SAMBA Capital tops the region’s syndicated loan arrangers

SAMBA Capital led region’s banks as the top syndicated loan arranger in H1-2014 jumping from 11^th place after arranging seven loans amounting to SAR 5.25bn or $ 1.4bn.
 

 SAMBA replaced HSBC who came second followed by National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank respectively; according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

While Standard Chartered Plc dropped to 17th place from second and BNP Paribas SA slid to 19th from third; GCC based banks provided 77% of the loans, their highest share since 1999.

Rich local lenders have driven borrowing rates to the lowest and hired experienced loan arrangers which makes them stand on an equal footing with international banks.

 International lenders’ loans slid as they are finding it harder to compete on certain elements of deals, such as longer tenors, amounts or credit profiles.

They are also being forced by regulators to sell assets and boost capital reserves.