By Saifur Rahman Government of Iraq is undertaking a number of reforms including extending sovereign guarantees to boost foreign investment and trade to re-build its economy badly affected from the Gulf War, sectarian strife, terrorism and COVID-19, a top official told delegates at a conference in Dubai. “We have unified the tax system in Iraq and are currently in the process of empowering the private sector to […]
A Landmark Achievement Following HKbitEX VATP License Approval HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Pioneer Asset Management Limited (“Pioneer“), a subsidiary of Tykhe Capital Group Limited (the “Group” or “Tykhe Capital“), a leading Real-World Asset (RWA) and Security Token Offering (STO) innovator in the APAC region, announces the launch of Hong Kong’s first tokenized USD money market fund (TMF Token) (the […]
TOKYO, JAPAN/HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – Real estate private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners, today announces the acquisition of 45% stake in Agility Asset Advisers Inc. (AAA). This strategic partnership with Agility Asset Advisers Inc. further enhances Gaw Capital’s corporate profile and reputation in the Japan real estate market, amplifies its deal sourcing and asset management capabilities, and opens up […]
Experts explore new economic opportunities presented by New Productive Forces, with a focus on comprehensive support for businesses HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – As 2025 unfolds, the global economic landscape is being reshaped, with innovative technologies redefining industrial development. This marks a crucial period for Hong Kong, poised to spearhead future economic growth through innovation-driven productivity. Hong Kong Productivity Council […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 January 2025 – On January 16, 2025, the 1st APAC Intelligent Finance Forum, hosted by the Global Corporate Scale Management Association and co-organized by Jin Xing Hui and HK Strategy King, was successfully held at the Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong. The event brought together 520 attendees from eight countries and regions, including China, South Korea, Japan, […]
Investcorp, a global alternative investment firm, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Epipoli, a leading Italian alternative payments enabler. The acquisition includes the stakes held by private equity firm Bregal Milestone and Epipoli’s founder and CEO, Gaetano Giannetto. Giannetto will retain a significant minority share and continue to lead the company. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Established in Milan in 2000, […]
The Trump administration is preparing a comprehensive plan to implement stricter oil sanctions against Russia and impose additional economic pressure on Iran. This move comes as part of a broader strategy to curb both nations’ geopolitical influence, especially in global oil markets and energy security. Senior U.S. officials have outlined a series of measures aimed at restricting Russia’s ability to profit from its oil exports and penalizing […]
A significant legal dispute has emerged between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company and Getir’s founders, centering on control of the Turkish rapid delivery service. Founder Nazım Salur has announced plans to pursue legal action against Mubadala, accusing the investment firm of breaching a June 2024 restructuring agreement. Salur alleges that Mubadala is attempting an “illegal coup” to seize the founders’ shares.
In response, Mubadala asserts that its actions aim to ensure Getir’s financial stability and protect employment for over 18,000 Turkish employees. The company claims that its proposed plan has been unanimously approved by Getir’s independent directors and is set to be presented to shareholders for approval at an upcoming extraordinary general meeting.
This dispute follows a significant restructuring in June 2024, when Getir secured a $250 million investment from Mubadala. The restructuring involved splitting the company into two entities: one focusing on food and grocery delivery operations in Turkey, managed by Mubadala, and the other handling e-commerce, finance, and mobility services, led by Salur and the other founders.
Aldar Properties PJSC has secured a $2.45 billion (AED 9 billion) sustainability-linked syndicated revolving credit facility, marking the largest such deal by a real estate company in the Middle East. This five-year senior unsecured facility comprises both conventional and Islamic tranches in UAE dirham and US dollar currencies, enhancing Aldar’s liquidity to approximately AED 27 billion.
The syndication attracted participation from 15 prominent international and regional financial institutions, including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Bank of China, Citi, Dubai Islamic Bank, HSBC, and J.P. Morgan. This broad participation underscores the strong confidence in Aldar’s creditworthiness and strategic growth plans.
Faisal Falaknaz, Group Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Aldar, stated that the facility is a significant milestone reflecting the trust and confidence that global and regional banks place in Aldar’s business model and growth trajectory. He emphasized that this facility, along with a recent $1 billion hybrid notes issuance, positions Aldar to drive strategic initiatives and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
The facility is linked to sustainability performance targets, showcasing Aldar’s commitment to measurable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. By integrating sustainability into its financing framework, Aldar reinforces its position as a leader in sustainable growth while supporting its broader ambitions of creating long-term value for stakeholders.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – To attract high-yield visitors to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) constantly promotes the development of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism through elevating business travellers’ experience in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city’s position as the “World’s Meeting Place”. In line with this mission, and with the vision of the newly released […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – The 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded successfully on January 14 after a two-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which drew more than 3,600 participants, including over 130 high-level speakers, and facilitated 700-plus one-on-one AFF Deal-making meetings to link up sources of funds with investment projects around the globe. The Asian […]
Salik, the Dubai-based road toll operator, is set to introduce a dynamic toll pricing system by the end of January. This move is part of the company’s broader strategy to adjust its toll fees based on traffic flow and demand. However, as the company prepares to launch this pricing model, there are growing concerns over the valuation of its stock, which has been a standout performer on […]
Kenya has found a new partner for its ambitious railway expansion project, turning to the United Arab Emirates after China scaled back its financial commitment to the initiative. The move comes at a time when Kenya is striving to complete its multi-billion-dollar railway infrastructure plans aimed at connecting key cities and boosting economic activity. The shift in Kenya’s funding strategy emerged following a reduction in the financing […]
A Dubai court has ordered the former CEO of Drake & Scull International, Khaldoun Al Tabari, alongside a former employee, to pay a staggering $41.3 million in damages. The court ruling follows the company’s involvement in financial mismanagement that led to significant losses. Al Tabari and the ex-employee, identified as an unnamed former senior manager, were found guilty of embezzlement and fraudulent practices during their tenure at […]
Global sukuk issuance is forecasted to approach $190 billion to $200 billion in 2025, driven by monetary easing and substantial financing needs in core Islamic finance countries, according to S&P Global Ratings.
In 2024, the total issuance stabilized at $193.4 billion, slightly down from $197.8 billion in 2023. This performance was underpinned by a significant increase in foreign currency-denominated issuance and a drop in local-currency issuance. The stabilization was further aided by strong financing needs in core Islamic finance countries, the need to attract foreign capital, and improving global liquidity conditions, with major central banks starting to ease their monetary policy.
Local currency-denominated sukuk issuance fell by 14.6% year on year, primarily due to lower issuance in Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkiye, and Indonesia. The largest drop was in Malaysia, where government issuance decreased because of a smaller fiscal deficit due to the reduction of subsidies. Similarly, Malaysia’s central bank’s issuance fell as a result of tighter liquidity conditions for the Islamic banks as their financing growth continued to outpace deposit growth. Pakistan also saw lower local-currency issuance, as the government’s fiscal position remains under pressure and monetary conditions remain tight, as did Turkiye, where tight monetary conditions resulted in lower local currency-denominated issuance. However, local-currency issuance in Saudi Arabia resumed its growing trend as the government tapped the market with jumbo issuance and started issuing retail sukuk.
Conversely, foreign currency-denominated sukuk issuance increased significantly, rising to $72.7 billion in 2024 from $56.5 billion in 2023. This surge was mainly attributable to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Among GCC countries, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait led the way, with banks, corporations, and the government of Saudi Arabia stepping up their foreign-currency issuance, while banks and corporations in Qatar and Oman were also more active in this area. The United Arab Emirates ended the year with marginally lower foreign-currency sukuk issuance than last year. In Malaysia, performance was mainly underpinned by increased issuance by the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation and a couple of issuances by the central bank and the sovereign wealth fund. Indonesia’s higher sukuk volumes were due to the country’s increased sovereign issuance.
Fitch Ratings reported that global outstanding sukuk grew 8.5% year-on-year to $900 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2024. Sukuk held a large 30% share of the global debt capital market outstanding in core markets. In the GCC, the debt capital market is about $1 trillion outstanding, with sukuk holding a 37% share.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s 50-basis-point rate cut in September improved financing conditions, leading to a rise in global sukuk issuances. Fitch expects rates to reach 4.5% at the end of 2024 and 3.5% at the end of 2025, boosting issuance activity in the fourth quarter of 2024 and into 2025. A further decline in interest rates is anticipated to support refinancing upcoming maturities and funding diversification goals.
Despite the positive outlook, risks to the sukuk pipeline remain. Sharia-related complexities, rising geopolitical risks, and oil price volatilities could affect market growth. Bashar Al Natoor, global head of Islamic finance at Fitch Ratings, noted that while there is a build-up of the sukuk pipeline partially supported by the recent Fed cut, these downside risks could impact the market.
In the first half of 2024, global sukuk issuance reached $91.9 billion, a slight increase from $91.3 billion during the same period in 2023. This growth was significantly influenced by a 23.8% rise in foreign currency issuances, which hit $32.7 billion by June 30, 2024, up from $26.4 billion the previous year. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Malaysia, and Kuwait were the main contributors to this increase.
However, the market might face disruptions starting next year with the adoption of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions’ (AAOIFI) Standard 62 guidelines. These guidelines, which transition the industry toward asset-backed sukuk by requiring the real transfer of underlying assets to investors, could impact the market depending on investor and issuer response. Despite potential challenges, existing sukuk are unlikely to be disrupted as any changes in contractual obligations would require investor consent.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – This news release is made by Johnson Electric Holdings Limited (“Johnson Electric” or the “Company” and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) for the business operations and selected unaudited financial information of the Group for the nine months ended 31 December 2024. The Group’s sales for the nine months ended 31 December 2024 were US$2,730 […]
Showcasing innovative Fintech solutions to government and business leaders HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Cyberport, Hong Kong’s largest FinTech hub, is thrilled to be the FinTech Partner for the prestigious Asian Financial Forum (AFF), being held on 13 and 14 January. This is the ninth consecutive year that Cyberport has held that distinction, and its enduring commitment to this landmark […]
ABBANK accelerates customer-centricity for business owners through platform innovation HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Backbase, the pioneer in Engagement Banking, has announced that its customer, An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABBANK), has successfully launched a new business digital banking platform – ABBANK Business, marking a pivotal step in ABBANK’s commitment to supporting all enterprise segments, enhancing customer-centric digital experiences across […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Global management consultancy Kearney has appointed Varun Arora as its new Managing Partner for Southeast Asia, effective 1 January 2025, as the firm continues to accelerate growth across the region. Mr Arora succeeds Nithin Chandra, who has led the unit since 2022. Varun Arora, Managing Partner for Southeast Asia Based in Singapore, Mr Arora will oversee Kearney’s […]
Companies identify Business interruption as their top business concern for the year ahead (37% of overall responses) Cyber ranks #2 (31%), with data breaches identified as the cyber exposure companies fear most Natural catastrophes retain #3 rank (27%) in Asia, which is heating up faster than the global average SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 January 2025 – Business interruption is the biggest worry for Asian […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 January 2025 – Around 3,600 policymakers, business leaders, investors and scholars from around the world are attending the 18th Asian Financial Forum (January 13-14) in Hong Kong, the region’s first major finance event in 2025. Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, AFF features high-level discussions, deal-making and networking as well as insights from some 130 elite speakers on […]
ANDERNACH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 14 January 2025 – LTS LOHMANN Therapie-Systeme AG (“LTS”), a leading pharmaceutical technology company, is proud to announces its selection as a Concept Stage winner for two projects in the #PatchForwardPrize, a $50 million challenge by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to advance microneedle patch-based RNA vaccine technologies. LTS’ proprietary dissolvable microneedle array patch technology with mRNA vaccines aims […]
AMMAN, JORDAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 January 2025 – The 2024 top 6 workplaces in Jordan have been revealed according to the annual prestigious Best Places to Work certification program, recognizing organizations that excel in creating outstanding work environments and promoting employee engagement in Jordan. Leading the list is Novartis Jordan, an affiliate of the global healthcare leader, renowned for its strong focus on employee […]
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 January 2025 – 2024, a year of geopolitical stress and major political changes, is drawing to a close. It is time to focus on the future and identify new trading opportunities. However, according to Octa broker, the outlook for the global economy is uneven and mixed, ‘rife with uncertainties and riddled with challenges’, so traders are advised to […]
