Last checked at 24 Feb 2014 14:52
For immediate release
Commercial Bank announces successful completion of USD 1 billion syndicated term loan facility
Doha, Qatar: Commercial Bank, one of the leading full service banks headquartered in Qatar, announced the successful completion of a USD 1,000 million (USD 1 billion) senior unsecured term loan facility (the "Facility"). The lender group consists of 21 major banks from the GCC, US, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Facility comprises of two tranches, a USD 600 million two-year term loan and a USD 400 million three-year term loan, paying margins of 100bps and 120bps over LIBOR, respectively.
The Facility originally targeted to raise USD 600 million, but following strong demand in syndication from banks around the world, the final size was increased to USD 1,000 million. The Facility is Commercial Bank's largest syndicated loan and theproceeds will be used for refinancing and to fund business growth.
National Bank of Abu Dhabi and HSBC Bank Middle East acted as the coordinating banks and Bookrunners for the Facility. Other Arrangers and Bookrunners were Arab Banking Corporation (also the Agent bank), Barclays Bank PLC, Commerzbank AG, and Wells Fargo National Association. A special closing ceremony luncheon was hosted by Commercial Bank on 20 February at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha and was very well attended by the banks involved in the Facility, VIP guests and Commercial Bank senior management.
Commenting on the Facility, Commercial Bank CEO Mr Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi said: "This Facility is an outstanding success by several criteria: size, pricing, a geographically diverse lender group comprised of leading banks, and oversubscription of the facility by more than 110%. The strong market demand and terms of this Facility demonstrate the confidence global markets have in the financial strength of Commercial Bank, and the stability of the Qatari banking sector."
Mr. Fahad Badar, Head of Wholesale Banking at Commercial Bank, also thanked the Arrangers and the lenders for their confidence and support leading to the success of this syndication. He noted that Commercial Bank has secured financing at very good terms, and also diversified its lender group further, and that this transaction has been very smooth from the start, thanks to the efforts and support of the core Arranger group.
**Ends**
For more information, please contact:
Qatari media
Mona Abdallah
Head of Corporate Communications
Commercial Bank
Tel: +974 4449 0169
Email: m.abdallah@cbq.qa
Notes to Editors
About Commercial Bank
Commercial Bank has total assets of QAR 113 billion as at 31 December 2013. As a full service commercial bank, the Bank offers a full range of corporate, retail and investment banking services as well as owning and operating exclusive Diners Club franchises in Qatar and Oman. The Bank's countrywide network includes 33 full service branches and 154 ATMs.
Profitable every year since incorporation in 1975, continual investment in technology and human capital, together with a strong capital base, provides a solid foundation for continued growth. A successful diversification strategy has expanded Commercial Bank's GCC footprint through strategic partnerships with associated banks, the National Bank of Oman (NBO) in Oman and United Arab Bank (UAB) in the UAE. NBO, the second largest bank in Oman with total assets of OMR 2.9 billion as at 31 December 2013, has 64 branches in Oman and one branch each in Egypt and in Abu Dhabi. UAB is headquartered in Sharjah, with total assets of AED 21.5 billion as at 31December 2013, and operates 25 branches across the emirates in the UAE. Building on the successful execution of the Bank's expansion strategy to date, Commercial Bank completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Alternatifbank in Turkey in July 2013.
Commercial Bank enjoys strong credit ratings of (A) from Fitch, (A1) from Moody's and (A-) from Standard & Poor's. The Bank is listed on the Qatar Exchange and was the first Qatari bank to list its Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) as well as bonds on the London Stock Exchange. Additionally, Commercial Bank's Swiss Franc bond issuance in December 2010, listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, was the first public bond issuance by a Qatari bank in Switzerland.
The Bank is dedicated to supporting Qatar's community and social infrastructure through Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and sponsorship of various events. Title sponsorship of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Grand Prix of Qatar Moto GP reflects the Bank's promotion of excellence in sports and its keen interest in enhancing Qatar's international sporting reputation. To reinforce Qatar's flourishing cultural environment, Commercial Bank is the strategic partner of the Katara Cultural Village. This collaboration symbolises the Bank's commitment to supporting cultural activities in Qatar and making the country a regional arts and cultural hub.
www.cbq.qa
About Alternatifbank (ABank)
ABank was established in 1991 and has been listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange since 1995. Commercial Bank became the majority shareholder in ABank in 2013 holding a 74.24% stake, following the acquisition of ABank shares of 70.84% from the Anadolu Group and 3.40% through a public tender offer. Anadolu Group remains a significant shareholder retaining 25% of shares in ABank.
ABank is a mid-size Turkish bank that predominately serves medium-sized companies through a country-wide network of 73 branches in 27 cities (as of 31 December 2013). ABank provides commercial/corporate banking services and products, with a special focus on the growing segment of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The Bank's main product ranges cover trade finance instruments, working capital finance, cash management, and portfolio management. The Bank has also recently made a strategic decision to re-enter Retail Banking, targeting the "mass affluent segment" in terms of customer profile with tailor made products.
At 31 December 2013, ABank had total assets of TL10.9 billion, total loans stood at TL6.7 billion, customer deposits of TL 4.7 billion and shareholders' equity of TL574 million.
http://wwweng.abank.com.tr