On the first anniversary of the launch of dealReporter Middle East (DRME), the specialist news service is now positioned as a leading provider of corporate finance intelligence in the region. Since March 2011, DRME has continued to refine its 

unique offering of detailed equity capital market, mergers and acquisitions, credit coverage and regulatory news to fit the needs of our growing audience in the Middle East. A year on, dealReporter’s focus moves in tune with developments in the regional corporate finance markets from Saudi Arabia to Egypt. As a central component of its coverage universe, DRME has zeroed in on a number of significant transactions in the Islamic finance space. In the primary credit markets, DRME continues to track the flow of sukuk issuance, striving to indentify upcoming transactions and reporting on them until their conclusion. DRME was the first newswire to confirm the size of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation’s SAR 15bn sukuk. Reporting on Islamic facilities issued by the likes of Marafiq (Power & Water Utility Company for Jubail & Yanbu) and Jabal Omar Development Company form the cornerstone of our Saudi-focussed intelligence.  Other recent Islamic note sales actively covered from origination through to secondary pricing include UAE-based MAF Holding’s USD 400m, 5-year sukuk issue, Tamweel’s USD 300m, 5-year sukuk and sukuks from First Gulf Bank, Emirates Islamic Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. DRME’s restructuring and refinancing coverage continues to hone in on situations with an Islamic element, including Dubai-based Dubai Group, Dubai International Capital and Nakheel, Kuwait’s The Investment Dar, Aayan Leasing & Investment Company and Lagoon City sukuk, and Bahrain’s Arcapita to name a handful. The merger of Bahrain Islamic Bank and Al Salam Bank Bahrain is a deal DRME has followed since inception.  DRME was the first to reveal merger talks between Bahrain’s Elaf Bank and Capital Management House with a third Islamic institution.  And its regulatory coverage has scrutinised situations such as the dispute between The Investment Dar and Commercial Bank of Kuwait over a 19.2% stake in sharia-compliant lender Boubyan Bank. “It has been an exciting year for DRME as we grew our presence and impact in the region,” DRME editor Victoria Robson said. “We continue to report forward-looking, accurate and consistent deal intelligence from our base in Dubai. Our specialised reporting team is now well-entrenched, covering a range of capital market activity, including situations impacting sharia-compliant companies and Islamic finance deals.”