THE Banker magazine has named the Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemicals Company (SATORP) sukuk deal as 2012's "Deal of the Year in the Middle East for Infrastructure and Project Finance"'. The landmark SR3.749 billion sukuk issuance for SATORP, for which SambaCapital acted as a Joint Lead Manager and Joint Bookrunner, represented the first project sukuk issuance in Saudi Arabia and the region. Eisa Al Eisa, Chairman of SambaCapital, commenting on the award, said: "This deal's success highlights SambaCapital's fundamental role as Joint Lead Manager and Joint Bookrunner as well as demonstrating the company's ability to gain the confidence of high profile international institutions such as The Banker, a reputable, impartial and credible publication. "SambaCapital is proud of its role in arranging the first project finance sukuk issuance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and regional markets, which should pave the way for increasing Sukuk issuances to meet the demand for project finance, particularly given sukuk's escalating popularity as an attractive Islamic financing product," added Al Eisa, stressing that SambaCapital is keen on providing its customers with more innovative services in line with their needs and aspirations and in accordance with the highest standards. The chairman expressed his thanks and appreciation to all SambaCapital's employees for their efforts in preserving an outstanding level of efficiency in the company's services and maintaining their excellent reputation. SambaCapital received 18 awards during 2011, thanks to its superior performance, most notably: "Best Innovative Investment House in the Middle East" by The Banker; "Best Investment House in the Kingdom and Middle East" by Global Finance; and "Best Islamic Finance House in the Middle East and Africa" by PFI, a Thomson Reuters publication.
