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Wednesday, November 11 - 2009

World's largest Sukuk raises more than US$11.4 billion

  • United Arab Emirates: Saturday, January 14 - 2006 at 09:26
  • PRESS RELEASE

Dubai Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) has launched the world's largest Sukuk (Sharia-compliant bond).

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  • Saad Abdul Razak, CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank
    Saad Abdul Razak, CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank
The landmark US$2.8 billion issue has been increased to US$3.5 billion due to the overwhelming response from investors. The issue priced on Thursday (January 12, 2005) and was oversubscribed raising more than US$11.4 billion. Lead-managed by Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) and Barclays Capital, the unique and innovative structure of the Sukuk is also significant in that the transaction is the first convertible instrument in the Islamic finance market.

The issue is part of a large financing package being arranged for PCFC's general corporate activities, ongoing business development needs and expansion plans. Its unique convertible structure allows partial redemption of up to 30% in the form of equity shares of the PCFC entities as and when they go for a Public Equity Offering within the next three years. If no Public Equity Offering takes place prior to the final redemption date, investors will be compensated with a higher yield.

The Sukuk offer a return of 7.125 per cent per annum if a Public Equity Offering happens during the next two years and a higher return of 10.125 per cent per annum on any amount of the Sukuk outstanding at maturity which have not been redeemed from equity offerings. The unique convertible structure of the Sukuk along with the attractive potential yield have made this a highly sought after instrument.

Saad Abdul Razak, CEO of DIB, said:
"DIB has broken its own previously held record of lead managing the world's largest ever Sukuk. Building on previous successful Sukuk issues over the past year, DIB has further strengthened its position as the world's number one arranger of Sukuk."


The previous largest Sukuk was Dubai Civil Aviation's US$1 billion issue, which was also structured and lead managed by DIB.

Aref Kooheji, DIB's Executive Vice President of Investment and Corporate Banking, said: "The impressive response that we have received to the Sukuk issue lead managed by both DIB along with Barclays Capital is a testimony to the high level of credibility established by this asset class in the global financial markets."

The convertible Sukuk is reflective of the innovative and professional approach taken by PCFC to meet its financing needs and is being issued at a time when PCFC has made a bid for P&O.
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Notes and media contacts

For further information, please contact:
Tim Harrison/ Tarek Fleihan
ASDA'A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971-4-3344550
Fax: +971-4-3344556

DIB profile
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), established in 1975, is the first Islamic bank to have incorporated the principles of Islam in all its practices.
DIB is a public joint stock company and its share is quoted on the Dubai Financial Market.

The bank enjoys a reputation as a leader and innovator in maintaining the quality, flexibility and accessibility of its products and services. In a very short space of time it has created market leading services and products that are setting benchmarks for the rest of the sector.

The bank's recent financial results confirm the strength of its balance sheet and profitability. Figures for the year ending December 2004 reported a 36 per cent increase in net profits including depositors' profits, to reach AED 1.02 billion (US$278 million) compared to AED 751 million (US$205 million) for 2003. The bank's assets at the end of December last year had grown 35 per cent in the same period to AED 30.8 billion (US$8.3 billion), against AED 22.8 billion (US$6.2 billion) for the equivalent year previously.

DIB's net profit (including depositors' share) for the first nine months of 2005, reached AED1.465 billion, as against AED710 million for the same period of last year, registering 106 per cent growth. The bank's assets at the end of September 2005, rose AED5.3 billion to AED33.4 billion, compared to AED28.1 billion at the end of September 2004.

The bank has been proactive in creating partnerships and alliances at local and international level. DIB has adapted an aggressive expansion strategy, which started with the establishment of DIB Pakistan Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of DIB. The bank has also co-managed Pakistan's US$600 million first Sovereign Islamic bond issue that received a tremendous response from investors.

DIB opened its first representative office in Turkey to improve its access to that market. DIB has also acquired 60 per cent of its stake in Al Khartoum Bank and is also among the parents banks of Emirates and Sudan Bank (ESB), which recently completed its US$28.5 million IPO and was oversubscribed by more than US$224 million. The steps taken mark DIB's ambitious plans to roll out its operations into regional and international markets as part of its overall strategic plan.

DIB has also shown its outstanding capabilities by being appointed to provide specialist financial solutions for huge developmental projects within the UAE, one of which led to the world record US$1 billion Islamic bond issue. The issue was arranged for the Government of Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation to raise funding for the second phase of the expansion of Dubai International Airport. The bank also managed financing of US$350 million for Nakheel. The financing made further capital available to build on Nakheel's blue chip portfolio of developments such as The Palm in Dubai.

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