Capitas Group GCC Mortgage Market Analysis is well received across the Gulf Region

Westbury, NY – November 1, 2008 – Capitas Group's LLC recently released analysis of the Mortgage Market in the GCC region has been widely carried and well received by finance practitioners and by prominent print and online media in the region.

The report, entitled "Gulf Cooperation Council Mortgage Market Analysis", includes in-depth analyses of key issues related to the development and growth of the mortgage market in the GCC including risk management, operations, and legal frameworks. Each of the analyses discusses these aspects and examines issues that affect origination methods, customer service capabilities, and originators' ability to source liquidity from a growing secondary market for Shari'ah compliant assets.

Capitas Group's "GCC Mortgage Market Analysis" was reproduced in full by the Khaleej Times in three parts on October 11th, 12th, and 14th. The report was featured in Zawya.com's weekly newsletter on October 21st as one of the most popular research pieces seen by the site's readers. Qatar's leading English daily, the Gulf Times, also profiled the research piece in its October 30, 2008 issue.

Commenting on the report, Wahid Sarij, Executive Vice President at Capitas Group, commented, "As home ownership expands across the GCC there is a need for sophisticated approaches to mortgage origination. This report demonstrates our commitment to help develop these markets based on our successful ventures in the United States."

Naveed Siddiqui, CEO of Capitas Group, added, "Our expertise is based on successfully implementing best of breed practices across the mortgage life cycle. This report highlights some of the most crucial factors for success ranging from effective underwriting to quality customer engagement."

Company Profile:

Capitas Group, LLC ("Capitas Group") is a New York headquartered firm with a track record of establishing successful Shari'ah compliant specialty finance businesses. The Company's guiding vision it to create the nexus between an underserved market for Shari'ah financing and the global community of investors. In 2007 Capitas launched its subsidiary, Zayan Finance, LLC the first company to deliver Shari'ah compliant commercial real estate financing to North America. Prior to founding and operating Zayan Finance, Capitas Group's management was instrumental in establishing another US based Shari'ah financing business that has originated over $1.25 billion in securitized Shari'ah compliant residential mortgages – the largest portfolio of Shari'ah compliant mortgages assets within the Western hemisphere.