Infrastructure sukuk has received a major boost when Projek Lebuhraya Usahasama Berhad (PLUS Berhad) last week closed a record landmark RM30.6 billion sukuk issuance program comprising both government guaranteed (GG) and non-government guaranteed AAA-rated (AAA) issuances of varying tenors, sizes and expected returns and yields to maturity (YTMs).
The issuance was through PLUS Malaysia Sdn Bh, which is a jointly-owned special purpose company of UEM Group Berhad and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which was set up to acquire the Malaysian business and undertakings including the assets and liabilities of PLUS Expressways Berhad, the major provider of expressway operation services in Malaysia, under a privatization exercise (proposed acquisition). Following the completion of the proposed acquisition, PLUS Malaysia's wholly-owned subsidiary, PLUS Berhad will acquire all the assets and liabilities of the respective concession companies via the issuance of the GG Sukuk and AAA Sukuk Musharaka.
The program, according to lead arranger and Principal Adviser, CIMB Investment Bank, comprised RM11 billion of GG issuances and RM19.6 billion of AAA issuances and are based on a bought deal and private placement basis. The non-government guarantee component could be increased to RM23.35 billion.
It is no secret that national road agencies from several countries, especially those in emerging countries, have been watching the PLUS offering closely with the hope of attracting investors to participate in their own road expansion and rehabilitation programs with the strong interest and therefore possibility of issuing Sukuk to do this against toll roads operated by these agencies.
Countries with huge areas such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, South Africa, China, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and do on, whose road infrastructure needs further development and rehabilitation, in particular could use competitive financing alternatives such as Sukuk to fund these needs based on innovative and fair revenue models.
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