KUALA LUMPUR (May 27): RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB IB) is named the top arranger by issue value of debt and sukuk programmes and issuances by Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC).

In 2018, the bank was the largest issuer with a total of RM1.5 billion, followed by CIMB Investment Bank Bhd with RM650 million and AmInvestment Bank Bhd with RM562 million in issuances.

RHB IB had also topped the league table in terms of issue count with two Islamic issuances, followed by AmInvestment with one conventional and one Islamic issuance, and Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd with one Islamic issuance.

"Noteworthy deals rated by MARC in 2018 included the RM415 million green bonds for Segi Astana, representing the first ringgit-rated bonds issued under the ASEAN Green Bonds Standards, and the RM245 million green sukuk for Sinar Kamiri, the first green SRI Sukuk Wakalah for a listed company in Malaysia," said the ratings agency.

MARC said it had introduced the Impact Bond Assessments (IBA) in July last year, which takes into account the green, social and sustainability bonds, including sukuk, which are issued under Malaysia's Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk Framework.

Overall, the agency had rated issuances in 2018 by six banks, which had issued a total of RM3.18 billion via eight debt and sukuk programmes.