After conducting a survey of the world’s best investment banks, New York-based Global Finance magazine has recently selected Gulf International Bank (GIB) as the “Best Investment Bank in Bahrain” for the year 2011.

With input from industry experts, the Magazine editors used a number of criteria to arrive at their selection. These included financial performance, earnings, return on equity and market share.

The magazine also looked at key capabilities and services, including deal structuring capabilities, the distribution network and staff dedicated to investment banking, in addition to innovation in financing and new product introduction, competitive pricing and after-market performance of underwritten securities.

A full report on the world’s best investment banks was published in the April 2011 issue of Global Finance magazine.

Dr. Yahya Alyahya, GIB’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to receive another award that recognizes our leadership and achievements in the region’s investment banking field. We are committed to further strengthen GIB’s status as a leading provider of corporate advisory services in the GCC by offering innovative solutions in the fields of financial restructuring, private placements, private sale, IPOs, underwriting equity as well as mergers and acquisitions.”

He added: “This is the third international award that GIB has received during the past six months. This reflects the Bank’s leadership and the market’s confidence in GIB’s investment banking capabilities and services.”

GIB was named by emeafinance magazine last February as the “Best Local Investment Bank in Bahrain.” In December 2010, it was selected by World Finance magazine as the “Best GCC Bonds Issuer.”

GIB is a leading merchant bank in the Middle East with its principal focus on the GCC states. Its primary shareholder is the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. The Bank provides client-led, innovative financial products and services to a wide customer base in the region, including investment banking, asset management, project and structured finance and Islamic banking.