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Emirates NBD Capital, the investment banking arm of Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) region, marks a record year of debt capital transactions.

The investment bank’s Debt Capital Markets (DCM) team successfully completed c. 60 transactions in 2020 across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Turkey, India, China and Russia. The team has already priced ten transactions in January 2021 and has a strong pipeline of mandates expected to be completed over the course of the first quarter of2021. With expertise in the origination and structuring of debt products, both conventional and Islamic, Emirates NBD Capital ranked third in terms of number of deals successfully executed in 2020 in international Sukuk and top seven in CEEMEA USD bonds in 2020. (Source: Bloomberg)

Notably, the investment bank led on several landmark Sukuk transactions including Islamic Development Bank’s USD 1.5 billion sustainable Sukuk, proceeds of which will be used to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in its member nations and assisting the Dubai Department of Finance (DoF) issue a USD 1 billion 10 year Sukuk and a USD 1 billion 30-year Bond, marking its return the public capital markets since 2014. The team executed its first two transactions from Russia, pricing a USD 600 million 5-year senior bond for Credit Bank of Moscow and a USD300 million Tier 1 bond for Sovcombank, both leading private banks in Russia.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issuances are gaining in prominence and the Debt Capital team at Emirates NBD led five such issuances in 2020, including a USD 500 million 5-year Transition Sukuk for Etihad Airways, the first such Sukuk globally, a USD 450 million blue bond for China Industrial Bank and a USD 750 million social bond for Vakifbank from Turkey.

Emirates NBD Capital’s contribution to excellence in shariah complaint financing was recently recognised by the prominent Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) committee this year with the investment bank named Sukuk Lead Manager of the Year 2020.

2020 has been a busy year for debt capital markets issuances with several countries and institutions based in the GCC taking advantage of low interest rates to issue large amounts of bonds and Sukuk. In 2020 borrowers from the region raised a record USD 118 billion through bond placements and industry insiders have announced that the year’s total has set a new record.

Fahad Abdulqader Al Qassim, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates NBD Capital, said, “Emirates NBD Capital has established a strong track record in delivering tailored financing solutions for clients, both in conventional and Shari’ah compliant formats. Our team has delivered a record number of successful issuances for our clients in 2020 despite market challenges, which stands testament to our capabilities and expertise.”

Added Hitesh Asarpota, Managing Director, Head of Loan Syndications and Debt Capital Markets, Emirates NBD Capital, “Emirates NBD Capital has been able to broaden its geographical reach and is now positioned as a true Emerging Markets debt house. Our Debt Capital Market advisory has continued to gain in reputation among sovereigns and corporates seeking an experienced partner with an established track record and global distribution. While maintaining a leadership position in the Middle East, Emirates NBD Capital has successfully expanded its geographic reach to cover issuers from Turkey, China, India and Russia.”