judge Sean H. Lane of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. The decision was made possible by the satisfaction of an objection from Arcapita's official committee of unsecured creditors. Arcapita considers a standalone plan as well as a plan involving new money from a third party.

Read more on: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/arcapita-to-file-chapter-11-plan-by-dec-14...

An analysis by the Daily Telegraph shows that Gulf Finance House (GFH), which plans to buy Leeds United, is short of money. The investment-banking group held less than £4million in cash in June 2011, which is £800million less than the cash sum at the end of 2008. As a subordinate company to GFH, GFH Capital claims to have the money for the acquisition and not to be involved in the financial shortage of its parent company. However, further details on this issue are not revealed.

Read more on: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leeds-united/9597049/Lee...

Affordable housing is a serious problem in the GCC countries since the population is growing. Already measures are being taken to address this problem. For example, amendments to the law on land and building regulations in Bahrain makes construction of additional houses on plots of land and the enlargement of small houses possible. The Diar Al-Muharraq project shall provide over 30,000 housing units. In Kuwait, a budget of 140 billion is designated to the cause of dealing with the urgent need for housing. The funding is part of the country's Five Year Plan 2010-14.

See more on: http://www.menafn.com/menafn/1093566568/Affordable-housing-GCC-National-...

GFH Capital Limited plans to fully buy-out the futball club Leeds United. GFH Capital offers a 100 per cent cash purchase, which means there would be no debt for the club to be paid if the takeover succeeds. Negotiations are protracted as they are about to enter their fifth month but there is more than likely that the deal between GFH Capital and Leeds City Holdings Ltd will be made soon.

See more under: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-n...

"Tackling the Profitability Chalange: Fresh Thinking for Islamic and Cooperative Insurance in the Middle East" ist the name of the Middle East Takaful Forum 2012 that is going to be held on the October 17th and 18th, under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain. More than 200 top decision-makers will discuss the key challenges of Middle East Takaful operators and conditions of achieving sustainable profitability in the insurance sector.

See more under: http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/15966/overcoming-profitability-cha...

Ithmaar Banks merger talks with its associate, First Leasing Bank, has moved on. The boards of both banks approved the plans as well as the kingdom's banking regulator the central bank had given its initial approval for merger.

See more under: http://www.ameinfo.com/ithmaar-set-close-merger-deal-leasing-313763

The Waqf Fund, which purpose is to support Islamic finance training, education and research, has expanded its scope of activity and started supporting the industry in various ways during the last year. According to a statement by Khalid Hamad, fund chairman and Central Bank of Bahrain executive director of banking supervision, the fund is supporting Bahrain University in their Bachelor of Arts in Sharia for banking and finance as well as Shaikh Isa Library.

More on: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=338524

The central bank of Bahrain has given its confirmation to the merge of Capivest, Elaf Bank and Capital Management House (CMH). The three Islamic lenders will merge into a $400m asset base and $350m shareholder equity entity will get underway before the end of 2012. Ratification of the decision of the three banks by the apex lender and the industry and commerce ministry is expected in June.

More on: http://www.ameinfo.com/bahraini-islamic-banks-merger-2012-end-313053

Wealth fund Mumtalakat, Bahrain, has priced a 300 million ringgit ($97.7m) five-year sukuk on September 7. Standard Chartered and CIMB Islamic helped pricing the Islamic bond. The murabaha-structured deal has been issued as part of the company's three billion ringgit sukuk programme. The issuance itself is due October 4.

More on: http://www.ameinfo.com/mumtalakat-issue-977m-islamic-bond-313070

According to an announcement by Al Baraka Islamic Bank, Abdul Rahman Abdullah Mohammed has joined the bank's board. This was made possible by Central Bank of Bahrain's approval. Abdul Rahman Abdullah Mohammed is an expert in banking business with over 36 years experience in numerous institutions including NBB banking group where he was general manager until recently.

More on: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=338525

In order to exit bankruptcy, Arcapita has designed a long-term business plan which is to be combined with a previously approved incentive plan with employees. According to the latter plan, terminated employees and such, who remained with the company through November, will have the opportunity to settle the amounts they owed Arcapita from an incentive plan that allowed them to co-invest with Arcapita in portfolio companies. The incentive was made possible by an affiliate of Arcapita which loans the company money in order for Arcapita to invest in its deals.

More on: http://www.theislamicglobe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...

Tamkeen's finance schemes with a funding of BD136 million favoured over 4,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The provided money made growth and expansion through various Sharia-compliant financing solutions possible. A variety of sectors has benefited from the funding, among which 32% wholesale and retail trade, about 21% construction sector, 13% professional services, and 8% accommodation and food services. The last six months demonstrate continuity and stability in the growth of the financial schemes.

More on: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=338258

KFH-Bahrain plans to launch a new financing product for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in partnership with Tamkeen. The new product will offer unique Islamic financing solutions and a subsidy of 50%. Thus, the growth of the corresponding companies shall be supported.

More on: http://www.zawya.com/story/KFHBahrain_launches_SMEs_Finance_programme_wi...

According ot a report by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a trend to develop and globalize the sukuk market is being set. Since conventional banks worldwide tend to producing fewer and shorter loans, companies look for an alternative in terms of financing. In this case, it is very probable that Islamic financial instruments become a significant source of funding, particularly in the GCC and Asia. While these regions mark the center of a huge estimated $1 trillion market, they also need high capital for developing their infrastructure.

Seera Investment Bank has negotiated a Sharia-compliant structured financing facility wich will serve for developing a new purpose built student housing project and commercial property in central London. The project should be completed next year. The property will provide 339 rooms for students as well as a commercial space of 37,000 square feet. The property will be constructed in the vicinity of Aldgate East Station in Central London which location is not far away from a number of higher educational institutions. The first phase of the construction has recently been finished.

Arcapita Islamic investment bank, which finds itselb in Chapter 11 bankrupcty, plans a new financial move. It will make a $1.9m Murabaha financing with a profit rate of 15% possible. The money will flow into District Cooling - a joint venture with Dalkia Utilities Company serving for district cooling and other services to three developments in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. The financing is supposed to play the role of a bridge. Meanwhile Arcapita and District Cooling are occupied to renegotiate a concession agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC).

Islamic International Rating Agency has assigned a national scale long-term rating of A+ to ABC Islamic Bank (E.C). The short-term rating is A-1 and the international ratings - A-/A-2. There is a "Stable" outlook on the ratings. The fiduciary score has been assessed to be in the range of (75-80), and points to strong fiduciary capacity and a well developed governance structure, in which the rights of the stakeholders are well defined and protected.

The chief operating officer of Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank Gulf Finance House - Haider Al Majali - has resigned. At the time of going to press, no name of a new COO has been mentioned. Meanwhile, the country's position as an Islamic finance capital of the GCC is strongly questioned. Ethnic conflicts and misuse of tear gas by the police against vocal opponents to the ruling regime are the main threat. The financial position of Bahrain depends on the development of its domestic situation.

S&P Indices made an anouncement that a new Index will be launched due to increase in the demand for a shariah-compliant benchmark in Islamic countries. The new S&P/OIC COMCEC 50 Shariah Index will measure the performance of 50 leading Shariah-compliant companies from members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Eligible countries and territories for the Index are: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

According to Norton Rose, its Middle East team is a ‘regional’ one in which no lawyers have formal bases. This was the answer given to the resignation of two of its lawyers in Bahrain.
The only two lawyers that stayed are construction partner Joanne Emerson-Taqi and project finance senior associate Angela Croker.
By comparison, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer lists three Bahrain-based lawyers (a partner, an associate and a principal consultant) on its website, while Trowers & Hamlins’ lists 15 lawyers and Baker & McKenzie’s lists 12.