The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation, APICORP, today announced the establishment of a US$3 billion Sukuk programme.
Establishing the Sukuk programme marks a strategic step for APICORP, rated Aa3 by Moody’s, in becoming a regular issuer of Sukuk in global markets, and will position the company’s credit alongside its multilateral development bank peers.
APICORP’s Chairman, Dr. Aabed A. Al-Saadoun, said, “We are delighted to have established this Sukuk Programme which, in line with the recently approved corporate strategy, will allow APICORP to diversify its funding sources, reduce the overall cost of financing, extend the company’s debt maturity profile, and enhance our access to a diverse set of global investors.”
Dr. Al-Saadoun added, “The lower financing costs that APICORP’s are expecting to secure after this new programme will enhance APICORP’s ability to foster its development mandate of the hydrocarbon and energy related sectors in Arab countries by first enabling APICORP to extend attractive financing terms to its clients and partners alike, and secondly, enhance APICORP’s ability to participate in financing strategic energy related projects which may not attract the commercial banks from either a return or tenor perspective.”
APICORP could issue its first Sukuk later this year, subject to prevailing market conditions, as part of its new US$3 billion programme. It is expected that this programme will support efforts to deepen the international Sukuk markets by offering Shariah-compliant investors access to high-quality Sovereigns, Supra nationals & Agencies, SSA, assets.
Standard Chartered Bank is acting as sole arranger for APICORP’s programme. The programme will be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and rated by Moody’s Investor Services.
APICORP is a multilateral development bank created and owned by the governments of the 10 member states of the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, OAPEC. APICORP’s mission is to meaningfully contribute to the ongoing development of the Arab oil and gas sector, and the region’s energy sector more generally, through the provision of financial solutions, such as equity investments and loans, and research. The company seeks to make appropriate financial returns on the services it provides to the energy industry.
Source : WAM News Agency
