Middle East Bonds

Investors this week showered orders on to the first bond issue from Teva Pharmaceuticals since a recent downgrade to high yield ratings. The hook? A 50bp-100bp premium over its old bonds in the secondary market.

Bank Muscat has taken orders north of $1bn for its new five year Reg S dollar bond on Wednesday, allowing the leads to launch the deal at the tight end of final guidance.

The government of the Emirate of Sharjah priced its $1bn 10 year sukuk issue with no new issue premium on Tuesday — the first deal from its new MTN programme as it moves to become a more regular issuer in the international bond markets, said Tom Koczwara, director of the debt management office.

Abu Dhabi-based Union National Bank has distributed more than 50% of its $500m five year bond outside the Middle East, bucking the recent trend for more locally distributed bonds, according to a banker on the deal.

Emirates Airlines has named leads for its first unsecured bond since 2013, adding the region’s first international non-financial corporate sukuk this year to what has so far been limited supply from the asset class.

Union National Bank has tightened price guidance on its benchmark dollar five year bond.

The Government of the Emirate of Sharjah has launched a $1bn 10 year sukuk — the top end of the size and maturity range outlined for the deal.

Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait is beginning a roadshow to market a dollar Reg S-only perpetual non-call five year additional tier one bond.

Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp) became the second issuer from the Gulf to tap the offshore renminbi market last week, marking a new development in the tool kit with which Middle Eastern borrowers are looking to harness Asian demand, according to a banker with knowledge of the deal.

Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp) became the second issuer from the Gulf to tap the offshore renminbi market this week, making this year already the biggest on record for Gulf renminbi bonds.

The Commercial Bank of Qatar sold three year Swiss franc bonds on Tuesday, to serve as the best illustration yet of the rekindling of the relationship between Swiss buyers and Middle Eastern financial credits that could bloom into a record year for issuance, writes Silas Brown.

The Government of the Emirate of Sharjah has mandated five banks for a benchmark dollar sukuk — its first note in that market for over two years, though it did sell a Panda bond as recently as last month.