MAHB issues second senior sukuk Wakalah of RM800mil

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has issued its second Senior Sukuk Wakalah of RM800 million pursuant to its Sukuk Wakalah Programme of RM5 billion in nominal value.

The airport operator said the dual-tranche offering comprised of a three-year RM500 million with a 3.79 per cent distribution rate per year and a five-year RM300 million at 3.98 per cent.

"The sukuk issuance represents MAHB’s second issuance under its Sukuk Wakalah Programme since the last issuance in December 2021,” it said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.

It said the sukuk was assigned a credit rating of "AAA” with a stable outlook by RAM Rating Services Bhd.

"Proceeds from the issuance would be utilised by its group of companies for working capital requirements, capital expenditure, general investments, general corporate purposes, refinancing of existing borrowings or defrayment fees and expenses under the programme,” it said.

MAHB said it managed to tap on prospects of market recovery and garnered respectable demand for its Senior Sukuk Wakalah with a final bid-to-cover ratio of more than 3.5 times the final issue size with the recent reopening of Malaysian international borders.

"Similar to the previous issuance in December last year, the Senior Sukuk Wakalah was also subsequently upsized from the initial target issue size of RM500 million to RM800 million,” it said.

In a separate statement, MAHB managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said the success of the latest issuance was a testament to investors’ confidence in the recovery and growth trajectory on the back of the improving economy as well as international travel.

"MAHB is well positioned to capitalise on the reopening of borders and our strong fundamentals will help to advance our business in the new era of travel,” he said.

HSBC Amanah Malaysia Bhd, Maybank Investment Bank Bhd and RHB Investment Bank Bhd are the joint lead managers for the sukuk issuance. - Bernama