First Singapore Bank to be approved by the DME

Dubai, June 29, 2015 - The Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) today announced that the DBS Bank's Singapore office has been approved to issue Letters of Credit (LCs) for trading crude oil on the Exchange. DBS is the first Singapore bank to receive such approval and will be able to issue LCs directly from Singapore on behalf of its clients to guarantee deliveries of Oman crude oil through the DME.

Owain Johnson, Managing Director, DME, said, "We are pleased to announce that DBS is the first Singapore bank with regional Asia presence to be awarded this status. As a major bank in Singapore with a strong credit rating, we believe DBS would play a significant role in contributing to higher trade volumes conducted by over 400 commodity players based on Singapore. DBS' support is a significant step that will further enhance the trading environment offered by the Exchange and allow our customers to manage risks more effectively."

John Laurens, Managing Director and Head of Global Transaction Services, DBS said, "Growing our Global Transaction Services franchise is one of the bank's strategic priorities and we have made significant progress on this front over the past few years.  As a leading trade finance partner for corporates in Asia, receiving this endorsement from DME enables DBS to provide this valuable risk management tool, while leveraging Singapore's position as Asia's leading oil pricing and trading hub[1]. We look forward to building the trade finance business actively with our clients and playing a more active role in facilitating trade between the Middle East and Asia."

DBS' Global Transaction Services business has seen a healthy 18% CAGR since 2009. In 2014, it had a record high income of SGD 1.62 billion, a 9% increase year on year. The bank has received numerous accolades in the transaction services space and was named the Best Transaction Bank from Asia Pacific by The Banker in 2014 and Best in Working Capital and Trade Finance in North Asia in 2015 by The Asset.

About DME
DME is the premier international energy futures and commodities exchange in the Middle East. It aims to provide oil producers, traders and consumers engaged in the East of Suez markets with transparent pricing of crude oil.

Launched in 2007, DME has rapidly grown into a globally relevant exchange. Its flagship Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract (DME Oman) contract is now firmly established as the most credible crude oil benchmark relevant to the rapidly growing East of Suez market. Reflecting the economics of the Asian region like no other contract, and the largest physically delivered crude oil futures contract in the world, DME Oman is the world's third crude oil benchmark and the sole benchmark for Oman and Dubai exported crude oil. 

DME is a fully electronic exchange, with regulatory permissions allowing access from more than 20 jurisdictions, including the major financial centers of Asia, Europe and the United States. The Exchange is located within the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), a financial free zone designed to promote financial services within the UAE. The DME is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority and all trades executed on the DME are cleared through and guaranteed by CME Clearing.

DME is a joint venture between Dubai Holding, Oman Investment Fund and CME Group. Global financial institutions and energy trading firms including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Shell, Vitol and Concord Energy also hold equity stakes in the DME. www.dubaimerc.com

Media Contacts:
DME
Mayssam Hamadeh
Head of Marketing
+971 506523754 (mobile)
mayssam.hamadeh@dubaimerc.com

TRACCS (PR agency)
Walid Majzoub
+9714 3672530
walid.majzoub@traccs.net
TRACCS 24/7 Media Hotline: +97150 9448389

[1] IE Singapore

© Press Release 2015