KUALA LUMPUR: United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd has established its inaugural RM5 billion Islamic debt programme, under the shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar.
Chief executive officer Ng Wei Wei said the sukuk was very well received by the market.
The oversubscription and the tight pricing achieved reflect investors' confidence in UOB Malaysia's solid financial position, Ng added.
"The strong demand is also a testament to the liquidity in the local debt capital market and its robustness in supporting local corporates' financing needs," she said in a statement.
UOB Malaysia said the sukuk's first tranche of RM500 million Basel III-compliant tier 2 subordinated Islamic medium-term note - tier 2 sukuk Wakalah - was oversubscribed and achieved the tightest spread ever for a ringgit tier 2 deal.
The Tier 2 Sukuk Wakalah is due in February 2034 and callable in February 2029.
"During the book-building exercise, the Islamic debt offering received an overwhelming response from the market and was oversubscribed by 3.39 times. The final order book of RM1.7 billion enabled UOB Malaysia to close at a fixed profit rate of 4.01 per cent per annum.
At 45 basis points above the benchmark Malaysian Government Securities, this was the tightest spread ever recorded for a tier 2 capital instrument in the ringgit-denominated market to-date, it said.
Meanwhile, UOB Malaysia said a diverse group of 42 high-quality investors including insurance companies, fund managers, government-linked investment companies, banks and private banks subscribed to the offering.
"The tier 2 sukuk Wakalah received AA1 rating by RAM Rating Services Bhd, underscoring UOB Malaysia's robust credit profile," it said.
The issuance is scheduled on Feb 8 this year and is intended to qualify as UOB Malaysia's Tier 2 Capital on a consolidated basis, adhering to Bank Negara Malaysia's Capital Adequacy Framework for Islamic Banks.
CIMB Investment Bank Bhd and UOB Malaysia acted as joint principal advisers, joint lead arrangers and joint lead managers for this transaction.