Al Khaliji Commercial Bank (al khaliji) was a leading participant at the recently held "Syndicated Lending Middle East conference" in Dubai.
The event covered a broad range of topics related to the syndicated loan and debt capital markets and focused on "the fast changing dynamics of the markets on regional and global basis."
Al khaliji head for regional corporate and structured finance Mohamed Jawaad Chawla was a key speaker in the session "Regional Bank Lending."
"The syndicated loan and debt capital markets industry in the Middle East region is changing and developing, matching the increasing levels of sophistication and demands of borrowers in Qatar and the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council)," Chawla said.
During the event, al khaliji was featured as "one of the leading mandated lead arrangers (MLA) of syndicated loans in 2013, successfully structuring and arranging loans for its preferred customers in Qatar and the GCC."
"This demonstrates the strong intellectual capital within al khaliji and the continued successful evolution of the franchise," the bank said in a statement.
It added that "clients continue to select al khaliji as an MLA to structure their large and complex finance requirements highlighting the trust that the banks' preferred customers have" in the company.
"This strong level of intellectual capital and client confidence will allow al khaliji to continue to play a leading role in helping to finance the key infrastructure projects in Qatar, its home market," the statement further said.
Al khaliji, which fully supports Qatar's National Vision 2030, has recently won contracts to support and finance the development of new roads, museums, and some of the new Metro-related projects in Qatar.
Regional banks have strong levels of liquidity and are actively seeking to lend to the right customers at optimal risk/return levels. Furthermore, a number of key international lenders are becoming active in the GCC.
The first quarter of 2014 is expected to reveal, through key borrowers to the syndicated loan market, the pricing trends that will set the tone for the rest of the year.
Al khaliji said, "We have a strong pipeline of syndicated loans that is structured for preferred clients and built to accommodate new activity anticipated in the coming months."
"In addition to delivering innovative financial solutions to its customers, it reinforces al khaliji as one of the leading arrangers of syndicated finance from within the wider Middle East region," the bank said. "Al khaliji remains committed to its customers within Qatar and the GCC area and will continue to support their borrowing and growth needs through the provision of financing solutions and services," Chawla said.
He said, "Al khaliji also successfully came to the debt capital markets with a $500mn five-year senior unsecured bond under its newly-established $750mn EMTN Programme. The transaction was very well-received being seven times oversubscribed and distributed to a highly-diversified investor base in terms of both industry and geography, which underlines the confidence the investor has in the strength of both al khaliji's performance and its brand."
© Gulf Times 2014
