IslamicFinance.de

Bahrain-based Ibdar Bank has announced the acquisition of a $78-million multi-family housing property at Montgomery county in Maryland, USA. The area boasts the third-largest commercial downtown in the USA, being home to the headquarters of the White House, World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. Ahmed Al Rayes, acting chief executive of Ibdar Bank, said the acquisition was the Bank's first successful foray into the USA and was aligned with the Bank’s strategy to diversify its international real estate portfolio. Bassam Kameshki, the director of Real Estate at Ibdar, said the Bank has selected a straight forward asset class in a strategic location. The investment holding period will be up to 5 years. Besides real estate, Ibdar Bank is also engaged in private equity, capital markets and investment advisory activities.

Earlier this year Standard & Poor’s (S&P) documented the global trend of last year, and predicted another strong few years, subject to the resolution of certain structural factors. Global issuance had grown for the fourth year running in 2012, by 64 per cent to about $138 billion. However, funding needs and infrastructural investments, combined with investor sentiment, are behind today’s momentum. Supportive GCC-Asian trade policies and the international search for yield will reinforce the attraction of GCC sukuk. Banks needing to refinance existing debt and match the needs of corporate clients, particularly in project finance, will provide a further boost regionally. Sovereign and sovereign-related issuance will continue to shape the sukuk market, which will also see increased participation from frontier markets, notably in Africa.

Turkish Al Baraka Turk Participation Bank has signed an Islamic finance deal of $450 million. Several major international banks took part in the deal. The facility includes 32 banks from 16 countries around the world, among which Standard Chartered Bank, Noor Islamic Bank, ABC Islamic Bank and Emirates NBD. The mandated lead arrangers were Bank Islam Brunei Berhad Darussalam and Al Hilal Bank.

A KFH research shows that sukuk have had a significant impact on the infrastructure sector during the last decade. Proceeds raised from issuances have been utilized for low as well as for high profile projects. The combination of sukuk's very nature and its flexibility makes a variety of structures possible. Thus, Islamic bonds have become a very attractive alternative financial instrument for corporate and sovereign entities. A huge amount of the money raised through sukuk funds has been used in projects of the infrastructure sector worldwide.

See more on: http://www.albawaba.com/business/sukuk-infrastructure-445240