Determinants of Sukuk credit rating: evidence from issuing firms in Malaysia

  • 25 Mar 2023
  • Recently published Research - Business

Researchers

Mahmoud Al Homsi, Zulkarnain Muhamad Sori, Shamsher Mohamad

Published in

Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, EarlyCite (ahead-of-print), January 2023. (Citable with the DOI)

 


Abstract

This study aims to examine the determinants of Sukuk credit ratings of issuing firms in Malaysia.

A total of 328 Sukuk issuances and 1,110 Sukuk rating announcements from 2009 to 2014 were analysed using generalized ordered logit regressions approach. Firm financial characteristics, corporate governance attributes, macroeconomic factors and Sukuk structures (debt or equity based) were among the important determinants used to explain the different Sukuk credit ratings.

The results indicate a positive association of Sukuk credit rating with issuing firm’s financial information, governance attributes and the Sukuk structure whilst the macroeconomic factors did not explain the changes in the Sukuk credit rating. Specifically, firm size, profitability and leverage characteristics had significant positive effect on Sukuk credit rating for listed firms whilst only firm’s profitability had a positive effect on Sukuk credit rating by unlisted firms. With regard to governance, the board structure which includes board size, board independence and CEO/Chairman non-duality is associated with positive Sukuk credit rating for listed firms. Only financial report audited by big four auditors is associated with positive Sukuk credit rating for unlisted firms. Equity-based Sukuk are associated with positive Sukuk credit rating for listed firms while for unlisted firms only the Ijarah Sukuk had a positive Sukuk credit rating.

Keywords: Sukuk, credit rating, governance, Sukuk structure.

Link to abstract

https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-05-2022-0127