by millionairemind » Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:46 am
Dec 1, 2009
DBS' exposure at $1.8b
By Francis Chan & Esther Teo
DBS disclosed on Monday that its exposure to debt-ridden Dubai is about $1.8 billion, while OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank (UOB) said their dealings in the emirate were not significant.
The regulator, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said it was monitoring developments and that Singapore's banking sector exposure to the United Arab Emirates stands well below 1 per cent of total banking assets.
DBS said its position was 'manageable' as it had lent mainly to Dubai firms operating in Asia, such as Labroy Marine and the consortium developing the South Beach site in Beach Road. The loans were also secured against certain assets.
According to DBS, the only loan affected when Dubai World - one of the government's investment vehicles - asked for a debt payment delay was a $558 million bilateral loan.
The loan represents 0.2 per cent of DBS' total balance sheet.
Singapore's largest lender said its total exposure to the entire Middle East region accounts for about 2 per cent of its balance sheet.
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