Citi, the Delegate on Saad's Golden Belt Sukuk 1, has posted a notice on the BSE listing the legal cases it is aware of involving Mr. Al Sanea and his companies as well as their current status.
Besides conveying useful information, the Delegate is putting Golden Belt Certificateholders on notice that other creditors of Mr. AlSanea and his companies are pursuing legal claims. As long as Golden Belt Certificateholders are not, they are effectively in a junior position.
Why?
As I read the Delegate's last announcement, while a sufficient number of Certificateholders (more than 25%) have voted for Dissolution of the Trust, they have not indemnified the Delegate to its satisfaction. That is, agreed to reimburse Citi for expenses. Until that happens, the Delegate is not obligated to take the legal steps to dissolve the Trust, claim on the Repurchase Obligation of Saad Trading and Contracting, and in the event of non payment by STC pursue STC in Court. Thus, the Certificateholders are effectively in a subordinate position against STC - they have an uncalled guarantee.
The Delegate is doing this to cover its legal posterior. In the event that the Certificateholders' recovery is adversely affected by failure to take action, the Delegate will have a legal defense that it has done all it was obligated to do to protect their rights.
The thorny issue for Certificateholders is whether they agree to repay Citi for legal expenses involved in taking such actions. Will the net recovery after the expenses be more than if they did not take action?
And this is I suppose as good a place as any to note that Mr. AlSanea still denies any improper or illegal behavior.
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