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London-based Gatehouse Bank is considering applying for two or three licences in Malaysia in universal banking, investment banking, and or, wealth management to expand its business in Asia. The bank, which recently commenced operations in Malaysia via a representative office in Kuala Lumpur, would closely discuss licensing options with the Securities Commission and Bank Negara, according to chief representative of Gatehouse Bank in Malaysia Richard Thomas. The establishment of the representative office will be the first step in a two-year larger strategic plan to apply for a full-fledged licence. In these two years, the bank will conduct and collect research as well as analyses of the risks and rewards of investing in Asia.

The Board of Gatehouse Bank has announced its expansion in South East Asia to cement its growing operations and to ensure its proximity with its key clients, regulators and stakeholders in the region. This follows on from the £165 million acquisition of the law firm SJ Berwin’s offices in London, in collaboration with a Malaysian Sovereign Wealth fund in September 2012. Richard Thomas OBE, will relinquish his current responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer and will take over a new role with the Bank to spearhead this SE Asia business expansion and operations. Mr Fahed Boodai, Chairman has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer.

Gatehouse Bank announced its expansion in South East Asia following the acquisition of the law firm SJ Berwin's offices in London, in collaboration with a flourishing Malaysian Sovereign Wealth fund in September 2012. Richard Thomas OBE, will relinquish his current responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer and will take over a new role with the Bank to spearhead this SE Asia business expansion and operations. Mr Fahed Boodai, Chairman has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer.

London-based Gatehouse Bank is participating in the youth mentoring initiative 'Mosaic' that seeks to inspire young people from deprived communities to realise their talents and potential. The seminar saw business leaders, including the CEO of Gatehouse Bank, Richard Thomas, sharing important insights and experiences on activities undertaken in 2012. According to a press release from Gatehouse Bank, Mosaic addresses the role that businesses can play in responding to social and environmental problems. Therefore, it directly reflects the business ethos of a socially responsible Shari’ah banking model.

Cooperating with Malaysia's Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), Gatehouse Bank has executed the GBP 165 million acquisition of the law firm SJ Berwin’s offices in London. The role of Gatehouse was Investment and Shari’ah Adviser. The deal is the first real estate investment of the Malaysian client and is essential for its wider global investment strategy. According to Chief Executive Officer of Gatehouse Bank Richard Thomas, this investment is a great example of international co-operation and demonstrates how funds can be mobilised around the world complying with the principles of Shariah.

Read more on: http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/16102/gatehouse-advises-malaysias-...

Together with a Malaysian Sovereign Wealth fund, London-based Gatehouse Bank has finished the £165 million acquisition of the offices of the law firm SJ Berwin. Gatehouse played the role of an investment and Sharia adviser for the deal. The investment of the Malaysian client is of major importance for its wider global investment strategy.

Read more on: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=339370

Richard Thomas, CEO of Gatehouse Bank, was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the recent Birthday Honours list of Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the UK Government. Thomas becomes the first UK royal award for civic excellence in Islamic finance.
Fahed Boodai, Kuwaiti chairman of Gatehouse Bank, stated that this recognition is honoring his leading contribution to the development of Shariah-compliant financing over the past 30 years.

Richard Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Gatehouse Bank, is going to be recruited in the Order of the British Empire, an honour bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A special ceremony will be held in order to introduce Thomas as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
The OBE will be handed in recognition for civic excellence and the contribution that Thomas has made to the UK Islamic financial services industry.

Gatehouse Bank plans to bring a $96.77 million Islamic bond to market by the end of the first quarter.
Richard Thomas, speaking on the sidelines of an Islamic forum in Abu Dhabi, said the bank would also arrange a 25-million pound ($40 million) syndicated lease financing this year.

The issuance by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) of a directive requiring the country’s conventional banks which have opened Islamic banking windows (IBWs) to close them down by the end of 2011 may result in operational complexities in the implementation of the directive.
Both Professor Rifaat Abdel Karim and Islamic bankers such as Richard Thomas agree that the complexities lie with trying to match short-term deposits placed with the IBWs with their longer term liabilities.