Most improved Islamic bank in Asia |
Standard Chartered launched its Islamic arm, Saadiq, in 2007 and just under two years later it launched Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad, Saadiq’s Malaysian unit. Since then Standard Chartered has continued to invest in its Islamic franchise in Asia and the results have been especially clear in 2010.
A good example is the S$750 million ($582 million) syndicated murabaha facility for Singapore-based Parkway Holdings Limited, one of southeast Asia’s largest health care providers. Standard Chartered was joint arranger on the deal, and the transaction is one of the largest Singapore dollar murabaha facilities completed in Singapore, with a group of banks.
It was Parkway’s first Islamic funding exercise and a symbolic debut following the firm’s recent acquisition by Health care Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the Malaysian government holding company.
Another good example is the M$400 million ($130 million) sukuk for Padiberas Nasional Berhad, Malaysia’s national rice industry regulator and distributor. Standard Chartered was joint lead arranger and joint lead manager on the deal, which was opened and closed within a day, with three times oversubscription.