Atlas Investment Group, the investment-banking arm of Arab Bank, has been awarded the financial advisory mandate on the kingdom's debut sukuk issue, for Arab Media Corporation (AMC). Legal advisers and a Sharia board are due to be appointed imminently.

The five-year issue will be worth $100 million-150 million, depending on investor demand and AMC's requirements. Roadshows are due to be launched in October and will take place locally and in the Gulf. Outside the region, one-on-one meetings will be held with potential investors. The media company has the largest subscriber base in the region, and owns production, distribution and advertising assets, including Arab Radio & Television(ART). AMC's headquarters were recently relocated to Amman from Rome.

Atlas expects to file by early September two further bond issues with the Jordan Securities Commission - a five-year, JD 45 million ($63 million) instrument for local tourism development company Zara Investmentand a $30 million issue for the local Middle East Complex for Engineering, Electronics & Heavy Industries. The dinar-denominated issue will be marketed locally while the dollar-denominated bond will be opened to regional investors (MEED 18:6:04).