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JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company has reaffirmed the entity ratings of Burj Bank at ‘A/A-1’. Outlook on the ratings is ‘Stable’. Ratings take into account the financial profile of Islamic Corporation for Development of the Private sector (ICD), one of the major shareholders of the bank. The recent approval by shareholders to increase the bank's paid up capital (free of losses) to Rs. 6b is likely to create room for growth in core business activities, which is constrained by the high level of Capital Adequacy Ratio required to be maintained by the State Bank of Pakistan. With a CAR of 22.5% at end-Dec’12 and net NPLs in relation to tier-1 capital also within manageable limits, the bank continues to depict sound risk absorption capacity. Burj has set up 25 new branches during FY12 to increase the total outreach to 75 branches by year-end. A further 25 branches are planned to be set up during the ongoing year.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – the investment arm of the World Bank – has acquired 15 percent shareholding in Gulf African Bank, Kenya's Islamic bank, for $5 million (Sh425 million). In addition, a further $3 million (Sh255 million) trade guarantee has been opened for Gulf African Bank under IFC’s global trade finance programme. Gulf African Bank said it would use IFC’s financing to boost finance for retail and corporate customers and develop programmes for women entrepreneurs while also extending services to SMEs. In addition to the IFC partnership, the bank is undertaking a rights issue to increase its capital base by an additional Sh850 million.

Sharia-compliant mortgage lender Tamweel said on Monday its shareholders had approved the company's delisting from the Dubai stock exchange, paving the way for its acquisition by Dubai Islamic Bank. Dubai Islamic Bank said in January it planned to acquire all of Tamweel, in which it owned 58.2 per cent, through a share swap agreement which would see each Tamweel shareholder offered 10 DIB shares for every 18 Tamweel shares they held.

The two entities signed an MoU on the potential merger and a steering committee of senior representatives from both parties has been formed. Subsequently, a service provider was appointed to undertake valuation of both entities. KHCB has also appointed an advisor to assist it. Valuations and preliminary due diligence is expected to be completed within two months.

Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA) has assigned a national scale rating of A+/A-1 (SR) to Bank AlJazira. On the international scale, IIRA has assigned a foreign currency and local currency rating of A-/A-2. Outlook on the rating is ‘stable’. The fiduciary score has been assessed in the range of ‘71-75’, reflecting adequate fiduciary standards. The assigned credit ratings incorporate the bank’s improving asset quality and standalone profitability as well as an adequate liquidity profile and capitalization levels. However, BAJ, like other banks in Saudi Arabia, remains sensitive to concentration related risks. While large single exposures are likely to persist in the portfolio, segment-wise broadening will overtime reduce its possible impact, in case of impairment in large financings.

Kuwait Finance House said on Monday that a customer had settled $296.6 million of debt owed to the bank and that the impact of the receipt would be reflected in its second-quarter results. The customer had owed 32.6 million dinars or $114.3 million to KFH and 51 million dinars to subsidiaries. KFH did not give any details about the debtor, or say whether the customer was a corporate entity or an individual. The bank is expected to release second-quarter earnings in August.

Islamic International Rating Agency (IIRA) has assigned a national scale rating of A+/A-1 to Bank AlJazira (BAJ). On the international scale, IIRA has assigned a foreign currency and local currency rating of A-/A-2. Outlook on the rating is 'Stable'. The fiduciary score has been assessed in the range of '71-75', reflecting adequate fiduciary standards. BAJ has grown at a CAGR of 19% in terms of asset size over the last three years through continuous expansion in branches and business acquisition. Moreover, the bank has broadened its business base with an enhanced presence in the corporate segment and a growing exposure towards the retail market. However, it remains sensitive to concentration related risks. The bank has a well developed corporate governance framework in place with effectively functioning board and management level committees.

Noor Islamic Bank has completed Islamic capital market mandates valued at over $1.4 billion (AED5.14 billion) in the past six months in Turkey. As an Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner, Noor successfully closed a $500 million equivalent dual-currency Murabaha facility for Türkiye Finans Katilim Bankasi, which was oversubscribed two times. Noor Islamic Bank has also been an Initial Mandated Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner for a $382 million dual currency Murabaha Facility for Asya Katilim Bankasi A.S (Bank Asya) and a $500 million Sukuk for Tukiye Finans Katilim Bankasi A.S. In total, 85 banks and financial institutions across Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe have participated in the syndicated financing deals led by Noor this year.

Thanin Angsuwarangsi has tendered his resignation as the president of Islamic Bank of Thailand, only after six months in office. The bank’s board of directors announced that his resignation has been approved. Thanin’s decision followed employees’ pressure. Over 1,400 employees signed the petition to the board, saying that a number of the president’s decisions caused damage to the bank. Among the allegations, Thanin was alleged of ordering bank executives to cancel a lending and loan disbursement procedure, which affected borrowers financially and resulted in higher non-performing loans. The employees pointed out that the bank’s NPLs rose from Bt24 billion in November 2012 to over Bt38 billion in April 2013.

Moody's Investors Service said it has placed four Bahraini banks - National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), BBK, BMI Bank and Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) - on review for possible downgrade of its deposit, issuer and senior debt ratings. As part of the same rating action, Moody's has also placed on review for downgrade the standalone bank financial strength rating (BFSR) of BIsB. Moody's decision comes following the potential weakening in the sovereign's capacity to provide support to the banks, as signaled by the agency's decision to place the Baa1 Bahraini government bond rating on review for possible downgrade. The sovereign review was prompted by the fiscal implications of Bahrain's high and rising break-even oil price; the outlook for lower trend economic growth in the country over the medium term and the impact of a low-growth, high government expenditure and weaker oil price scenario on Bahrain's long-term debt sustainability.

The Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) has appointed Abdul Razaq Al-Qassim as new board chairman. Mr. Al-Qassim will take over from incumbent Khalid Al-Bassem, who opted to quit after holding the position for eight years. The appointment was on the sidelines of a BisB board meeting which finalized the sale of shares of Kuwaiti Investment House Holding Co. (51% of BisB shares) to National Bank of Bank (25.8%) and the General Organisation for Social Insurance (25.8%). The bank has also decided to convene a regular general assembly on July 7 to elect a new board following the ownership overhaul.

Alkhabeer Capital, a leading asset management and investment banking firm headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, announced the appointment of Tariq Hayat as Chief Corporate Communication Officer. Tariq joins Alkhabeer Capital from Arcapita Bank where he had worked since 2003 in senior corporate communications and management roles before being appointed as Arcapita’s Head of Corporate Communications. His key responsibilities will be to direct Alkhabeer’s internal and external corporate communication strategies, in addition to delivering specific stakeholder engagement initiatives to support the company’s accelerated growth.

Arcapita Bank on Tuesday secured a New York bankruptcy judge’s approval of Chapter 11 reorganization plan, allowing it to exit bankruptcy, pay off its creditors and turn over its assets to a new entity that will manage and dispose of them over time. Sixteen months after it entered bankruptcy, the Bahraini investment bank sailed through a confirmation hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean H. Lane with substantial support from creditors and shareholders.

In the possible merger between Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) and RHB Capital Bhd (RHBCap), MBSB president and chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Zaini Othman said MBSB is capable of taking over RHB Islamic. MBSB itself has more than RM30 billion in assets a shareholders' fund of more than RM2 billion and a market capitalisation of RM5 billion on Bursa Malaysia. One option for MBSB is therefore to take over RHB Islamic's RM4 billion assets. Employees Provident Fund (EPF) chief executive officer Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan had said last month that it will let RHBCap and MBSB decide on possible merger plans. The EPF holds a 44.84 per cent stake in RHBCap and 65.5 per cent share in MBSB. Meanwhile, MBSB chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali said the board of directors is unaware of any plans, is not in talks and has not received any proposals by the shareholders to merge with RHBCap.

Bahrain-based Venture Capital Bank reported a fifth consecutive quarter of profitable performance. The Islamic investment bank posted a net profit of $20.2 million on total revenue of $39.6m for the 15 months ended March 2013. For the quarter ended March this year, the profit was $1.7m and the revenue $5.08m. Total revenue increased 472 per cent on annualised basis to $39.6m for the 15-month period. Concurrently, total expenses decreased by 26pc on an annualised basis to $13.5m for the 15-month period as a result of cost reduction and organisational improvements. Shareholders' equity has grown by 9pc on an annualised basis to $199.2m as of March this year. The results affirm the bank's strategic focus on key sectors, such as healthcare, agribusiness, oil and gas and shipping and in the more economically and politically stable markets in the Mena region.

Khaleeji Commercial Bank and Bank Al Khair, a pair of Bahraini banks, are in talks over a potential merger. The banks have signed an agreement to explore the feasibility of a merger and are forming a steering committee to do due diligence and execute the deal. The proposed tie-up between Khaleeji, an Islamic bank founded in 2004 and listed on the Bahrain bourse, and Bank Al Khair, an Islamic investment bank, comes amid a wave of talks among Bahraini lenders. Three small Bahraini banks completed a merger in January, and Bahrain's Al Salam Bank and BMI Bank are currently pursuing a merger.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) moves in the Islamic banking sector of Kazakhstan with a mandate of converting a regional Bank into an Islamic bank with expected investment of up to 35 percent of the subscribed and paid up capital of the bank. Accordingly, it will become second Islamic bank in the country. Earlier, ICD , together with a diverse group of International and local investors including owners of Zaman Group established the first Islamic Leasing (Ijara) Company in Kazakhstan with authorized capital of $ 36 million. In addition, ICD extended $ 20 million for the real estate development project and committed $ 40 million lines of financing facility for the SME sector in the country.

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has been affirmed by international credit rating agency, Capital Intelligence (CI), with a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of 'A'. This reflects the Bank's Islamic banking franchise, evidenced by substantial growth in financings and customer deposits, net financial income differential, and the Bank's capitalisation. In view of the Bank's intrinsic financial profile, Qatar's economic growth potential, and ongoing government support for all Qatari banks, the Bank's Long and Short Term Foreign Currency Ratings are affirmed at 'A' and 'A2', respectively, on Stable Outlook. Based on the strength of the Qatari government balance sheet, the Support Rating is affirmed at '2'.

European Islamic Investment Bank PLC Deputy CEO Keith Mcleod is to leave the board with immediate effect.

Dubai Islamic Bank Group (DIB) today announced that its Long Term Issuer ratings have been affirmed by Moody’s at Baa1 and the outlook has been moved to “Stable”. The confirmation of DIB’s ratings reflects the recent capital injection and the expectation that asset quality pressure will ease which, in turn, should support profitability, according to Moody's. Morover, the systemic importance of the bank to the banking sector and the government ownership of 34% were also cited as some of the factors for the decision. Moody’s also affirmed the long term issuer ratings of Tamweel, which is a subsidiary of the bank (86.5% owned by DIB) at Baa3 and with the recent move by DIB to take over the company, Tamweel’s outlook on ratings has been upgraded to “Positive.”