On behalf of UMWH, Maybank Investment Bank Berhad wishes to announce that UMWH has received the acknowledgement receipt from the Securities Commission Malaysia (”SC”) on 22 March 2018 pursuant to UMWH’s lodgement of the Perpetual Sukuk Programme with the SC under the SC’s Guidelines on Unlisted Capital Market Products under the Lodge and Launch Framework.

The Perpetual Sukuk Programme has been assigned a preliminary rating of A1 which has been placed on Rating Watch Positive by RAM Rating Services Berhad.

The issuance of the Perpetual Sukuk is expected to improve UMWH’s borrowings structure by enabling UMWH to access the capital markets for longer tenure funding. The nature of the Perpetual Sukuk allows for the Perpetual Sukuk to be treated as part equity from a rating perspective and as 100% equity from an accounting perspective, thereby strengthening UMWH’s balance sheet.

The proceeds raised from the Perpetual Sukuk Programme shall be utilised by UMWH and/or its subsidiaries, associated companies and/or jointly controlled entities to refinance its existing financing/debt obligations (whether in whole or in part), and/or to finance working capital requirements, investments, capital expenditure and/or its general corporate purposes. In any case, all utilisation of proceeds raised under the Perpetual Sukuk Programme shall be Shariah-compliant.

None of the directors, major shareholders and/or person connected to the directors and/or major shareholders of UMWH have any interest, direct or indirect, in the establishment of the Perpetual Sukuk Programme and any issuance(s) thereunder.

CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad are the Joint Principal Advisers, Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Lead Managers for the Perpetual Sukuk Programme. CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad and Maybank Islamic Berhad are the Joint Shariah Advisers for the Perpetual Sukuk Programme.

This announcement is dated 22 March 2018.