RBS Led Dubai World Lenders, HSBC May Have Most at Stake in UAE Share Business
By Vivian Salama and Gavin Finch
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- [b]Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc underwrote more loans than any institution to Dubai World, the state company seeking to reschedule debt, while
HSBC Holdings Plc has the most at risk in the United Arab Emirates, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.
RBS, the largest U.K. government-controlled bank, arranged $2.3 billion, or 17 percent, of Dubai World loans since January 2007, JPMorgan said in a report today, citing Dealogic data.
HSBC, Europe’s biggest bank, has the “largest absolute exposure†in the U.A.E. with $17 billion of loans in 2008, JPMorgan said, citing the Emirates Banks Association. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC may be owed $1.9 billion by Dubai World, making it the largest creditor outside the emirate, said two people familiar with the companies.
“The market is very nervous about exposure to Dubai and RBS’s name has been associated with it as both a lender and a book runner,†said David Williams, a banks analyst at Fox-Pitt Kelton Ltd. in London.
RBS spokesman Piers Townsend in London declined to comment.
“HSBC has more in customer deposits in the United Arab Emirates than it has in loans and advances,†said Jezz Farr, an HSBC spokesman in London. Loans and advances to customers in the U.A.E. totaled $15.9 billion at the end of the first half of 2009, while deposits stood at $19.3 billion, Farr said, declining to comment further.
“Our aggregate exposure is not significant and we see no need to change our full year impairment guidance for 2009,†said a Barclays’ spokesman.
Credit Suisse’s “exposure is immaterial,†said spokesman Marc Dosch.
Dubai World borrowed $13.5 billion in syndicated loans in 2007, according to JPMorgan’s report. Banks “typically retain 10 percent to 20 percent of the originated loans and use collateral or hedges,†JPMorgan wrote.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., Japan’s second- largest bank by market value,
may be owed at least $225 million by Dubai World, according to people familiar with the matter. The lender said in a statement it has “exposure†to Dubai World, without giving details. The company said it hasn’t changed its financial forecasts. Smaller rival Mizuho Financial Group Inc. may be owed about $100 million, the people said.
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