Malaysia’s Islamic capital market sees 22.6% growth (By IFN)

Malaysia’s Islamic capital market sees 22.6% growth

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MALAYSIA: The Securities Commission of Malaysia’s (SCM) latest annual report for the year ended the 31st December 2012 shows that the total size of the Malaysian Islamic capital market has reached RM1.4 trillion (US$449.3 billion), exhibiting a growth of 22.6%. The increase was attributed to the large amount of funds raised through the issuance of corporate bonds and IPOs in 2012; ranking Malaysia as the world’s biggest Sukuk market and fifth largest IPO destination globally. IPO issuances totaled to RM22.1 billion (US$7.09 billion), increasing equity market capitalization by 14.1% to RM1.5 trillion (US$481.42 billion), while Shariah compliant assets under management (AUM) hit RM79.6 billion (US$25.54 billion), making up 16% of the total industry AUM. According to the report, Malaysia also captured the lion’s share of global Sukuk issuances at 76.9% and 69.2% of global Sukuk outstanding. The number of foreign Sukuk issuers had also increased in the last year, with greater participation from Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Singapore and the UAE. The Malaysian regulator also expects heightened investor participation in the Malaysian Sukuk and conventional bond market, with the introduction of a framework allowing investors direct access to retail bonds and Sukuk. Under the framework, issuers are now able to issue bonds and retail Sukuk via the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange or over-the-counter via appointed banks; creating a more diversified investor pool for the issuers to tap. In line with the initiative, the SCM also enhanced its investor protection framework to ensure that investors are “treated fairly” and disclosures are made more transparent.

Kuwait Finance House Malaysia mulls restructuring (By IFN)

Kuwait Finance House Malaysia mulls restructuring

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MALAYSIA: Talk on restructuring has arisen as Kuwait Finance House Malaysia prepares itself for the election of a new CEO, after confirming the departure of industry maven Jamelah Jamaluddin from the helm. However, sources have alluded that Jamelah will remain with the bank as head of its new investment banking subsidiary. According to those close to the bank, it had always been the intention of Kuwait Finance House to grow its investment banking division; upon its expansion into Malaysia in 2005. “That has been the strategy of its ‘Transformation Plan’,” said a source. Kuwait Finance House Malaysia, which was at one time on a long losing streak after making losses for three consecutive years between 2009 to 2011, had slowly begun to shift its focus to investments after the re-election of Jamelah as its CEO in 2010. The bank, despite having healthy capital adequacy requirements—higher than the industry average, had to make major loss provisions in 2011 to compensate for bad loans that were backed by a portfolio of assets which were underperforming at the time. However, the bank’s decision to become an active purveyor in the Malaysian property and real estate development market marked a significant turning point for the entity. Its US$135 million investment in the RM3 billion (US$963.1 million) shopping complex project in Kuala Lumpur, Pavillion, in which it has a 49% stake, saw the bank make internal returns of 25%. Its other investement, Sunway South Quay which is 20% owned by the bank also made “handsome returns” according to sources. It is anticipated that Abdul Hamidy Abdul Hafiz, the chairman of state-owned financial guarantee insurer Danajamin Nasional will take over from Jamelah as CEO of Kuwait Finance House Malaysia.

RAM Ratings assigns AA1 rating to YTL Corp’s proposed debt issue, reaffirms rating of existing facility

Published on 28 March 2013

RAM Ratings has assigned a long-term rating of AA1 to YTL Corporation Berhad’s (“YTL Corp” or “the Group”) proposed Medium-Term Notes Programme of up to RM2 billion (2013/2038) (“Proposed MTN Programme”). At the same time, we have reaffirmed the AA1 rating of the Group’s RM500 million Medium-Term Notes Programme (2004/2019) (“the MTN Programme”); both long-term ratings have a stable outlook. Our rating assessment is based on the assumption that YTL Corp will only draw down RM1 billion under this facility, bringing its expected company debt level to RM4.04 billion as at end-June 2013 (including corporate guarantees extended to its subsidiaries). We note that utilisation plans have yet to be determined for the amount drawn down at this juncture.

YTL Corp is an investment-holding and management company with interests in power generation and transmission, water and sewerage services, cement manufacture and trading, property investment and development, construction, hotels, telecommunications and information technology.

The ratings continue to reflect YTL Corp’s strong business profile as a diversified conglomerate with sturdy subsidiaries in various industries. The Group’s key subsidiaries are viewed as having solid, entrenched positions in their respective sectors. Furthermore, the steady and predictable cashflow from YTL Corp’s utilities division mitigates the Group’s exposure to cyclical industries. The superior operating track records of its regulated assets are expected to continue to anchor the Group’s financial performance.

Meanwhile, YTL Corp’s additional debt of RM1 billion as well as YTL Power International Berhad’s (“YTLPI”) – YTL Corp’s 51.4%-owned utilities and infrastructure arm – recent drawdown of RM1 billion from its MTN Programme will further strain the Group’s already-stretched balance sheet. The Group’s total operating lease-adjusted debt remained hefty at RM29.61 billion as at end-December 2012, although we understand that most of the Group’s debts are concession-related, ring-fenced and non-recourse to YTL Corp. From a group perspective, YTL Corp’s balance sheet continues to be heavily geared, even after its unencumbered cash balances of RM8.16 billion are taken into account. Based on our assessment on the operating cashflow of YTLPI’s subsidiaries, in order to support YTL Corp’s heftier debt load, the key dividend growth driver will shift from YTLPI to YTL Cement Berhad (“YTL Cement”) – YTL Corp’s 97.89%-owned cement-manufacturing and trading arm. The higher dividend is expected to be comfortably supported by YTL Cement’s position as Malaysia’s second-largest cement player, coupled with its strong financial profile. YTL Cement has enjoyed a net-cash position for the last 3 years, with robust profits and a sturdy cashflow.

Going forward, YTL Corp’s funds from operations debt coverage ratio is projected to be maintained at around 0.2 times over the next 5 years. We highlight that it is imperative for YTL Corp’s subsidiaries to adhere to the level of dividends represented to us. Any deviation from the dividend income and level of indebtedness represented to RAM will be reassessed for credit implications.

We will continue to monitor the impact of the Group’s future acquisitions on its overall business and financial profiles. Debt-funded acquisitions (whether wholly or in part) or those by its subsidiaries that necessitate corporate guarantees from YTL Corp may exert additional strain on its financial position and rating. In this context, we envisage that YTL Corp will consider the impact of any such acquisition on its balance sheet and ensure that the requisite debt will be adequately supported by the returns generated.

Media contact

Lee Chai Len

(603) 7628 1192

chailen@ram.com.my

MARC AFFIRMS AAAIS RATING ON TTM SUKUK BERHAD’S RM600.0 MILLION SUKUK MURABAHAH

Mar 28, 2013 -

MARC has affirmed its AAAIS rating on TTM Sukuk Berhad’s (TTM SPV) RM600.0 million Sukuk Murabahah with a stable outlook. TTM SPV is a funding vehicle of Trans Thai-Malaysia (Thailand) Ltd (TTMT), a 50:50 joint-venture between Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and Thailand's PTT Public Company Ltd (PTT). The sukuk was issued to fund the construction of two gas pipelines to transport natural gas from the Joint Development Area (JDA) to Rayong, Thailand (the Project) under the second phase (Phase II) of the Trans Thai-Malaysia gas pipeline and separation project.

The affirmed rating considers the strategic importance of the project to its sponsors as critical pipeline infrastructure for the Trans Thai-Malaysia gas pipeline and separation project, and the relatively predictable nature of cash flows generated under the project’s long-term services agreement which ends in 2045. The project’s revenue structure, in particular its availability-based capacity revenues, the sustained high pipeline utilisation rates by sole offtaker PTT and the operational reliability of the pipelines continue to support the project’s financial performance and compliance with its financial covenants. The rating also takes into account the credit strength of project offtaker PTT and the overall sound credit metrics of TTMT in light of credit linkages arising from cross-acceleration and cross-default provisions between the sukuk and the syndicated bank loan taken to finance the first phase of the gas pipeline and separation project.

In addition, the rating continues to incorporate support uplift based on the financial strength of its project sponsors, particularly the creditworthiness of PETRONAS. The sukuk rating is not constrained by Thailand's foreign currency rating, notwithstanding the fact that TTMT and the sole offtaker are domiciled in Thailand and project revenues are denominated in US dollar or the Thai baht equivalent. MARC believes that transfer and convertibility risks are adequately mitigated by the perceived strong incentive on the part of national oil company PETRONAS to provide ringgit liquidity in the event foreign exchange restrictions are imposed by the Thai government and affect TTMT's ability to convert Thai Baht-denominated payments into US dollars for onward remittance to TTM SPV.

The total daily available pipeline capacity of 600 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) under Phase II has been essentially fully utilised since June 2010. All available pipeline capacity has been reserved solely by PTT under its long-term services agreement with TTMT. During 1H2012, the project recorded capacity revenue of THB437 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of THB371 million. Its capacity revenue was lower than that for the full year 2011 and 2010 on an annualised basis. Year-on-year variations in revenue are mostly due to changes in the unit capacity reservation charge (UCRC) which is reviewed annually as well as movements in US$ - THB exchange rates given the project’s US$-denominated revenues. The project’s EBITDA margins have remained relatively stable in contrast with reported pre-tax earnings. For 1H2012, Phase II posted a pre-tax loss of THB 31.7 million and for full year 2011, it reported a pre-tax loss of THB172.9 million on account of unrealised foreign exchange losses on foreign currency denominated debt. Nonetheless, as the UCRC is reviewed annually for changes in the project’s cost components to ensure full recovery of service investment costs, fixed costs and to cover debt service and an equity return under normal operations, MARC believes that Phase II’s revenue structure should continue to support its debt service capacity. The project continued to exhibit comfortable covenant headroom in relation to its minimum required annual finance service coverage ratio (AFSCR) of 1.1 times (x), at 3.1x during 1H2012. MARC notes that there is no debt amortisation until 2015 which should help TTMT (and Phase II) build up its holdings of cash in the next two years, assuming modest dividend payouts. Additionally, Phase II’s cash reserves which are estimated at US$29.3 million as of December 31, 2012 are sufficient to fund the next three years’ profit payments on the sukuk amounting to US$23.3 million in the absence of dividend payments.

At the company level, TTMT posted lower revenue of THB2,301 million for 1H2012 compared to 1H2011, but higher pre-tax profits of THB618.9 million (1H2011: THB271.9 million) on account of lower finance costs after taking into account a smaller unrealised foreign exchange loss of THB158 million (1H2011: loss of THB508 million). Its core net profit remained flat at THB778 million while its gearing, as measured by the ratio of its debt-to-equity stood at 1.4 times as at end-June 2012, allowing for increased headroom under the company’s gearing cap of 70:30. Equity injections by project sponsors in prior years which had earlier helped the company maintain covenant compliance underscore the commitment of project sponsors to the gas pipeline and separation project. Overall, TTMT continues to exhibit sound financial profile.

The stable outlook on the rating reflects MARC's expectation that the project's good operating record, predictable cash flow and the offtaker's very strong creditworthiness will limit the potential for downward movement in the rating. The outlook also reflects the expectation that TTMT's credit quality metrics will remain sound and that project sponsors will continue to demonstrate long-term commitment to the project.

Contacts:

David Lee, +603-2082 2255/ david@marc.com.my;

Jason Kok, +603-2082 2258/ jason@marc.com.my.

Qatari government confirms plans for US$1 billion Islamic bank (By IFN)

Qatari government confirms plans for US$1 billion Islamic bank

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GLOBAL: The Qatari Government, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Saudi Arabia-based Dallah Albaraka Group will go forth with their plan to set up an Islamic bank with a minimum paid up capital of US$1 billion. The idea, which was first discussed in April last year, is expected to come into fruition “soon”, as stated by the country’s Finance Minister Youssef Kamal. However, he did not elaborate on any other aspects of the institution, including the projected timeline for its establishment, or ownership. According to industry analysts, the creation of a “mega” Islamic bank in Qatar could potentially increase the country’s global presence and increase cross-border activity, and potentially allow the country to increase its non-oil GDP growth. IMF estimates have predicted this sector to grow by 9% in 2013, on the back of the state’s bullish economic outlook. It has also been reported that the country is seeking to increase its credit rating to ‘AAA’ from ‘AA’; a rating which its Finance Minister believes is a true reflection of the state’s economic strength. He also said that the country’s construction sector is expected to grow by 10% this year, while its transport and communications sector will also see a progression of 10 to 15%.