Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank Gulf Finance House (GFH) has obtained approval to restructure a $110 million Islamic bond, extending repayment for six years, the company said in a statement on Sunday.     

Sukuk holders worth 92 per cent of the issue agreed to the restructuring plan, which will push out the maturity to June 2018, the statement said.     

GFH has been granted an initial two-year grace period for 2012 and 2013, meaning repayment will start in 2014, with the final instalment due in 2018.     

According to GFH's first-quarter financial statements, the restructured sukuk - originally due to mature in June - would carry a minimum profit rate of 5 per cent above the London Interbank Offered Rate.     

No pricing terms were given in Sunday's statement.    

The sukuk was originally priced at a spread of 175 points over Libor.     

Alrayes was appointed in April to replace Ted Pretty, who left last year after failing to return the firm to profitability.      

GFH was repeatedly forced into restructuring obligations in 2010 as the firm struggled with its debt burden in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.      

It approved a highly-dilutive recapitalisation plan in November 2010, which included a 75 per cent capital cut to absorb accrued losses and a $500 million offering of a murabaha instrument to new investors to raise funds.     

A murabaha is a cost-plus-profit arrangement which complies with Islamic law.

“With the approval to restructure GFH’s Sukuk, we are now in a better position to accelerate growth initiatives for the future,” said Hisham Alrayes, acting chief executive officer of GFH.

“We are targeting to extend the maturities of our debt over a longer term to retain our key assets. The restructuring of the GFH Sukuk is an extremely positive development for the Bank, and will enhance the bank’s balance sheet significantly. I would like to thank our creditors for their confidence in the bank and the management team by voting to restructure our facility.”

Ahmed Abbas, chief executive officer of the Liquidity Management Centre said: “This deal represents one of the most successful restructuring deals that we have worked on.”

“The unanimous approval of the new terms by the Bank’s Sukuk holders is a reflection of their confidence in GFH, and is recognition of GFH’s commitment to its Sukuk holders. We look forward to working on future projects with GFH, and supporting them in their business growth,” he concluded. - Reuters & TradeArabia News Service