Bank of London and The Middle East plc (BLME), the London based wholesale, Sharia’a compliant bank, today announced the completion of a $50m syndicated Ijara leasing facility for Al Ghadeer Marine Shipping LLC, the Dubai based shipping company, to fund the acquisition of the 53,000DWT double-skinned bulk carrier, Sara V.
United Arab Emirates: 2 hours, 47 minutes ago PRESS RELEASE
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BLME advised and arranged the financing and four other institutions joined in syndication with Jordan International Bank plc acting as Co-Lead Arranger.
BLME structured the transaction using a special purpose vehicle established in the Cayman Islands which acted as the Mudarib in the transaction and holds beneficial title to the vessel. The Bank’s Sharia’a Supervisory Board acted as Sharia’a Advisor on the transaction.
The facility is the first international syndicated debt financing raised by Al Ghadeer to fund its expansion and acquisition programme and the vessel is the largest acquisition by Al Ghadeer to date.
Rodney Ballard, a Director of Corporate Banking in BLME who negotiated and arranged the financing advised, ‘We are pleased to have been entrusted with this mandate by Al Ghadeer who chose a UK based Sharia’a compliant institution to lead and arrange this financing, the group’s premiere international debt raising exercise, for the acquisition of the Sara V. The transaction was well received and supported during syndication by both Islamic and conventional banks.’
‘We are very pleased to have been able to conclude this transaction with BLME and appreciate the support and flexibility they have shown in delivering this financing to assist us in meeting our planned acquisition. BLME have shown their commitment to us and we hope to develop a more meaningful relationship given the range of Sharia’a compliant products they are able to deliver’, commented Hamdi M. Ajlan, the Chairman of Al Ghadeer.
Humphrey Percy, CEO of BLME, added, ‘We are pleased to have concluded this financing, an important milestone for both Al Ghadeer and BLME in our first year of operations. This further substantiates our belief in the growth and diversity of the Sharia’a based funding that BLME is now able to deliver and demonstrates our increasing ability to lead and arrange Sharia’a compliant financing to support the growing relationships we are developing in the Middle East, Europe and the US.’
