GFH & KFIC announce early closure of Bayan Holding offer to fund Jordan Gate, Royal Village

Notes and media contacts

Gulf Finance House B.S.C
Established six years ago, Gulf Finance House B.S.C (GFH) has rapidly earned a reputation as a leading-edge player in Islamic banking. GFH has a paid-up capital of close to US$150 million and authorized capital of US$300 million. It is committed to the Islamic Sharia philosophy of wealth management and this directs its innovation and shapes the structure of its investment products. GFH is dedicated to providing clients with carefully selected investment opportunities that balance risk with reward. It leads the drive to establish an Islamic investment banking industry that dovetails with regional development. Consequently, GFH has since inception striven to offer investment opportunities in the countries where it operates so as to further their economic and social development. It aims to capitalize on the increasing willingness of Islamic investors to back local and regional business projects and opportunities and to take advantage of the wave of reforms initiated by GCC governments to diversify and liberalize their economies. This is balanced by enabling clients to diversify risk by offering them investment opportunities outside the region. This philosophy is reflected in GFH's investment portfolio that includes major projects such as US$1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour, US$750 million Al Areen development, US$3.8 billion Legends in Dubailand and a US$1 billion Royal Metropolis in the Kingdom of Jordan. GFH's investments also include Lebanon's Arab Finance House, Solidarity -Takaful life assurance, annuity savings, and short-term insurance; Bahrain's Royal University for Women and menaJet - budget airline for the region.

Kuwait Finance & Investment Company (KFIC)
KFIC is a Kuwaiti company, listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE). It is backed by an active and diverse shareholder base. Investment strategy is set by a professional management team with a long and successful track record, creating investment opportunities in the GCC. The company is registered with the Central Bank of Kuwait as an investment company with a license to conduct both finance and investment services. KFIC was incorporated in March 2000 under the name Kuwait Financing Services Company with a license to conduct Financing services only. During 2003, KFIC underwent a change in ownership structure and business strategy aiming to provide investment services to augment its flourishing Financing Services. This objective was realized in April 2004 when its application to add Investment services was approved by the central Bank of Kuwait. Since its incorporation, KFIC has grown by implementing a number of capital increases for a total current capital of K.D. 21.25 Million equivalent to US$ 72 million.

For further details contact:
Jayakrishnan B/Freeda D'souza/Eyad Mohammed
Percept Profile Gulf
+9714 3446373 (T)
+9714 3429158 (F)

Nouf Saleh Al-Pachachi
Corporate Communications
Gulf Finance House B.S.C, Al Salam Tower (6th Floor)