Malaysia

Tawarruq controversy, Mohammad Akram Laldin approves of it

Sharia scholar Mohammad Akram Laldin rules organised tawarruq as not violating Islamic law principles.

Manulife applies for Takaful license

Insurer Manulife Holdings Bhd will submit an application before the end-October deadline for a takaful licence to tap into the growing Islamic insurance market. The plan by Manulife to seek a takaful licence is in line with the Government’s move to liberalise the financial sector and allow more takaful players into the market.

Group issues Sukuk in favour of CIMB Islamic Bank

BUMIPUTRA-Commerce Holdings Bhd, said it received approval from the Securities Commission for the sale of as much as RM 2 bn Sukuk, to be made availabl to CIMB Islamic Bank.

HwangDBS Investment Management Bhd HwangDBS AIIMAN Sukuk Fund (ASF)

HwangDBS Investment Management Bhd launched its first local sukuk fund, HwangDBS AIIMAN Sukuk Fund (ASF).

CIMB optimistic about Asian Sukuk

Sukuk sales in Asian currencies may jump in the next 6 months as companies compare borrowing costs and investors become more willing to accept risk in addition to favorable USD versus local currency credit spreads, according to CIMB.

Prudential Malaysia Records 17 % rie In New Business Sales

Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd (PAMB), part of UK-based Prudential Plc, has posted a 17 % growth in new business sales in first quarter 2009 compared to the same period last year. The company's new business annual premium equivalent (APE), which consists of retail life insurance sales and takaful contributions, rose to RM122 million from RM105 million previously.

Ambank enters Brunei market

Ambank Group entered the market of Brunei Darussalam with the opening of its subsidiary called AmCapital (B) Sdn Bhd. Ambank has regional expansion plans to bring its expertise in funds management, Islamic finance and investment advisory to the Sultanate, reported Amin Hosni in Brudirect.com

Brunei Darussalam welcomes Islamic finance players such as takaful and sukuk to promote the country as another Islamic financial centre.

RHB Bank opens Islamic unit in Singapore

RHB Banking Group is extending its Islamic banking services to Singapore reported Gabriel Chen on asiaone business.

Malaysia to Seek Large Islamic Banks for International Reach

Malaysian Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said to Bloomberg, that an international Islamic financial institution of a large size that can take international business, whether business in Europe, or South Korea or any part of the world is wanted to be seen, reported Shanthy Nambiar and Haslinda Amin on Bloomberg.

Islamic Bank of Asia considers license in Malaysia

Islamic Bank of Asia reacts positive on the announcement that Malaysia would issue up to 6 new licences for foreign institutions.

SFS and Kuwait Finance House to launch shipping fund

Cyprus listed SFS Group and Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) aim to launch a USD 150 mn fund. Fund's objective is to invest directly in shipping assets and primarily in vessels to be chartered out on a long-term basis to top league charterers. The fund will be established through a limited partnership in the Cayman Islands before the end of 2009.

Ab Jabar Ab Rahman is the deputy chief executive officer of Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad.

EcoFirst Consolidated Bhd aims to issue Sukuk year end

EcoFirst Consolidated Bhd, Malaysia hopes to raise about RM 80 mn to RM 100 mn through the issuance of Sukuk by year-end to finance the building of two high rise buildings on top of the mall as well as the mall’s refurbishment, reported Shannen Won in The Star Malaysia.

Malaysia's retail sukuk a success

Malaysia's retail Sukuk was a success and oversubscribed, now a second tranche is in preparation.

Danga Capital Sukuk raised MYR 1.6 bn

Danga Capital Bhd., a special purpose vehicle set up by the Malaysia government, raised a Sukuk, offering to MYR 1.6 bn (USD 443 mn) from MYR 1 bn. The 5-year tranche was priced at 4.22 % and the 7-year tranche at 4.49 % at the higher-end of the price guidance.

RAM Ratings has a AAA rating on Danga's planned MYR10 billion program with a long-term stable outlook.

CIMB Investment Bank Bhd. and AmInvestment Bank Bhd. are the joint lead managers and lead arrangers for the issue.

ACR ReTakaful SEA aims strategic alliance with an Islamic reinsurer in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur-based Islamic reinsurer ACR ReTakaful SEA expects to grow its business in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The company is interested in specialized risk, including special liabilities, offshore energy, aviation and satellite and space insurance. The firm was in talks to enter into a strategic alliance with an Islamic reinsurer in Malaysia, which would likely take place in September.

Egon Zehnder executive search assigned to find new EON Bank head

Yap Leng Kuen reported in the The Star that the International search firm Egon Zehnder International has been appointed to find a replacement for former EON Bank CEO Albert Lau Yiong.

Projections for Takaful - Views of Best RE CEO

Nopporn Wong-Anan wrote in Arabianbusiness on 30 March that Saleh Malaikah, chairman of Islamic reinsurance operator BEST Re sees the takaful business growing by 17 % over the next 3 years. The growth prospects lying in the fact that insurance coverage is not widely used in the Middle East and shows therefore potential; Saudi Arabia has a market share of 20 % in takaful from the overall insurance market, and promises the highest growth rate. In Malaysia the takaful market share has reached 30 %.

CIMB Islamic has USD 2.5 bn Sukuk in pipeline / plans infrastructure fund

B.K. SIDHU reported in The Star Malaysia on 30 Marcht that it has won 19 mandeates to raise nearly USD 2.5 bn from the Islamic capital markets and that it is planned to launch a USD 500 mn infrastructure fund. The issuers of the Sukuk are partially situated in the Gulf including a sovereign.

Badlisyah Abdul Ghani is the CIMB Islamic chief executive officer.

Bursa Malaysia Readies Islamic Short-Selling System

Bursa Malaysia’s regulated platform has not finalised the precise structure yet. But according to Bursa Malaysia CEO Yusli Mohamed Yusoff Short-selling is perceived as an essential ingredient for capital markets to perform efficiently.

Malaysian Rating Corp. plans to offer Sharia Ratings

Malaysian Rating Corp. starts offering from July 2009 onwards services to rate the degree of Sharia compliance of Islamic financial institutions. The audit will review the risk management culture and frequence of Sharia meetings aside from management skills.

The Agency targets fund managers, insurers and banks in Malaysia first before it plans expansion to South-East Asia.

Mohd Razlan Mohamed is the CEO of the Malaysian Rating Corp.

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