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FEB raises $1b on nvestors demand

DUBAI — Gulf Finance House (GFH) has announced that due to a significant increase in investor demand, the initial private placement offering for First Energy Bank (FEB) has been finalised at $1 billion, up from the initially planned $750 million.

Shareholders of the Bank include leading Middle Eastern and North African companies and high profile investors.

Middle Eastern companies investing in the project include Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority , Tasameem Real Estate, Dubai Investments, Emirates Islamic Bank, Gulf Finance House, Khaleeji Commercial Bank, Capital Management House, Bahrain Islamic Bank and Al Jabr Trading Company.

Shaikh Dhiab bin Zayed Sultan Al Nehayan and Shaikh Mohammed Al Amoudi are also shareholders for FEB.

The primary North African investor will be the Libyan Investment Authority who share a common vision with FEB — to protect and enhance the value of Libya's oil revenue and reserves, for the benefit of future generations of Libyans.

"The accumulated experience of these shareholders working together in the energy field will immediately give us a foundation to build a truly special kind of bank," said Esam Janahi, Chairman of GFH. "First Energy Bank also benefits from the different core competencies each of them brings across financial services, the oil and gas industry and the high net worth market."

"For this kind of reaction to come within just weeks of the initial announcement demonstrates how GFH's loyal investors support our vision of contributing to socio-economic change through innovative projects," said Janahi.

The Bank's core activity in the oil and gas sector will include direct investment, the purchase of shares in private companies, Islamic financing, financial advisory and asset management.

After obtaining regulatory approvals, the proceeds of the capital raising will be used to implement the business plan for the Bank. With a focus on the energy industry, FEB will seek to provide capital and expertise to private sectors with sound project concepts. At the same time, regional companies already serving the energy sector, but lacking the necessary resources to expand, will also be targeted for investment.

First Energy Bank is to be incorporated as an Islamic Wholesale Bank regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and to be constituted as a closed Bahrain Joint Stock company.