Noor Bank supports Bonds, Loans and Sukuk Middle East 2015

Noor Bank sponsored the recent Bonds, Loans and Sukuk Middle East 2015, the Middle East's largest annual finance and investment conference.

The two-day event was attended by bankers, issuers and investors with discussions centering on bonds, syndicated financing and Sukuk markets throughout the region.

Noor Bank's head of wholesale banking, Saadaat Yaqub, was a panelist at a discussion on the possibility of Turkey's debt market re-engaging in the Middle East. Other topics included opportunities for the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) lenders in Turkey and the attitudes of GCC investors about giving loans to companies and for projects in Turkey.

Noor Bank has supported Turkish borrowers over the past five years with more than $5 billion in syndications and capital market mandates. Noor Bank Treasurer Damian White took part in a discussion about refinancing outstanding liabilities in loan markets as opposed to refinancing within the bond and Sukuk markets.

“The event provides a key platform to network and build stronger relationships with decision makers from the industry," Yaqub said. "In April, the bank achieved one of the lowest prices in the UAE for its Sukuk debut, which generated a strong global response and was over-subscribed 4.3 times, further reflecting the strong investor appetite. Going forward, the bank is keen to evaluate other options in the debt capital markets.”

White agreed.

“Noor Bank’s Treasury team is active in the Sukuk market, providing liquidity in secondary markets and supporting the distribution of primary issues arranged by the bank’s capital markets team," he said. "In addition, Treasury offers a range of contemporary Islamic products that allow both issuers and investors to manage their financial risks in a Shari’a compliant manner.”

Noor Bank was a gold sponsor of the event, which took place in Dubai.