IslamicFinance.de

Malaysia Minister of Finance II Y.B. Dato' Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah launched "Labuan IBFC Wealth Management Year 2013". He said Labuan IBFC has grown in the last two years, from 2010 to 2012. The total value of assets for banking and leasing sectors, as well as insurance premiums collected by Labuan IBFC licensed institutions, in aggregate grew to USD76.2 billion or RM236.3 billion. This represents an average annual growth of 13.5%. Moreover, the Asian Development Bank recommended LIBFC Foundation as the holding entity to domicile the USD485 million ASEAN Infrastructure Fund in Labuan last year. For the future, the introduction of a broad range of capital market products needs to be facilitated. Furthermore, a competitive investment management industry has to be established.

Strategy and Planning

• Provide expert advice and support to Head, Islamic Banking in relation to Islamic Banking’s financial position and control.

• Ensure that the organisation delivers reasonable returns on shareholders’ capital.

• Understand the needs and functions of Islamic Banking SBUs/SFUs to develop an effective management information system to support the Bank’s goals.

• Oversee the SBU/SFU financial reporting needs and requirements and provide timely and accurate financial information to aid decision making.

• Ensure appropriate cascading of business targets to the SBU.

• Strategic planning and control to help achieve financial goals and targets of the SBU.

A leadership position with foreign bank in KL to manage Islamic branches to achieve the targets / standards for sales, service quality and risk management.

Islamic financial institution is looking for a Senior Placement Manager to join their expanding team in Kuwait.
Responsibilities:

•Product-wise placement targets in each geography.
•Understand market appetite and assist the business development team.
•Service existing clients and network with potential investors in a target market.
•Make presentations on specific products, for which funds are to be raised.

Candidates who qualify for this position may kindly quote the Job Title in the subject of your email and send your CV as an attachment in MS Word Document format to momran@gulfconnexions.com

•Overlook development, business management and achievement of targeted income and operating profit in alignment with the vision, mission and values of the Bank.
•Provide the overall direction of the Bank keeping in mind the best interests of shareholders, customers and employees.
•Develop, manage and execute the operational plans based on strategic plans set and agreed with the Board.
•Maximize growth and profitability in a manner consistent with Sharia principles and standards.
•Balance Sheet Management, Capital Adequacy (ALCO), and Risk Management.

Capital Markets, Islamic Finance
You will be part of the common pool of the existing team, helping to execute on private equity investment and corporate advisory assignments across the region.

•Conduct sector research as well as perform research on potential investment opportunities
•Support due diligence process and build financial models
•Support deal processes, dealing with both external and internal parties
•Assist the deal team in pitching for a wide range of assignments, identifying potential opportunities as well as executing transactions
Requirements

According to a report released by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), the sukuk market can expect another few strong years after global issuance of sukuk expanded for the fourth year in a row in 2012. The report “Investors Are Snapping Up Sukuk, Despite Questions About Creditworthiness” points out that there is little to hinder another strong performance by the sukuk market in the next few years. The sukuk market is believed to have the potential to grow and join the mainstream. New sukuk issuance worldwide is expected to exceed $100 billion again this year. However, yields in the region have been declining, and even fell under those on conventional debt.

Bahrain-based Arcapita Bank, the first Gulf company to file for bankruptcy in the United States under Chapter 11 rules, has submitted a plan to reorganise the company. The plan, filed with the court handling the chapter 11 case in New York, represents an effective way to implement a comprehensive restructuring and maximise recoveries to creditors and other stakeholders. It will be the subject of a hearing within 45 days and must then be approved by creditors.

The ordinary general assembly of Qatar International Islamic Bank's (QIIB) shareholders, chaired by the bank Chairman Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, approved all the 11 items figured in the agenda. These include the approval for the board of directors' decision to issue $2bn sukuk, election of two members to the Governing Council, and an annual dividend of 35 percent. The bank's total revenue in 2012 amounted to QR1.183bn while the net profit reached QR679m recording a growth rate of 4 percent on year-on-year basis. The issuance of the $2bn sukuk depends on international market conditions.

Tide Natural Gas Storage I LP, which paid $515 million for natural gas assets from a subsidiary of Bahrain's bankrupt Arcapita Bank BSC, asked a New York bankruptcy court Monday to appoint a trustee of the subsidiary's bankruptcy because of conflicts of interest. Tide asked to convert Arcapita subsidiary Falcon Gas Storage Co. Inc.'s bankruptcy from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 and for the court to appoint a trustee because Arcapita reorganization's plan will give the Bahraini bank and its creditors too much power.

The GAVI Alliance and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help save children’s lives by accelerating the introduction of life-saving vaccines in IDB member countries. The MoU was signed by Dr Seth Berkley, GAVI Alliance CEO, and Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman. By 2020, GAVI plans to vaccinate more than 400 million children in at least 29 member countries. An estimated US$ 7 billion will be required to reach this target. IDB will work closely with GAVI to help secure sufficient funds for immunisation.

Turkish Islamic lender Bank Asya said on Monday it had mandated banks for a subordinated sukuk issue worth up to $300 million with a ten-year maturity. The lender made the statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Strong investor demand and a need to improve capital adequacy ratios are causing Turkey's Islamic banks to consider issuing subordinated sukuk.

Insurers in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) exuded confidence as they expect that the premium growth will exceed that of the region’s gross domestic product. The region’s low insurance penetration, favourable demographics and relatively moderate natural catastrophe exposure are considered to contribute to the sector's growth. However, high levels of competition, regulatory deficiencies, market fragmentation and political risks are relevant perceived weaknesses of the Mena insurance marketplace. The majority of Islamic insurers say that the potential of Islamic insurance has been overestimated.

Alliance Financial Group (AFG) is selling its 30% stake in AFG Takaful to American International Assurance. The stake comprises 30 million shares of RM1 each, and is being sold for RM45mil. AIA AFG Takaful's core business is to carry out family takaful business. AFG said the disposal was not expected to have any material effect on AFG's net assets per share, earnings per share and gearing of AFG for FY ending March 31, 2013.

The Government Savings Bank (GSB) will continue to focus on supporting government projects, including possible mergers with the ailing Islamic Bank of Thailand and SME Bank. The bank has targeted non-performing loans (NPLs) at 1.15% of total loans this year. Moreover, it aims to achieve an increase in lending this year of 8.5% or 142.8 billion baht. According to the bank's president and chief executive Worawit Chailimpamontri, mergers with the Islamic Bank and the SME Bank have made no progress, but will be pursued if the government needs GSB as a solution to fix the problem. GSB also plans to open 90 new branches nationwide this year, and to launch new services while upgrading information technology and staff skills.

Last April the Qatari government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Islamic Development Bank and Saudi Arabia's Dallah Albaraka Group to establish an international Islamic bank with initial capital of $1 billion. Finance Minister Youssef Kamal, however, has not given details about the timing, ownership or other aspects of the new institution but said it would be set up soon.

According to a report released by MyHiringClub.com, Kuwait ranks 35th globally, Oman 37th, Bahrain 40th, UAE 42nd and Saudi Arabia 44th in a list that evaluates countries with women serving on company boards and top managerial levels. GCC economists said local business community is need of women's participation in company boardrooms. Saudi Arabia' share is 54 percent of total women labor force in the GCC region. This will allow the women to go beyond their traditional role and make remarkable progress in the area of labor, education, and socioeconomic development. The number of businesses registered for Saudi women stood at nearly 36,200 which represents 4.7 percent of total registered businesses in the Kingdom. The volume of women investments in businesses has so far reached SR 3 billion, which represents 4.3 percent of the total number of private sector companies in Saudi Arabia.

Growth in the Muslim population throughout the emerging markets of Middle East and North Africa and Asia (MENA) is a key reason behind increasing demand for Islamic banking services. Especially sub-Saharan Africa offers growth opportunity for Shariah-compliant finance. Ja’iz Bank for example, Nigeria’s first Islamic bank, has witnessed growth in customer base, assets and branch network. The future of non-interest banking in Nigeria is bright. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched Liquidity Management Instruments to assist non-interest banks to be able to manage their liquidity while National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has, in collaboration with Ja’iz, designed an Islamic cooperative kind of insurance called Takaful. Similarly, other institutions and commissions are mulling how to come up with non-interest-based bonds for financing infrastructure.

The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) and a local pension fund will buy a 51.6-percent stake in Bahrain Islamic Bank. As part of the deal, NBB and Social Insurance Organization Asset Management Company, a unit of pension fund Social Insurance Organization, will each take a 25.8-percent stake in Bahrain Islamic for 72 fils per share. Based on Bahrain Islamic’s total outstanding shares, the value of the deal is about 34.9 million dinars ($92.57 million). The transaction will provide NBB an opportunity to expand into Islamic banking.

The European Central Bank and the Malaysia-based Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) are conducting a joint study on policies affecting Islamic finance in Europe. European scholars and regulators are going to examine a broad set of policy and regulatory issues in relation to Islamic finance in Europe. An expected release date was not given. The study will be complemented on April 9 by the IFSB's annual forum, which will be hosted by the Bank of Italy in Rome.