Subscribe for access:
- Case studies: What are the key ingredients for a borrower to successfully close transactions in times of high volatility and market disruption?
- Accessing long term US dollar funding and broadening the investor base
- Debt management: How are issuers protect their ratings against downgrades?
Moderator

Bashar Al Natoor

Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings
Bashar Al Natoor is Fitch Rating’s Global Head Islamic Finance. Mr Al Natoor is responsible for coordinating all Islamic Finance activities across Fitch’s Sovereign, Financial Institutions, Corporate, Structured Finance, Infrastructure and Insurance teams, bringing together dedicated analytical and industry expertise into a centralised and focused Islamic finance group.
Mr Al Natoor has more than 16 years' experience in the Islamic Finance market. Since joining Fitch in 2007, he has overseen Fitch's Sukuk criteria and Islamic Finance practices, undertaken research and written numerous published articles on Islamic Finance. Mr Al Natoor Joined Fitch as a director in the EMEA Corporates group based in Dubai. He was responsible for analysing EMEA issuers, with focus on Middle East and Turkish issuers in the construction, property and Telecommunication sectors. Prior to joining Fitch, Mr. Al Natoor spent seven years at the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in key roles including Investment Officer in the Treasury Department, a Senior Credit Analyst in Risk Management and Senior Technical Assistant to the Vice President of Finance & Administration. Before working with IDB, Mr Al Natoor was a senior auditor for four years in Arthur Andersen.
Mr Al Natoor graduated with an MSc in banking and financial studies from the Arab Academy for Finance and Banking Science and a BS in finance and banking from Amman University. Bashar is also a Certified Bank Auditor (CBA), a Certified Risk Professional (CRP), a Chartered Market Analyst (FAD-CMA), and a Certified Risk Analyst (CRA).
Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings is a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary, and research. Dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, Fitch Ratings offers global perspectives shaped by strong local market experience and credit market expertise. The additional context, perspective, and insights we provide help investors to make important credit judgments with confidence.
Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Group is comprised of: Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of credit market data, analytical tools and risk services; and Fitch Learning, a preeminent training and professional development firm. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.
For additional information, please visit fitchratings.com.
LinkedIn Page: www.linkedin.com/company/fitch-ratings
Speakers

Patrick Clerkin

Senior Managing Director, Group Funding & Investor Relations at Emirates NBD
Patrick (‘Paddy’) is Head of Investor Relations and Managing Director for Emirates NBD’s Group Funding and Principal Investment Unit. The Investor Relations team updates the Analyst & Investor community on the Bank’s performance and outlook. The Global Funding team manages the strategic funding needs of the Bank. The Principal Investment team manages an investment portfolio containing hedge funds, credit funds and private equity.
Paddy has been with Emirates NBD since 2007. Prior to that he worked in London as co-head of the global operating-company rating team at Fitch Ratings. Before this he was part of the structured investment group at JP Morgan where Paddy looked after capital modelling and risk management.
Paddy has a B.Sc. (First Class) in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics from Heriot-Watt University and a M.Sc. in Mathematical Finance from the University of Oxford.
Emirates NBD

Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading Banking Group in the MENAT region. As at 30th September 2020, total assets were AED 692 Billion (equivalent to approx. USD 188 Billion). The acquisition of DenizBank represents a significant milestone for Emirates NBD with the Bank expanding its presence to 13 countries, servicing over 14 million customers. The Bank is ranked among the top 20 in the Forbes’ list of the World’s Best Regarded Companies, securing a leading spot among global brands.
The Bank has a significant retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 94% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. Emirates NBD was named “UAE’s Best Bank” in 2020 for a fifth consecutive year by Euromoney. In addition, Emirates NBD received the “Excellence in Leadership in the Middle East” award, introduced this year in light of the Covid-19 impact, as a recognition of its efforts in responding to the Covid-19 crisis.
Emirates NBD is also a major player in the UAE corporate segment and has strong Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets & treasury and brokerage operations.
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emirates-nbd/mycompany/

Hitesh Asarpota

Managing Director, Head of Debt Capital Markets at Emirates NBD
Hitesh joined Emirates NBD Capital in 2008 and has been instrumental in the development of the investment banking franchise of the Emirates NBD Group. Hitesh is responsible for a dedicated DCM desk and the origination and syndication of debt capital markets, liability management and structured finance mandates.
Hitesh worked on the first Sukuk issuance in 2005 and since then he has advised various governments, financial institutions, blue chip and mid-cap corporates on their Islamic and conventional financing strategies and access to debt capital markets. He has successfully raised over USD 60 billion for Middle East, Asian and Turkish issuers
Hitesh holds a BCom in Accounting and Economics from Sydenham College, India and a postgraduate management degree from HEC Paris (Grande École), France
Emirates NBD

Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading Banking Group in the MENAT region. As at 30th September 2020, total assets were AED 692 Billion (equivalent to approx. USD 188 Billion). The acquisition of DenizBank represents a significant milestone for Emirates NBD with the Bank expanding its presence to 13 countries, servicing over 14 million customers. The Bank is ranked among the top 20 in the Forbes’ list of the World’s Best Regarded Companies, securing a leading spot among global brands.
The Bank has a significant retail banking franchise in the UAE and is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 94% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. Emirates NBD was named “UAE’s Best Bank” in 2020 for a fifth consecutive year by Euromoney. In addition, Emirates NBD received the “Excellence in Leadership in the Middle East” award, introduced this year in light of the Covid-19 impact, as a recognition of its efforts in responding to the Covid-19 crisis.
Emirates NBD is also a major player in the UAE corporate segment and has strong Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets & treasury and brokerage operations.
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emirates-nbd/mycompany/

Richard Rose

Senior Vice President, Treasury & Investor Relations at Tabreed
- Richard joined Tabreed in March 2015
- Over 30 years of diversified finance experience in the UK, Europe and UAE.
- Before joining Tabreed, he was the Head of Financial Governance for Mubadala, where he developed a group wide financial governance framework
- Prior to joining Mubadala, Richard spent over 10 years working in various senior finance roles, at British Midland Airways, a UK based airline operating routes in the UK, Europe, North America and the Middle East
Tabreed
Andrew Paulson
Principal at Global Infrastructure Partners
Andrew Paulson joined GIP in 2018 as Principal focusing on Capital Markets and Debt Financing activity. He joined from RBS where he was Head of the Infrastructure Finance team. Prior to RBS, Andrew spent seven years as a Policy Adviser in the UK Government at HM Treasury.
Andrew has worked extensively across the infrastructure sector. In 2020 Andrew has been closely involved in the GIP-led Consortium’s strategic JV with ADNOC, through the acquisition of a 49% stake in ADNOC Gas Pipelines and its inaugural $4bn bond issuance in October.
Global Infrastructure Partners

Roderick Gordon

Head of Debt Capital Markets and Fixed Income Syndicate at GIB Capital
Roderick Gordon has over 16 years’ Investment Banking and Debt Capital Markets experience and has advised on, arranged, placed and financed over US$50 billion of internationally syndicated debt capital markets issuances and syndicated loans for major international companies and GCC sovereigns, supranationals and corporates.
Rod joined GIB to establish the DCM business in 2010. Prior to joining GIB he worked in Bahrain at Arab Banking Corporation in Debt Capital Markets and Acquisition Finance and Unicorn Investment Bank in Islamic Debt Capital Markets.
Prior to moving to Bahrain in 2007, he worked at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, London, for over 5 years as Vice President covering Capital Markets Origination, Acquisition Finance and Structured Finance. He also worked for KPMG, London, in the Corporate Finance Debt Advisory team.
Rod has a Masters Degree in Quantum and Solid State Physics from the University of Durham, UK.
GIB, the Gulf’s international bank, helps its clients thrive by working together to realise ambitions. It brings and activates insightful ideas that enable progress. GIB aims to be the preferred financial services partner, delivering bespoke banking solutions to a wide customer base in the region and beyond. This includes corporate banking, asset management, debt and equity capital market services, financial advisory services, mergers and acquisitions, and the world’s first Shariah compliant digital retail banking service, meem by GIB.
In addition to its main subsidiaries, London-based GIB (UK) Ltd., and Riyadh-based GIB Capital LLC, it has branches in London, New York, Abu Dhabi, Dhahran, Riyadh and Jeddah with a representative office in Dubai.
GIB Capital

Gulf International Bank B.S.C. (GIB) is a pan GCC universal bank established in 1975 and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain.
GIB offers a diverse range of financial products and services and bespoke banking solutions to a wide customer base in the GCC, Europe and North America. This includes corporate banking, the world’s first Shariah compliant digital retail banking service, meem, as well as investment banking spanning asset management, bond and sukuk issuance, financial restructuring, private placements, private sale, IPOs, underwriting equity and debt, and mergers and acquisitions.
GIB’s services are delivered across the GCC and international markets through its subsidiaries: GIB Saudi Arabia, GIB Capital and GIB (UK) Ltd. Additionally, the Bank has branches in the UAE and USA.
GIB Saudi Arabia is the first foreign domiciled bank to establish a local commercial bank in the Kingdom. It is headquartered in Eastern Province and operates branches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, while the Bank’s investment banking activities are delivered by GIB Capital, based in Riyadh.
GIB (UK) Ltd is a London and New York based international asset management subsidiary.
GIB is owned by the governments of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund being the primary shareholder.
LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gulfintlbank