Kuwait's Investment Dar reaches deal with creditors

by Eman Goma

Kuwait's Investment Dar (TID) said on Monday it reached an agreement with its creditors and investors on a debt restructuring plan.

In November, the Islamic investment firm presented its creditors and investors with a proposal to restructure about 1 billion dinars ($3.51bn) of its debt.

The deal between Dar and its coordinating committee - which represents all creditors and investors - endorsed the proposed five-year restructuring plan, it said in a statement.

"The proposed plan is based on a restructuring of the existing financial arrangements with scheduled amortizations over a five year period," it said. Dar, which owns half of British luxury carmaker Aston Martin, defaulted on a $100 million Islamic debt issue last May - the first of its kind on a major, public Islamic instrument in the region - and has said it may sell some assets to meet its obligations.

"TID will satisfy its financial arrangements in full over the five year period. In addition, the proposed plan would provide TID's banks and investors with an enforceable security package," Dar said. In September, Kuwait's central bank appointed a temporary supervisor to monitor debt restructuring and the compilation of financial results at Dar.

Trading in Dar shares has been suspended since April 1, after the group failed to submit its 2008 financial records on time. Dar had said it was seeking to borrow up to $1 billion to refinance its debt. (Reuters)