Zain Saudi Arabia in talks with lenders

Zain Saudi Arabia, 25% owned by Kuwait's Zain, has said that it is in talks with lenders after missing some commitments in 2009 on a two-year $2.5bn Islamic loan, Reuters has reported. The company said its creditors pardoned it under the condition they agree to a financial plan for 2010 which will be presented by the firm. In an interview with Al Arabiya television, Zain's chief executive, Saad al-Barrak said that the unpaid amount was related to performance ratios the company was supposed to deliver to banks, and not debt repayment.