Mashreq Provisions for Saudi Firms are Adequate-CEO Asharq Alawsat Newspaper (English)
 
Saturday 21 November 2009
Search
Home
News
Opinion
Business
Features
Media
Book Review
Technology
Style & Culture
Feedback
About Us
الموقع العربي

Email tthis article  Print this article Comment on this article
Mashreq Provisions for Saudi Firms are Adequate-CEO

02/11/2009

KUWAIT, (Reuters) - Mashreqbank, the United Arab Emirates' fourth-biggest bank by market value, has taken adequate provisions against its exposure to two indebted Saudi conglomerates, its chief executive said on Monday.

"We took 50 percent for provisions and this is enough," Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair told reporters on the sidelines of a financial forum.

The UAE central bank told lenders in July to book 50 percent of their exposures to Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Bros and 75 percent for Saad Group

Mashreq -- embroiled in a lawsuit with Algosaibi, which itself is entangled in a legal battle with Saad over nearly $10 billion in outstanding debt obligations -- has said it has a $400 million exposure to the two.

It booked provisions of 849 million UAE dirhams ($231.1 million) in the third quarter.

Last month, sources said Algosaibi planned to meet creditors within weeks in a bid to reach a global settlement with lenders.

"There are good indications in this direction," Ghurair said of any potential deals.

"Now they started to talk to offer some settlement. Of course we'll take every appropriate procedure to get our money."

Email tthis article  Print this article Comment on this article
Asharq Al-Awsat Talks to Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari
Imam Johari Abdul Malik Talks to Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Hashemi Vetoes Iraqi Electoral Law
Judith McHale Talks to Asharq Al-Awsat
Huthi Losses Multiply – Saudi Military Source
Opinion
Iran: Why Janus is Not the Answer : Amir Taheri
"We want to be like Janus, the Greek god because we wish to combine different ... more
The "Trivial" Conflict : Hussein Shobokshi
Switzerland is a unique and distinguished country, one that had adopted an ... more
Nidal Hasan: An American or a Muslim? : Diana Mukkaled
How can one strike a balance between individual freedom and cultural and ethnic ... more
The Chinese Era : Ali Ibrahim
The two most controversial issues that were raised at the China – Africa summit ... more