Author name: exchangemsia_admin

MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Bhd has successfully completed its maiden issuance under its RM5 billion Sukuk Wakalah programme, raising a total of RM540 million. In a statement, the home improvement retailer said the fundraising exercise comprised RM525 million in Islamic Medium-Term Notes (IMTN) and RM15 million in Islamic Commercial Papers (ICP). The company said proceeds from the sukuk issuance will primarily be utilised to refinance existing borrowings, support working capital requirements, fund capital expenditure and for other general corporate purposes. MR D.I.Y. added that the IMTN and ICP were assigned initial credit ratings of AA1 with a stable outlook and P1 respectively by RAM Rating Services Bhd. According to the retailer, the ratings reflect the company’s strong financial standing and its solid capacity to meet both long-term and short-term financial obligations. The company also noted that the IMTN issuance attracted robust investor interest, with the order book peaking at 6.5 times oversubscription based on the initial price guidance. Chief executive officer Adrian Ong described the issuance as a key milestone for the group as it marks the company’s first entry into the Malaysian Islamic capital market. He said the move supports MR D.I.Y.’s transition towards a Shariah-compliant financing structure while strengthening its capital position and enhancing financial flexibility for future expansion plans. Ong added that the strong response from investors, alongside the lower yield achieved compared with the company’s existing borrowings, reflects market confidence in MR D.I.Y.’s business fundamentals and long-term growth prospects despite ongoing market volatility and geopolitical uncertainties.

Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) has reduced the profit rate for its business financing scheme to 3.5% per annum from between 5% and 6.75%, in a move aimed at lowering costs for Bumiputera entrepreneurs. PUNB chief executive officer Izwan Zainuddin The new rate under the Prosper Grow financing scheme will take effect for all approvals from Jan 1, 2026, including existing recipients approved this year, PUNB said in a statement on Thursday. The agency said the lower rate is expected to benefit entrepreneurs seeking financing of RM100,000 to RM1 million, helping them manage rising costs from inputs, logistics and global supply chain pressures. It added that the reduction of 1.5 to 3.25 percentage points will provide cost savings, improve cash flow and support business reinvestment and growth. PUNB CEO Izwan Zainuddin said the move is a timely step to help Bumiputera businesses remain competitive amid global economic uncertainty. He said the initiative aligns with the government’s Madani framework to build a more inclusive and sustainable Bumiputera entrepreneurship ecosystem. The rate cut also marks an early rollout of PUNB’s R30 Strategic Plan (2026–2030), which focuses on reinforcing, scaling and sustaining its financing and support ecosystem. PUNB also offers other schemes, including Prosper Great for high-growth companies in sectors like green technology and renewable energy, and Prosper Impact/Nova for large-scale government-linked projects.