Showing posts with label Islamic Finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islamic Finance. Show all posts

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Apa Tu Sukuk?

You may be asking what is the different between the Bon Simpanan Merdeka that Bank Negara launch earlier March and this Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat.

To make it simple, we usually just say that the features of these 2 bonds are different. One is for senior citizens, 1 is for people that is over 21 years of age. One is monthly interest payout, another is quarterly interest payout and etc.... 

Well it's time to dig in deeper on this question. What is Sukuk anyway. Sukuk is the Arabic name for a financial certificate but can be seen as an Islamic equivalent of bond. If that so, then what is a bond? A bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest (the coupon) and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity. It is a formal contract to repay borrowed money with interest at fixed intervals.

Thus a bond is like a loan: the issuer is the borrower, the bond holder is the lender, and the coupon is the interest. Bonds provide the borrower with external funds to finance long-term investments, or, in the case of government bonds, to spur the current economy slowdown. 

But however in fixed income, interest bearing bonds are not permissible in Islam, hence Sukuk are securities that comply with the Islamic law and its investment principles, which prohibits the charging, or paying of interest. They will use the term Profit Sharing. 

This is just a very shallow explaination of Sukuk as it can go into very technical and deep. So if really wanna know more about sukuk, you can search it at http://www.learnislamicfinance.com/Free-Study-Notes.htm

Chiao 

Upsize of the Issuance Amount of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009

Well according to Minister of Finance (MoF for short) said that this issurance of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 already fully subcribed after only 2 days the sukuk was opened for sale. 

However MoF still managed to bring joy for those that havent been able to have their share of cake in this sukuk. Why i said so.... Full report after this.

Due to the overwhelming response from the public, Ministry of Finance wishes to announce that the issuance of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 has been upsized by using the allocation of the second series. Malaysian citizens 21 years and above wishing to subscribe may still apply for Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 at all commercial banks, including Islamic banks, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad (Bank Rakyat), Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) and Agrobank during the sales period ending 13 May 2009. 

The initial amount of RM2.5 billion Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 was fully subscribed after only two days after the sukuk was opened for sale on 14 April 2009. 

For further information on Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009, please contact Bank Negara Malaysia TELELINK at 1300 88 5465 or by visiting www.treasury.gov.my and www.bnm.gov.my/sukuksimpanan. 

Ministry of Finance Malaysia 
17 April 2009

Source taken from: BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA

So for those who has not yet subcribe this sukuk, do kindly take this opportunity to invest in this sukuk as it does diversify your investment :) 

The New bond in TOWN !!!

Sorry for the very late update after absence for couple of days...

Sukuk is in the town.. well according to Bank Negara, this Sukuk is called Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat (SSR) already available for subcribtion since 14th of April... Let's see what joy does this Sukuk brings.

Ministry of Finance wishes to announce the issuance of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 amounting to RM2.5 billion on 14 May 2009. This is the first issue of the two series of 3-year RM2.5 billion sukuk each in 2009. Bank Negara Malaysia has been appointed to issue the sukuk on behalf of the Government. 

The sukuk, which will be scripless and based on Shariah principles, is an additional investment instrument for Malaysian citizens who are 21 years and above. The RM2.5 billion sukuk, which has a 3-year tenure, offers a return of 5% per annum and provides the flexibility for early redemption before the maturity date. 

Those wishing to subscribe may apply for Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 during the sales period, commencing from 14 April to 13 May 2009. 

The minimum investment in Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 is RM1,000 with a maximum of RM50,000 per investor. The maximum aggregate holdings per investor for the two series of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 2009 is RM50,000. Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 can be subscribed at all commercial banks, including Islamic banks, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Bank Simpanan Nasional and Agrobank. The allocation of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 is based on a first-come first-served basis. Successful applicants will be notified by their agent banks. Profit payments will be made on a quarterly basis through the sukuk holders' accounts with their agent banks. 

For further information on Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009, please contact Bank Negara Malaysia TELELINK at 1300 88 5465 or by visiting www.treasury.gov.my and www.bnm.gov.my/sukuksimpanan . The key features of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 are as follows: 

Key Features of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 
Name of sukuk: Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 01/2009 

Date of issuance: 14 May 2009
(Sales period 14 April to 13 May 2009) 

Allocation of sukuk: First-come first-served basis 

Total sukuk size: RM2.5 billion 

Sukuk type: Sukuk to be based on Shariah principles 

Profit to investors: 5 % per annum (Guaranteed) 

Frequency of profit payment: Quarterly 

Tenure: 3 years 

Eligible buyers: Malaysian citizens who are 21 years and above 

Minimum holding: Minimum holding per investor is RM1,000 at the point of sale and investors may purchase the sukuk in a multiple of RM100 e.g. RM1,100, RM1,200, etc. 

Maximum holding: Maximum aggregate holdings per investor for the two series of Sukuk Simpanan Rakyat 2009 is RM50,000 

Early redemption: Sukuk holders may redeem the sukuk at face value on and before maturity date, but not earlier than the first profit payment. The profit payments will be apportioned based on the number of days held Minimum redemption amount allowed is RM100 
The sukuk holders may redeem sukuk in multiples of RM100 

Sales period: One month prior to the issuance date 

Form of instrument: Scripless (Well they do send 1 official receipt of subcribtion to your mailing address)


Agent banks: Commercial banks, including Islamic banks, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Bank Simpanan Nasional and Agrobank 

Tax exemption: Returns on the sukuk to be exempted from tax 

Transferability and assignability: The sukuk is non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-assignable In the event of the death of the sukuk holder, the prevailing inheritance law will take precedence

To make things sweet and short, Sukuk is quite a nice place to diversify your deposit due to its risk free rating. It offers you 5% guarantee interest per year. The interest is pay out quartery and based on simple interest calculation. If you have 50k of sukuk, your interest every year will be 2.5k. Divide the 2.5k by 4 meaning u get RM625 per every 3 months, not to shabby though. 

I will keep you all updated on the availablity of this Sukuk :)