Ahli Bank advised by Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advised on the issuance of USD500 million 3.625 per cent notes due 2021 by ABQ Finance Limited and guaranteed by Ahli Bank QSC. Ahli Bank is a conventional bank in Qatar and offers a wide range of wholesale and retail banking products and services to its customers based primarily in Qatar.

The issuance completed on April 13, 2016 and the Notes were admitted to listing and trading on the Irish Stock Exchange. The Notes were issued under Ahli Bank's USD1.5 billion Guaranteed Euro Medium Term Note Programme which was established on March 24, 2016. The deal marks Ahli Bank's debut issuance in the international capital markets.

The Dubai-based Clifford Chance team advising Ahli Bank was led by Stuart Ure (partner, Capital Markets), supported by Alekhya Prakash (senior associate, Capital Markets) and Eileen Kerr (associate, Capital Markets). Clifford Chance also advised Ahli Bank on the establishment of the Programme.

Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank plc and QNB Capital LLC were the Joint Lead Managers and Bookrunners for the issuance while Arab Banking Corporation BSC, First Gulf Bank PJSC, ING Bank NV and Mizuho International plc were Co-Lead Managers.