IslamicFinance.de

Paramount Corporation will raise RM550 million via a RM200 million perpetual bond sale and a RM350 million sukuk programme, which was put together by Paramount in cooperation with Hong Leong Investment Bank, OCBC Al-Amin Bank and RHB Investment Bank. The money will be used for capital expenditure and working capital, to buy land as well as to fund a new campus. Paramount will become the first private company to issue perpetual bonds which will be issued to institutional investors.

Paramount Corporation Bhd (PCB) agreed two private bond programmes worth RM550 million with Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd, OCBC Bank and RHB Investment Bank. The deals consist of RM200 million private debt securities programme, which allows PCB to issue RM200 million perpetual bonds, and a RM350 million Sukuk Ijarah Programme for PCB’s unit, KDU University College Sdn Bhd (KDU UC). According to group CEO Chan Say Yeong, the fund arising from the bonds would be used for PCB’s future expenditure, increase landbank for development, investment in the education business and for working capital purposes.

The Paramount Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KDU University College, plans to issue Islamic medium-term notes (sukuk ijarah) of up to RM350 million in nominal value. Hong Leong Investment Bank, OCBC Al-Amin Bank and RHB Investment Bank are the joint principal advisers, arrangers and lead managers for the sukuk programme. The Securities Commission Malaysia had approved the issuance of the proposed sukuk programme via a letter on January 31.