Kuwait Finance House

Kuwait Finance House
Public
Industry Banking
Founded 1977 (1977)
Founders Consortium of Kuwaiti merchants
Headquarters Kuwait City, Kuwait - Group Headquarters
Number of locations
 Presence in Bahrain, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey
Key people
 Hamad Abdulmohsen Al-Marzook, Chairman
Mazen Al Nahedh CEO
Revenue Increase KD 717.9 million KWD (2016)
Increase KD 145.8 million KWD (2016)
Number of employees
 9,000
Website www.kfh.com

Kuwait Finance House (Arabic: بيت التمويل الكويتي‎)(KFH) was established in the State of Kuwait, in 1977, as the first bank operating in accordance with the Islamic Shari'a. KFH is listed in Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), with a market capitalization of $8.2 billion (KWD 2.49 billion) as of May 2016. Assets total $55.52 billion (KWD 16.83 billion) and deposits amount to $34.97 billion (KWD 10.66 billion.) [1][2]

History

Kuwait Finance House was established in 1977 as Kuwait’s first Islamic bank. It received 170 applications to open new accounts on its first day of operation on 31 August 1978. KFH opened in temporary headquarters on Ahmad Al-Jaber Street, before moving to the Emad Commercial Center in 1983 and then its present-day location on Abdullah Al-Mubarek Street in 1986. By 1983, KFH was the only Islamic Bank listed on the Banker’s list of the top 100 Arab Banks.[3] In 1984, KFH was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.[4] In 1989, KFH’s subsidiary in Turkey, Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank, was established by a Turkish cabinet decree.

KFH Capital Investment Company was formed in 1999 to invest in the public equity, private equity, and real estate markets across the globe. KFH Capital is the main investment of the bank, with offices in Safat, Kuwait and Oman.[5]

In 2002, KFH opened its first branch in Bahrain and in 2005 KFH Malaysia was established, becoming the first Islamic bank to be granted a license in the county under the 1983 Islamic Banking Act.[6] Since then, KFH and Kuveyt Turk have established a presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE and Germany.

In July 2017, KFH studied a merger with Ahli United Bank.[7]

Activities

KFH provides Islamic Shari'a compliant products and services, covering banking, real estate, trade finance, investment portfolios, and other products and services.

Since the 1980s, KFH has witnessed multi-activity in international expansion. It has established independent banks in Turkey, Bahrain, and Malaysia. Moreover, it has stakes in other Islamic banks. Its investment activities in the US, Europe, South East Asia and the Middle East contributed to achieving the growing profit of KFH.

KFH is a major player in the international sukuk market, the volume of which for KFH trading group reached USD 11.4 billion in 2016.[8]

According to the KFH website, until January 2017, KFH ran the following subsidiaries:

  • Kuwait: KFH Capital, Development Enterprises Holding Co., Aref Investment Group (Closed), Kuwait Finance House Investment Company, Enmaa Real Estate Company Ksc (Closed), Kuwait Finance House Real Estate Company, International Integrated Computer Systems Group Co., Human Investment for Training and Consulting, Public Services Company, ALAFCO Aviation Lease And Finance Company Kscc, Al Salam Hospital Company Ksc (Closed)
  • Bahrain: Kuwait Finance House – Kingdom Of Bahrain, Bahrain Pearl Company, INMAA House Real Estate Company, Mena Telecom Company, Miracle Graphics Company, Sevilla Village Company, Diyar Al Moharaq Company, B K Development Company, Baitak Oasis Industrial Company, Kuwait Finance House- Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan, Diyar Homes Company
  • Saudi Arabia: Saudi Kuwaiti Finance House, "Baitak" Real Estate Company (KSA), Takhteet and Namaa Real Estate Company (GYO)
  • Turkey: Kuwait Turkish Participation Bank "Kuwait Turk", Corviztatel Company, Corviz Company (GYO)
  • Malaysia: Kuwait Finance House, Baitak Asset Management Company, Baitak Libwan Company, Baitak Nominees Company

Investment In Associates

Ownership

Awards

  • Straight Through Processing (STP) award 2016 from Citi Bank[9]
  • Best Islamic Project Finance Provider 2016 from Global Finance[10]
  • Best Islamic Financial Institution in GCC 2016 from Global Finance [11]
  • Best Bank in Kuwait 2015 from EMEA Finance [12]
  • Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait 2015 from EMEA Finance [13]
  • Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait 2015 from Islamic Finance News Magazine [14]
  • Europe Best Digital Participation Bank KFH Turkey from Global Finance [15]

Richard Clark Allegations

In his statement on the subject of terrorist finance before the U.S. Senate in October 2003, Richard Clarke reported that the Kuwait Finance House was allegedly an investor in Bait ul-Mal Incorporated (BMI), an Islamic investment firm based in the U.S. that fundraised for Hamas and its officers. Clarke also alleged that KFH has strong ties to the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait. More specifically, Clarke declared before the Senate that “the Kuwait Finance House is reported to be the financial arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait.”[16]

However, Clarke's allegations were not supported with any factual evidence and his broader testimony was subsequently challenged. Then Senate majority leader Bill Frist accused Clarke of telling different stories under oath.[17] While Frist later wavered due to the severity of the accusations, former Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said that Clarke was a liar.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Kuwait Finance House". Forbes. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "KFH KWD 165.2 Million 2016 Net Profit for KFH Shareholders, an increase of 13.3 per cent". CPI Financial. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Islamic Banking Services – An Overview" (PDF). Inflibnet.ac.in. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Oxford Business Group Analysis - Kuwait Finance House". Oxford Business Group. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  5. ↑ "Company Overview of KFH Capital Investment Company". Bloomberg. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "MBSB eyeing KFH Malaysia in bid to become full-fledged Islamic bank". The Star. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "CORRECTED-Kuwait Finance House studying merger with Ahli United Bank". Reuters.com. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "KFH Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary". KUNA. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Gulf Bank Receives 'Straight Through Processing Excellence' Award 2015 from Citibank (Gulf Bank of Kuwait KSC)". article.wn.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  10. ↑ "Global Finance Magazine - Global Finance Names The World's Best Islamic Financial Institutions 2016". Global Finance Magazine. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  11. ↑ News, EIN. "Log In - IMF News Today - EIN News". imf.einnews.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  12. ↑ "KFH Wins "Best Bank in Kuwait" Award from EMEA Finance (Kuwait Finance House KSC)". article.wn.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  13. ↑ "KFH Wins "Best Islamic Bank 2016" Award (Kuwait Finance House KSC)". article.wn.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  14. ↑ "KFH Wins "Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait 2015" Award from IFN". Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  15. ↑ "KFH-Turkey Wins "Europe's Best Digital Participation Bank" Award from Global Finance". Zawya.com. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "COUNTERTERROR INITIATIVES IN THE TERROR FINANCE PROGRAM". Gpo.gov. 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "Talking Points Memo by Joshua Micah Marshall". Talking Points Memo. Archived from the original on 2 April 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "Richard Clarke, at War With Himself". TIME. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.