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A Dubai-based subsidiary of Islamic investment bank GFH Financial Group has sold its remaining 18 % stake in English football club Leeds United, ending nearly 4 years of Middle Eastern involvement in the club. GFH Capital sold the stake to Eleonora Sport, operated by Italian businessman Massimo Cellino. Eleonora now owns 100 % of the club, Leeds United said.

GFH bought Leeds United in December 2012 but within months began looking for new investment in the club, and in 2014 Cellino bought a majority stake in it. GFH Financial did not reveal the price at which it sold its remaining stake but said the deal would reflect positively on its financials and liquidity for 2016. Crippled during the global credit crisis in 2008, GFH Financial went through several debt restructurings but has resumed expanding in the financial services sector. In August it signed a memorandum of understanding to buy most of Bahrain's Bank Al Khair.

GFH Capital has agreed to acquire a market leading bread and sweets producer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for a transaction value of US$50 million. The Company was established in 1984 and is a leading industrial scale producer of bread and sweets, employing 300 staff and supplying to over 3,000 clients across the Kingdom through its distribution network. The Company has reported strong, consistent growth year after year with revenues increasing at a CAGR of 11% between 2010 and 2014. The company is expected to maintain this level of growth over the investment period. GFH’s strategy is focused on investing in cash yielding opportunities in defensive sectors that have sound growth potential.

GFH Capital has signed an agreement to sell a $25 million prime property in one of London's most prestigious postcodes. The investment firm said it has sold the Queen’s Gate Gardens property that it had acquired last year. The property is a Grade II listed building located in the prime Kensington area of London overlooking the gardens. According to the terms of the agreement, the buyer has paid an initial deposit with a target to complete the transaction in six weeks, subject to receiving relevant approvals. GFH Capital said investors in the deal can expect to make a return that can reach 21 percent return per annum. The deal is expected to positively reflect in the Q4 financial results of GFH.

GFH Capital has successfully placed its newly acquired prime central London residential property with GCC investors. The placement was oversubscribed by investors seeking attractive opportunities in the UK real estate market. The luxury property, which is located in Kensington, is a five unit Grade II listed building overlooking the Queens Gate Gardens. The investment is expected to deliver above average capital appreciation over the medium term for the bank and its investors. GFH Capital continues to assess other similar opportunities in the UK and US real estate markets where it sees value and upside potential. GFH Capital announced the acquisition of its Queens Gate Gardens property in early January 2014.

GFH Capital has announced the appointment of Jinesh Patel as its Senior Executive Officer to lead the Dubai based investment bank. In his new role, Mr. Patel has been tasked with further building and growing the business. Mr. Patel is a senior business professional with almost two decades of international experience in the financial services arena spanning Europe, the Middle East and Asia and brings to his role extensive experience in originating, structuring and executing private equity, debt and capital market transactions. Prior to joining GFH Capital, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Ammalay Commodities - Dubai. He holds an MBA from the University of Brighton and BA (Hons) in Business Economics and Finance.

GFH Capital, a fully-owned subsidiary of Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House, yesterday announced the acquisition of a prime central London residential property. Located in Kensington, the property is a Grade II listed building, overlooking the Queens Gate Gardens. GFH Capital expects above average capital appreciation to continue over the medium term. Demand for this type of property is reportedly coming from investors all over the world. However, the firm also sees value and upside potential in other real estate markets such as the US and expects to make additional investments in these markets as well.

GFH Capital, a fully owned subsidiary of Bahrain based Gulf Finance House, has completed the acquisition of a prime central London residential property. Located in Kensington, the property is a Grade II listed building, overlooking the Queens Gate Gardens. This investment is in line with GFH Capital's strategy to identify attractive opportunities in developed markets like the UK, where it has already made considerable investments. Demand for this type of property is coming from investors all over the world. GFH Capital expects this dynamic to continue due to the favorable conditions of London. However, the firm also sees value and upside potential in other real estate markets such as the US and expects to make additional investments in these markets as well.

The ebullient GFH Capital general counsel David Haigh speaks to Alex Newman about buying Leeds United, his unorthodox legal career and lofty political ambitions. When David Haigh recounts his first meeting with Ken Bates the anecdote reveals as much about himself as it does about the famously combative ex-chairman of Leeds United Football Club.

Dubai-based GFH Capital, owners of English football club Leeds United, have confirmed the appointment of Brian McDermott as the club's new manager with immediate effect. McDermott has agreed a three-year contract and will be joined by Nigel Gibbs as his assistant. The pairing previously worked together at Reading, where McDermott won promotion to the Premier League last season. McDermott brings with him the experience of having clinched promotion from the Championship last season when he guided Reading to the Premier League.

Bahraini GFH Capital is considering selling a majority stake of Championship club Leeds United which it has owned since December 21. GFH bought Leeds from Ken Bates for £17million plus payments based on reaching the Premier League within four years. A multi-national consortium led by former Hull City executive Adam Pearson has made proposals to buy either 51 per cent or all of GFH's shareholding, which values Leeds at around £25m. According to a GFH statement, they received an offer for a majority stake that has not been accepted, although they have been seeking strategic investors.

Leeds United owners GFH Capital are reportedly planning to sell the football club, just seven weeks after completing their takeover. Current owner of Hull FC rugby league club Adam Pearson is believed to be leading a bid by a consortium of Yorkshire businessmen. The deal is understood to be for 51 per cent with a full takeover later this year. A GFH Capital statement last night said that they had received several offers to invest in the club alongside them, but none had been accepted.

GFH Capital is a private equity firm based in Dubai, UAE. According to its website, the company has been highly successful investments and fund management over the past ten years. It also points out that it has handled investments worth more than eight billion US dollars in 25 different countries. Its funds to some extent come from the Dubai Islamic Bank, the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. The Gulf Finance House is an investment bank Bahrain. It completely owns GFH Capital Limited. Just as GFH Capital, the Gulf Finance House has made numerous successful investments worth billions of American dollars. GFH Capital has made its bid for Leeds United on its own and will handle the deal independently of Gulf Finance House.

After GFH Capital have shown enough proof of funds to complete the takeover of Leeds United, the acquisition is ready to be fulfilled. Thus, the long months of discussion starting May this year are over. According to current Leeds owner Ken Bates, both parties are ready to close the deal in the very near future. He also pointed out the negative effect of inaccurate reporting by some journalists due to lack of knowledge, which, however were not able to disturb the acquisition procedures as much.

Read more on: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2223470/Leeds-takeover...

The takeover of Leeds United Football Club by GFH Capital raised disputes on the level of Shari’ah compliance associated with the deal. A statement by David Haigh, deputy chief executive officer and chief operating officer of GFH Capital, stumbled upon rather negative reception. He compared Leeds United to young Pamela Anderson in terms of good shape and future perspective. Also, the fact that a soccer club where alcohol, gambling and pork feature in the mix is subject of acquisition, the question arises whether it is at all compliant with the Shari’ah principles.

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

According to GFH Capital, it wants to buy the football club Leeds for itself and is not acting on behalf of a third party. The bank plans to acquire all 100% of Leeds City Holdings Limited's equity in an all-cash deal. In case of a successful bid, the chairman and owner of the club - Ken Bates - would sever all ties with the club. Even though discussions about the transaction have started about half a year ago, it is still not certain where the bank would find the cash to finance the deal. The sum is estimated at about $81m. The bank's parent - Gulf Finance House - claims to be short of finance.

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

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...

GFH Capital discusses the takeover of the English football club Leeds United and has considerably advanced in its negotiations. Even though a football club is not typical for a bank's business, GFH Capital has discussed logistic and other issues at length and it is possible for the investment operation to be finalized by the end of the year.

More on: http://www.ameinfo.com/gfh-capital-talks-takeover-leeds-united-312875