By Rebecca Spong – MEED
Qatari investment bank QInvest also eyeing increased M&A pipeline
The use of Islamic finance is “moving into the mainstream”, says Michael Katounas, deputy CEO and head of investment banking at Qatar’s QInvest.
“Clients are not looking at Islamic finance just as a one-off bespoke exotic structure, but are viewing it as part of a normal range of funding options,” he tells MEED.
By V L Srinivasan, Qatar Today Magazine
Sukuk are not only an established alternative source of funding in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and the Asian markets but are also evoking considerable interest in Europe, Africa and the CIS countries.
By Nabilah Annuar, Islamic Finance group
Qatar-based investment bank, QInvest, has reported strong financial results for the year 2013. The company recorded an increase of US$60 million in net profits, attributed to a staggering 40% increase in revenues, coupled with a 30% reduction in costs.
MARKET FOCUS: MIDDLE EAST INVESTMENT
BANKING
By Gordon Platt, Global Finance Magazine
The Middle East may present political challenges, but dealmakers anticipate that 2014 will be the year M&A flourishes in the region, particularly in the GCC countries, as well as Iraq and Egypt.
National Bank of Oman, the first local bank and one of the leading banks in the Sultanate of Oman, and QInvest, Qatar’s leading investment bank and one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions in the world, organized a Sukuk Seminar on January26, 2014 at Grand Hyatt, Muscat.
MEA Finance Magazine has named QInvest
“Best regional investment bank” and “Best
local investment bank” as part of the
magazine's Middle East Banking Awards
2013.
QInvest, Qatar’s leading investment bank and one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions globally, today unveiled its audited full year 2013 results. The Company reported a significant increase in revenue of 40%, a reduction in costs of nearly 30% and an increase ofUS$ 60 million in net profit. 2013 saw significant capital deployment across financing and Real Estate transactions. Balance sheet risk was significantly reduced with collection of outstanding receivables and reduction of foreign currency exposure.
• QInvest advised on a fifth of total global
US$ Sukuk issuance in the year
• QInvest expects increased investor and
issuer appetite for Sukuk issuance in 2014
QInvest, Qatar’s leading investment bank and one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions in the world has advised on Sukuk transactions in 2013 totalling US$ 3.5 billion, and expects another busy year in 2014, with increased activity from within and outside of the MENA region.
• Issuers use intangible assets to underpin
sukuk
• Market innovation to allow others to
follow
Market participants are predicting an increase
in sukuk issuance in the Gulf region over the
next two years, as innovative structures
expand the range of assets that can be used as
underlying sources of profit.
Qatari state-owned telecoms firm Ooredoo, for
instance, made its debut in Islamic bonds last
month, pricing a US$1.25bn 3.039% 2018
sukuk.
QInvest, Qatar’s leading investment bank and one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions in the world, participated in the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) - World Bank Annual Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance on 18 and 19 November 2013 in Manama, Kingd
The Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association (GBSA), the trade association representing the Arabian Gulf fixed income market, held a seminar on Islamic finance in London last week for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The seminar was organized by Jacek Kubas (Senior Associate at EBRD’s Local Currency and Capital Markets Development Team) and held at EBRD headquarters in the City of London. Around one hundred staff and members of the EBRD Board attended the event.
The Center for Islamic Economics and Finance (CIEF), part of the Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) of Hamad bin Khalifa University, recently organised a successful symposium on "Sukuk from Economic, Legal, Practical and Shariah Perspectives". Over 180 people attended the symposium, which was opened by Dr Hatem El-Karanshawy, the founding Dean of QFIS. Dr El-Karanshawy introduced the speakers and talked about the importance of the symposium and the different themes.
QInvest, Qatar’s leading Investment Bank and one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions in the world, won the Global Finance “Best Islamic Fund Manager” award. The Awards Ceremony for all winners took place on October 12, 2013 at The National Press Club in Washington DC.
QInvest, Qatar’s leading investment bank and one of the most prominent Islamic financial institutions in the world, today unveiled its new strategy to deliver long term sustainable growth.
