Burgan Bank provides facilities worth US $190 Million to United Arab Shipping Company (UASC)

Press release

Published June 2nd, 2014 - 09:32 GMT

During the event

Burgan Bank announced today that the bank’s Corporate Banking Group has successfully completed a bilateral finance deal with United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), the largest shipping company in the Middle East. The US $190 million loan will be used for financing the acquisition of two 14,000 TEU vessels from among UASC 's new building order of seventeen vessels comprised of eleven 14,000 TEU vessels and six 18,000 TEU vessels.

Mr. Raed Al-Haqhaq, Burgan Bank 's Chief Banking Officer - Senior General Manager, commented, "We at, Burgan Bank, are committed to support a reliable partner such as UASC on their growth journey. Burgan Bank 's corporate banking group continues to expand its finance deals with its corporate clients to support them in executing their strategic plans at every stage of the business cycle."

Mr. Basil Al Zaid, Chief Financial Officer of UASC , commented on the transaction, "Our established strategic relationship with Burgan Bank , further cemented through this transaction, demonstrates the close co-operation between UASC and Burgan Bank . As the UASC vision is 'Linking the Middle East to the World' we appreciate Burgan Bank for supporting this facility. Burgan Bank has showed strong support for the project from the initial stages working alongside other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of UASC 's financial strategy and expansion plans to offer comprehensive and cost competitive shipping solutions to clients worldwide."

Mr. Jorn Hinge, UASC President & Chief Executive Officer, also remarked, "In an environment where fuel oil remains the largest cost driver in the industry, our cutting-edge vessel designs have been developed with a clear focus on improving cost efficiency and enhancing environmental friendliness. We are first-movers with these 'Green' new buildings that will be equipped for LNG duel fuel for the first time in the long haul container trades."

UASC is owned by six Gulf countries, namely Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Iraq.

To find out more about Burgan Bank’s Corporate Banking Services, customers can call the department’s dedicated hotline on 1803080, or log on to Burgan Bank’s website at www.burgan.com.

Background Information

Burgan Bank

Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the youngest conventional Bank and second largest by assets in Kuwait, with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institutions sectors, as well as having a growing retail, and private bank customer base. Burgan Bank has majority owned subsidiaries in the MENAT region supported by one of the largest regional branch networks. which include Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria), Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq & Lebanon),Tunis International Bank – TIB (Tunisia), and fully owned Burgan Bank – Turkey, (collectively known as the “Burgan Bank Group”). Furthermore, Burgan Bank has a present in the UAE through its corporate office (“Burgan Financial Services Limited) which had helped the bank to participate in multiple financing opportunities in the UAE.