Monday, September 10, 2012

Will Saudi Hollandi return with another mudaraba sukuk

The news that Saudi Hollandi Bank is planning a SAR1.4 billion ($373 million) sukuk to raise the bank's capital levels could serve as a 'tell' on the future for sukuk markets, depending on the structure.  If SHB returns with another mudaraba sukuk (it issued one of the first using that structure after AAOIFI issued a ruling significantly limiting some of the features used in mudaraba sukuk that made it more 'fixed income'-like). it could indicate that the structure may see a resurgence in the future.

If, however, SHB abandons the mudaraba structure in favor of, for example, an istithmar sukuk backed by receivables (ijara, salam, istisna'a and murabaha), it will be more support for that structure.  Istithmar has become more common with issuance by the Islamic Development Bank and the ability of financial institutions--which tend to have few physical assets to base sukuk on--to raise money through sukuk issuance (istithmar can include up to 67% in debt-based receivables like murabaha, although most istithmar sukuk limit this percentage to 50%). 

Only time will tell. 

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