Malaysia’s controversial state-owned investment fund 1MDB came under pressure in the bond market this week after the nation’s landmark election raised questions about its future.
The vote ousted Najib Razak, who faced public anger over a money laundering scandal involving hundreds of millions of dollars siphoned from 1MDB. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. New Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he thought he could recover most funds from 1MDB and that Najib will pay the consequences if the law finds any wrongdoing.
The fund's dollar bonds due 2023 were indicated at about 80 cents on the dollar on Friday, traders said. That came after a 11.7 cent slide on Thursday, following the election, the sharpest decline in data compiled by Bloomberg going back to 2016. 1MDB announced plans to break up assets and wind down operations in 2015, but Mahathir's win is fueling speculation that its closure could be more certain.
If Najib had stayed in place, 1MDB’s survival could have been dragged out, said Ismael Pili, Singapore-based co-head Asian bank research at CreditSights.
More details from Malaysian investigations into 1MDB could come to light with Mahathir at the helm, since roadblocks will likely now be less prominent, Pili said.
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Comment: Divisions are never far below the surface in Malaysia's complex political alliances
Malaysia's Mahathir, 92, named as opposition PM candidate
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On the campaign trail, Mahathir lambasted Najib as a “thief” and in the aftermath of his election win, he said he is not seeking revenge but the rule of law will be fully implemented.
1MDB CEO Arul Kanda said he couldn’t immediately comment after the election. The fund has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Malaysia’s government provided a letter of support for 1MDB’s 2023 bonds, but hasn’t guaranteed the debt, adding to uncertainty amid the leadership change.
The fate of credits such as 1MDB will become clearer in ensuing weeks or months, Citic CLSA Securities said in a note on Friday.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
If%20you%20go
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Company%20Profile
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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders