Bangkok--21 Jul--Standard & Poor's
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that it had assigned its 'A' credit rating to the upcoming sukuk being issued under the $2 billion certificates (sukuk al-ijara) issuance program from RAK Capital.
As per the original rating of the program in May 2008, we expect all issuances of certificates under this program to be rated 'A'. The rating on the program (and any issuance under it) is thereby equal to, and fully reliant on, the rating on the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (A/Stable/A-1).
RAK Capital is a Cayman-based special-purpose entity established for this transaction. The transaction structure allows the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah to raise funds on Sharia (Islamic principles) compliant terms, with better distribution and sales perspectives, rather than to distinguish its obligations under this transaction from those under a conventional bond.
The equalization of the program rating (and subsequent issuances under it) with the rating on the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is based on the contractual obligation of the government to make rental and repurchase payments to RAK Capital. In our view, these payments should at all times enable the issuer to make full and timely periodic distribution and principal redemption payments on all certificates under the program.
The rating on the program is further supported by the contractual commitment and our view of the strong incentive for the Emirate to treat its obligations under this transaction as direct and unconditional obligations, pari passu with its other obligations, including conventional debt.
Although we consider that governments may sometimes in stressful fiscal situations consider rent or lease obligations as subordinate to bonds or bank loans, in this case we expect a default by the government on its obligations under this transaction would likely trigger a default on the certificates. We believe that the government will consider the performance of the certificates as being equally important as the performance of conventional debt.
For a copy of Standard & Poor's complete presale report for this transaction, click here (RatingsDirect direct subscribers only).
Ratings information is available to RatingsDirect subscribers at www.ratingsdirect.com. It can also be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at www.standardandpoors.com; select your preferred country or region, then Ratings in the left navigation bar, followed by Find a Rating. Alternatively, call one of the following Standard & Poor's numbers: Client Support Europe (44) 20-7176-7176; London Press Office (44) 20-7176-3605; Paris (33) 1-4420-6708; Frankfurt (49) 69-33-999-225; Stockholm (46) 8-440-5914; or Moscow (7) 495-783-4011.
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Luc Marchand, London (44) 20-7176-7111
Sovereign Ratings
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