CBD celebrates listing of $600m bond on Nasdaq Dubai

Dr Bernd van Linder, chief executive of Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), rang the market-opening bell at Nasdaq Dubai on Wednesday to celebrate the listing of a $600 million AT1 conventional bond.

The six-year bond with a six per cent interest rate was 2.1 times subscribed, and allocated to investors in the Middle East (61%), Europe (24%) and Asia (13%). It is the first bond issuance that CBD has listed on Nasdaq Dubai, the region’s international financial exchange.

“We are pleased with the outcome for CBD’s inaugural AT1 issuance. The success of the transaction and in particular the diversified interest reflect the confidence investors have in CBD’s strategy and execution as well as the strength of the UAE economy," Dr Bernd van Linder said.

"The issuance will enable the bank to further support local UAE businesses now and into the future. We are also delighted with listing the securities on Nasdaq Dubai, which is the region’s international exchange and the preferred choice of most regional and local issuers,” he added.

Darren Clarke, chief financial officer of CBD, said, the final pricing of the bond, being the lowest coupon paid by a Dubai based bank issuer on a Basel III compliant AT1 bond to date, has exceeded our expectations and underpins the confidence investors continue to have in UAE based issuers.

"The issuance further strengthens CBD’s capital profile and brings the bank back to the capital markets.”

Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, chairman of Nasdaq Dubai, said CBD’s inaugural bond listing on Nasdaq Dubai underlines the growing role of the exchange in supporting capital-raising initiatives by leading Dubai and UAE entities, as they expand their activities for the benefit of the national economy and promoting prosperity.

"As the region’s international financial exchange, Nasdaq Dubai is committed to strengthening its leadership role as a centre for debt issuance by public and private sector issuers globally as well as in the MENA area.”

The value of new debt listings on Nasdaq Dubai so far this year has risen to $17.15 billion, up nine per cent from $15.85 billion in the same period of 2019.

Dubai is the largest venue in the Middle East for USD denominated debt listings, with a total value of $87.4 billion. By value 52 per cent are from UAE issuers and 48 per cent from overseas issuers.

Hamed Ali, chief executive of Nasdaq Dubai, said Nasdaq Dubai is delighted to collaborate with CBD to support the important banking services that it provides for companies and individuals and facilitate its links with investors around the world.

"The listing of the bond on Nasdaq Dubai as the region’s international exchange demonstrates the sophistication and depth of Dubai’s capital markets infrastructure and its capacity to meet the fast-moving requirements of market participants,” he said.

CBD’s $600 million bond listed on Nasdaq Dubai on October 21, 2020.

-- business@khaleejtimes.com