IslamicFinance.de

The chief executive of Kuwait's The Securities House, Ayman Boodai, said he was stepping down from his position at the sharia-compliant investment firm and would be replaced by Fahed Boodai, the current chairman of U.K.-based Islamic lender Gatehouse Bank. Legal steps to allow the change have begun, with a new board of directors needed to be elected before a new chief executive can be nominated. The Securities House is one of two big shareholders in Gatehouse Bank, with the other being Kuwait Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund. Separately, Ayman Boodai said Gatehouse Bank plans to open a number of branches or representative offices in Gulf countries without offering details.

London-based Gatehouse Bank plc (Gatehouse) has announced that its associate has successfully completed the sale of a real estate investment located in San Francisco's South Financial District in California. The total amount of the sale reached $71m (£46.4m), which yielded a profit on equity of 100% post costs and taxes. This real estate investment consists of two office buildings situated on a 15,306 sq ft parcel of land and is adjacent to the proposed Transbay Redevelopment Project. Gatehouse Bank and its associate were assisted by Arch Street Capital Advisors, L.L.C. and SKS Investments in this transaction.

London-based Gatehouse Bank has completed the acquisition of a 163,000 sq ft, state of the art office building in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is 100% leased to the General Services Administration (GSA) for a fixed term of 20 years.
The deal is expected to return a stable and healthy yield over the investment period. Gatehouse Bank was assisted by Arch Street Capital Advisors and sister company GSH in this transaction.

Gatehouse Bank delivered successfully a real estate realized investment in the sale of VA Oceanside Clinic for $54.5 million. The medical facility is placed near San Deigo, California, USA.
The statement was given by Fahed Boodai, Chairman of Gatehouse Bank. The chairman added that the property is a specialized medical clinic leased to and operated by the US Department of Veteran Affairs for a period of 20 years, and has been generating an annual return of 7% that is distributed to shareholders on a monthly basis.

Gatehouse Bank, London-based Shariah-compliant wholesale bank, is planning to launch a £70 million (Dh410m) Islamic bond (sukuk) next month.
In an exclusive interview with Emirates 24|7, Fahed Boodai said the sukuk is targeted at the UK corporates and is expected to be completed in November.
Simon Eedle added that the time is also right for sukuk issuances outside of the Gulf region and he expects more investment money from the West to tap the Islamic finance market in 2011.