Following widespread debate and commentary on the first draft of the Egyptian sukuk legislation (the sukuk legislation), the Egyptian cabinet has approved a second draft of the sukuk legislation to be presented to the Egyptian Shura Council for parliamentary discussion. The legislation is a significant change in legal direction for Egypt that has only embraced… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Islamic Finance
Receive updates to Islamic Finance via RSSHong Kong – Getting Set for Sukuk
Posted in Capital Markets, Hong Kong, Islamic Finance, RegulatoryFollowing a public consultation process, Hong Kong has commenced the legislative process for the introduction of tax changes to permit the issuance of Sukuk. The proposed legislation was published in a Legislative Council Brief on December 28, 2012, which seeks to establish a level playing field for the taxation of conventional bonds and Sukuk (referred… Continue Reading
Reforms to Banking Disputes in Saudi Arabia
Posted in Banking and Finance, Islamic Finance, Project Development and Finance, RegulatorySeveral new laws have taken effect in recent months in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from arbitration to the establishment of a centre for registration of lien and the long awaited mortgage law. As part of the restructuring underway in the Saudi Arabian judiciary system, long standing regulations for the resolution of banking disputes in the… Continue Reading
Oxford University Press Publishes Comprehensive Guide to Islamic Finance
Posted in Islamic FinanceIslamic Finance: Law and Practice, co-edited by Latham partner Craig Nethercott, was recently published by Oxford University Press (click here to view). Nethercott, global co-head of Latham’s Islamic finance practice and one of the editors of Al-Mirsal, also is a contributor to the volume, along with co-editor David Eisenberg of White & Case. The book… Continue Reading
Current Trends in Islamic Finance on Agenda at Kuala Lumpur Conference
Posted in Capital Markets, Islamic FinanceIn a session on “Current Trends in Islamic Finance” at the In-House Counsel Congress today in Kuala Lumpur, Latham partners Bryant Edwards and Craig Nethercott discussed the opportunities for Shari’ah compliant debt issuance in the United States capital markets. “US capital markets remain the deepest capital markets and investors in these markets are increasingly interested… Continue Reading
Sipchem Mudaraba Sukuk–A Transfer of Beneficial Rights
Posted in Banking and Finance, Islamic FinanceSipchem’s recent Mudaraba Sukuk is notable as an economic success and also for its structure. The financing represented a great addition to the tool kit available to corporate treasurers in Saudi Arabia. A Sukuk financing typically requires that: An issuer has unencumbered tangible assets available; The assets are Shari’ah compliant (i.e not related to alcohol,… Continue Reading
Wataniya Mobile’s IPO and the Potential for a Palestinian Growth Story
Posted in Capital Markets, Islamic FinanceInvesting in the Palestinian territories has traditionally been laced with political and economic risk. But the successful listing of the second player in the Palestinian mobile telecommunications sector has invited a closer look at the potential for investment. 2011 saw the successful completion of the largest initial public offering (IPO) in the Palestinian territories in… Continue Reading