Dubai – Mubasher: The debt capital market team of Emirates NBD Capital, the investment banking arm of Emirates NBD, has recorded 24 transactions during the first quarter (Q1) of 2021, witnessing its strongest quarter in the debt capital markets.

Through these transactions, Emirates NBD Capital has raised $18 billion for its sovereign, financial institutions, and corporate clients, according to a press release on Monday.

The transactions came from 12 geographies, including members of the GCC, China, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Russia, and the UK.

Emirates NBD Capital led several transactions, including Pakistan's $2.5 billion bonds, the largest ever USD bond offering from Pakistan and its largest 30-year offering and first triple-tranche offering.

In addition, the investment bank has led the Credit Bank of Moscow's EUR 600 million bonds, the largest private-sector EUR-denominated bond offering from Russia and the first transaction from Russia and the CIS region in 2021.

The transactions also recorded a GBP 500 million Sukuk for The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury, the UK Government, which is the largest ever Sukuk offering from a Western government issuer, and a $200 million Sukuk for the Maldives government.

Meanwhile, the investment banking arm has completed five environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issuances in the first three months of 2021, including a $300 million ESG bond for Sovcombank, the third-largest privately-owned bank in Russia by total assets.

The ESG issuances also included the debut $450 million green bond from Delhi International Airport Limited and a $561 million green bond for Continuum Energy Levanter Pte.

The Senior Executive Vice President and Group Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking at Emirates NBD, Ahmed Qassim, said: "Emirates NBD Capital continues to demonstrate a stellar performance in delivering landmark issuances in 2021 despite ongoing market uncertainties, reinforcing our leadership in providing tailored financing solutions for our clients."

Meanwhile, the Managing Director and Head of Loan Syndications and Debt Capital Markets at Emirates NBD Capital, Hitesh Asarpota, commented: "We have maintained the momentum of 2020 into the new year and delivered a very strong performance in Q1 by continuing to deliver best-in-class capital market solutions to our clients."

It is noteworthy to mention that in 2020, Emirates NBD Capital has completed 60 debt capital transactions across the GCC, Turkey,  India, China, and Russia.