Category: News

QFIB strikes outstanding performance at this year’s Islamic Business & Finance Awards organized by CPI Financial

Amidst tough market conditions, Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), Qatar’s independent Shari’ah compliant investment bank, strikes outstanding performance at this year’s Islamic Business & Finance Awards organized by CPI Financial. QFIB won the accolade of “Best Investment Bank in the GCC for 2011” amongst 11 regional players in this category.

Bringing together over 250 regional and global industry professionals from around the world, the prestigious annual Islamic Business & Finance Awards event was held at the Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai. The gala ceremony celebrated achievement among top Islamic bankers, financiers and Islamic banking and finance institutions.

Commenting on the occasion Emad Mansour, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of QFIB said: “We are proud to receive such a prestigious award in spite of the fact that we are considered new players in the market, it is certainly not an easy task setting up a bank in such challenging global market conditions. This award comes as a testament to our long term vision, prudent investment strategy, sound corporate governance and our talented pool of employees.”

The panel of global judges included input from industry analysts, corporate executives and Islamic bankers’ experts to select the leading Islamic banking and finance players across the Arab region.

Since the start of its operations in 2009 and despite the precarious financial environment, QFIB has built itself a strong portfolio of investments across the region. Most recently, QFIB acquired a US$16 million stake in Kuwait Energy Company, a leading Middle Eastern independent oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Kuwait. In the financial sector, QFIB acquired a10.3% stake in Watania Takaful a newly established Islamic insurance company based in Abu Dhabi.

On Corporate Advisory side, QFIB was appointed as Co-Lead manager for the issuance of Sharjah Islamic Bank sukuk which was oversubscribed by 9 times.

In October 2011, QFIB was awarded the prestigious BFSI Deployment of the Year Award by Computer News ME’s (CNME) and was honoured for taking a major step in embracing cloud technologies for Core Banking, Email, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

Qatar First Investment Bank looks into recent trends for Merger & Acquisition activity

Amid recent regional geopolitical and international financial turbulence, the MENA region has witnessed a steady growth in merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity with new trends and opportunities. Joined by local and regional experts and speakers, Shadi Zubeidi, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Finance at Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), will address the impact of these activities from a corporate finance perspective on the Arab region at the upcoming M&A, Corporate Finance & Advisory MENA conference.

QFIB is the gold sponsor at this year’s M&A, Corporate Finance and Advisory MENA conference, taking place on 29th & 30th November at the Al Sharq Village Hotel, Doha.

According to a Zawya Business Monitor report, the first six months of 2011 witnessed a total of 173 M&A deals, an increase of 33 percent over the 130 deals closed in the same period of 2010. In terms of total deal value, M&A activity increased 30 percent, reaching $21.17 billion in the first half of 2011.

Participating as a panellist in a session entitled ‘Heads of M&A Advisory and Investment Banking panel discussion: A view into 2012’, Shadi along with heads of M&A, advisory and investment banks, both from international and local banks, will review M&A activity during 2011, evaluate prospects for 2012 and address key trends including current valuation, market volatility, exit options and common themes that enable transaction closure. In addition, the panel will also explore factors affecting access to acquisition and bank financing including the lack of liquidity in the banking sector, increased lending requirements, rising financing cost and appetite for financing risk.

“There still is an appetite for M&A transactions in the MENA markets, however, in light of the current challenging global economic drop and political uncertainty in the region, M&A transactions are becoming more challenging to conclude. Having said that, our market research and feedback from investors and family businesses indicates that the region will witness new opportunities over the coming years following the uprisings in the region. Ideally speaking, the Arab world should eventually reap the benefits of political and economic reforms, capital injections, improved legal systems and friendlier environments for foreign investors” commented Zubeidi.

Zubeidi, who joined QFIB in early 2011 will also moderate a panel discussion entitled ‘Buyers vs Sellers – evaluating how to come to a middle ground’ to discuss the appetite for M&A activity at present. “Through our active participation and sponsorship of this conference, QFIB aims to highlight the key strategic issues affecting M&A transactions including valuation drivers, expectations of sellers versus buyers and the due diligence factors involved in standard M&A processes,” concluded Zubeidi.

Throughout his career in the region, Mr. Zubeidi advised and successfully concluded over 20 debt, equity and M&A transactions with a combined value exceeding US$12 billion.

QFIB announced that its Board of Directors has decided to increase the basic salaries and social allowance of its Qatari employees by 60%

Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), Qatar’s independent shari’ah compliant investment bank, announced that its Board of Directors has decided to increase the basic salaries and social allowance of its Qatari employees by 60%. This decision comes in line with the Emiri Decree to increase the salaries of government employees which was announced last September.

QFIB Chairman Abdulla bin Fahad bin Ghorab Al Marri stated “Developing the local human capital is a major pillar of Qatar’s vision 2030. As a local player in the Qatari market, QFIB is committed to support Qatar’s national vision and assist in developing the national manpower. Our aim is to attract the Qatari talent and guide them in developing their careers to become the future leaders of the financial sector in Qatar. We hope this move will encourage our Qatari employees to unleash their creativity and potential and become major contributors as Qatar moves to become a knowledge based economy. ”

QFIB has in place a strategic plan to coach and mentor its Qatari talent in order to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to progress with their careers.

QFIB was awarded the prestigious BFSI Deployment of the Year Award by Computer News ME’s (CNME).

Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), Qatar’s independent Islamic investment bank, was awarded the prestigious BFSI Deployment of the Year Award by Computer News ME’s (CNME). QFIB, amongst 13 other financial institutions shortlisted for The ICT Achievement Awards 2011, was honoured for taking a major step in embracing cloud technologies for Core Banking, Email, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). The award was presented at a gala evening function which was held at The Monarch Hotel in UAE, Dubai where more than 350 delegates from the region’s ICT sector attended.

“Our IT strategy has always been to adopt global best practices and latest standards of technology to support the growing needs of the business. This award comes as a testimony to the leading role our IT team has played in the transforming the business.” commented Emad Mansour, QFIB’s CEO.

QFIB has taken a major stride in embracing cloud technologies, not just for email but also for ERP and other core banking applications. It has also been actively pursuing certifications in COBIT and ITIL making IT central to leading transformation within the business.

QFIB is the first investment bank in Qatar to receive such an accreditation for its IT Department and Data Center. Earlier this year, The Bank received the ISO 27001 international certification.

The ICT Achievement Awards organized by Computer News ME (CNME), the premier ‘technology in business’ magazine of the Middle East, recognizes the achievers and trend-setters of the IT industry in the region.

CEO to participate in Super Return Middle East 2011 conference

Qatar First Investment Bank (QFIB), Qatar’s independent Islamic investment bank, today announced its high-level participation in the 5th annual Super Return Middle East Conference 2011, which will be held on the 17th – 19th of October at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre Dubai, UAE.

QFIB CEO Emad Mansour, will be joined by over 100 expert speakers to examine the future strategies of PE in the region in light of the current economic crisis and the Arab spring.

Mansour will be participating in a discussion entitled Considering the Massive Infrastructure Build for Qatar 2022& Repatriation of Capital: Where Can Private Equity Invest & What Opportunities Are Available. With US$65bn expected to be spent on construction, logistics, transport and infrastructure to prepare Qatar for the mega sporting event over the next decade, Mansour will present his views on how PE can leverage on this opportunity.

“PE firms in the region have a positive outlook on sectors that will benefit from government spending such as the energy, healthcare and general infrastructure construction. There is no doubt that Qatar’s vast spending planned ahead of the 2022 world cup will attract foreign capital to such sectors.”

Mansour will also be hosting a networking roundtable for Qatar during the conference to highlight the current developments in the country and its future growth.

The Super Return Middle East 2011 is the leading regional conference addressing issues of concern in the PE arena. Running in its fifth year, the conference will highlight the developments, growth opportunities and challenges facing the PE industry in the MENA region.