2015-10-14
The Board of Commissioners of the Jordan Securities Commission issued binding instructions governing the issuance, registration, and trading of Islamic finance Sukuk in Jordan. The framework mandates Sharia compliance through accredited advisors, requires issuers to prepare detailed prospectuses covering financial data, risk disclosures, and Central Sharia Supervisory Commission authorization, and establishes standardized subscription procedures through licensed banks. It further outlines investor protection mechanisms, including issuance trustees, redemption guarantees, periodic reporting, and clear allocation rules to ensure transparent capital market operations.
1 / 15 Instructions for the Issuance and Registration of Islamic finance Sukuk, and their Supplement of 2013 Issued by the Board of Commissioners of the Jordan Securities Commission Based on Articles 3 / A, 14 / A, and 19 / A of the Islamic Finance Sukuk Law No. 30 of 2012, and Article 12 / Q of the Securities Law No. 76 of 2002
2 / 15 Instructions for the Issuance and Registration of Islamic finance Sukuk, and their Supplement of 2013 Issued by the Board of Commissioners of the Jordan Securities Commission Based on Articles 3 / A, 14 / A, and 19 / A of the Islamic Finance Sukuk Law No. 30 of 2012, and Article 12 / Q of the Securities Law No. 76 of 2002 Article 1 These instructions shall be entitled ‘Instructions for the Issuance and Registration of Islamic finance Sukuk, and their Supplement of 2013’, and the Annex attached is part thereof. These instructions shall come into force as of 3rd October 2013. Article 2 A. Words and expressions used in these instructions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto hereunder, unless the context indicates otherwise: Board: The Board of Commissioners of the Securities Commission, established by the provisions of Islamic Finance Sukuk Law No. 30 of 2012 Revendication guarantor: the party that is committed by a binding promise to purchase the Sukuk from their owners at the time of their redemption if the issuer defaults, according to the value indicateded in the prospectus. Commission: Central Sharia Supervisory Commission B. Words and expressions not defined in these instructions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in Islamic Finance Sukuk Law No. 30 of 2012 and the regulations issued pursuant thereto and Securities Law No. 76 of 2002, unless the context indicates otherwise. Article 3 Issuers of sukuk in the Kingdom shall apply to register the sukuk with the Securities Commission in accordance with these instructions. Article 4 Issuers of sukuk shall prepare a prospectus in line with the principles of Islamic Sharia that contains correct, accurate, and comprehensive information in accordance with the attached Annex. Article 5 For the purpose of compliance of dealing in sukuk with the principles of Islamic Sharia and its provisions: A. Issuers shall accredit a Sharia advisor or Sharia committee composed of people who satisfy the conditions stipulated in the rules adopted by the Board on the recommendation of the Commission.
3 / 15 B. The Sharia advisor or Sharia committee shall assume all legal aspects of the issuance and trading in sukuk and Sharia auditing thereof. C. The issuer shall provide the Commission with annual and semi-annual reports or as requested by the Commission, issued by the Sharia committee accredited by the issuer, showing the extent to which trading in Islamic finance Sukuk continues to comply with the principles and provisions of Islamic Sharia. Article 6 The Issuer shall provide the Securities Commission with evidence proving that a deed has been deposited with the competent authorities stating that the company's securitized assets are exclusively for the purposes of issuing the Sukuk and may not be mortgaged or seized or disposed of in any way. Article (7 The issuer of the sukuk shall be responsible for the correctness, accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information contained in the promotion material for the sukuk and any other information or data disclosed. Article 8 A. The prospectus shall be prepared by an issuance manager licensed by the Securities Commission. The Issuance Manager shall be responsible for the preparation of the prospectus in accordance with the requirements of Islamic Finance Sukuk Law and these instructions. B. The issuer of Islamic sukuk shall be responsible for the correctness, accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information contained in the prospectus and any other information or data disclosed. Article 9 A. The prospectus takes effect after thirty business days from the date of its complete submission to the Securities Commission, unless the Board decides during this period, to pass the prospectus or reject it, and the Board may determine the period during which the prospectus takes effect. B. The Securities Commission shall notify the Issuance Manager of its observations on the prospectus within fifteen business days from the date of receiving the review by the Securities Commission. C. The Board may, when considering the request to register sukuk, request from the applicant any additional information not included in the application. D. For the purposes of paragraph A of this article, the date of submission of the prospectus to the Securities Commission shall be the date of completion of all data, information and attachments specified, as well as the term required for authorization of the issuance by the Central Sharia Supervisory Commission under the Islamic Finance Sukuk Law and these instructions.
4 / 15 Article 10 The issuers shall specify the subscription period in the prospectus as seen appropriate and the Board’s approval of the prospectus shall be considered an approval of this period. Article 11 The issuer may extend the subscription period as seen appropriate, and after the approval of the Board. Article (12 The Board may reject the prospectus or suspend its taking effect if it discovers any of the following: A. That the prospectus or any of the accompanying information is not consistent with the requirements of the relevant laws or the regulations and instructions issued pursuant thereto. B. That the prospectus or any of the accompanying information is not consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors. C. That the prospectus or any of the accompanying information contains incorrect, inaccurate or misleading data, or that it does not include material information that enables the investor to make his investment decision, or if it includes information that has been presented in such a way as to make other information in the bulletin incorrect, inaccurate or misleading. D. That the Central Sharia Supervisory Commission has not authorized issuance or that it has reservations on some of the information mentioned in the prospectus Article 13 A. The issuer shall inform the Securities Commission in writing of any change that occurs to the information contained in the prospectus immediately as it occurs, whether or not it has been announced that the prospectus has taken effect. B. if the Securities Commission learns that a fundamental change has occurred in the data contained in the prospectus or that new material information transpired and was not disclosed at the time, the Board may take whatever action it deems appropriate, including suspension or cancellation of the offer. C. The issuer may not make any change to the prospectus in contravention of the principles of Islamic Sharia and its provisions. Article 14 A. If a material change occurs to the data contained in the prospectus or if new fundamental information transpires during the offer period and before the subscription period, the issuer shall notify the Securities Commission of this change and prepare "a prospectus supplement," approved by the Board after it has been authorized by the Central Sharia Supervisory Commission to be appended to the prospectus before the start of subscription process.
5 / 15 B. The "prospectus supplement" shall be announced in the same newspapers that announced the offer and before the start of subscription. C. If a material change occurs or if new material information emerges during the subscription period, the issuer shall notify the Securities Commission of this and request the immediate suspension of subscription, which shall resume after the issuer has completed the procedures specified in paragraphs A and B of this Article. Article 15 Subscription to the sukuk shall take place through the banks in accordance with the following: - A. Subscription shall take place through the subscription forms that accompany the prospectus, and the banks through which subscription takes place shall present to the subscriber a hard or electronic copy of the prospectus before accepting the subscription request. B. Subscription shall take place according to the price indicated in the prospectus and specified by the issuer. C. The prospectus shall include the minimum and maximum number of sukuk that may be subscribed to. D. The banks through which subscription takes place shall be responsible for ensuring the correctness of subscription processes and the qualification of the subscriber according to official documents. Article 16 A. Sukuk shall be offered through an effective prospectus by announcing the Securities Commission’s approval of its form and of the data and information contained therein. The announcement shall be published in two local daily newspapers at least twice, before a period not less than seven business days from the date fixed for the start of subscription. B. No person shall make an offer of sukuk except through an effective prospectus. C. Subscription to the sukuk shall be considered a binding offer on the buyer if he received a copy of the prospectus if said prospectus does not state the offer, and the allocation of the sukuk is considered acceptance. D. Subscription to the sukuk is considered a binding acceptance by the buyer if he receives a copy of the effective prospectus if said prospectus is an offer. E. The issuer may cancel the subscription contracts if they do not cover the sukuk issued.
6 / 15 Article 17 The Issuer must notify the Securities Commission in writing of the number of sukuk covered, their value, and categories of distribution, and shall advertise this in al least one daily newspaper immediately upon completion of all subscription procedures and allocation of the sukuk. Article 18 A. The issuance manager shall complete the allocation and distribution process of subscribed sukuk to subscribers within a period not exceeding seven working days from the date of closure of subscription. B. If the sukuk offered for subscription are not covered, subscribed funds shall be returned to their owners within a maximum period of seven working days. C. Securitized assets shall be returned to the issuer at their book value as they were before securitization if subscription is not completed for any reason. Article 19 The issuer shall appoint an issuance trustee approved by the Board. The prospectus shall specify the issuance trustee’s competencies, powers, responsibilities and fees, and the issuer shall not have the right to dismiss him unless there are grounds that justify it and after the approval of the Board. Article 20 The project accounts shall be audited by one or more auditor/s. The issuer appoints the auditor/s and sets his/ their fees. The issuer may not dismiss the auditor/s except after the approval of the Board. Article 21 All documents related to the Sukuk shall be in Arabic with the exception of cases approved by the Board. Article 22 The Board may exempt the Government from any provisions of these instructions provided that this is not inconsistent with the principles of Islamic Sharia and its provisions.
7 / 15 Islamic Finance Prospectus (Pro forma) General Notes This form is used for the purpose of submitting an application for the registration of sukuk under the Islamic Finance Sukuk Law No. 30 of 2012 and the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto. This form may not be used any other purpose. Any person, before making the offer, shall prepare a prospectus and submit it to the Securities Commission. The prospectus shall include the detailed information and data required, and for the Commission may request any information that would help the investor make his investment decision in the sukuk. The purpose of the prospectus is to inform investors; consequently the prospectus shall provide the requested information in a clear, accurate and understandable way that is consistent with the principles of Islamic Sharia and its provisions, without containing irrelevant or inappropriate information. The subjects and elements mentioned in the prospectus are not exclusive, but the issuer shall include in the prospectus all important and necessary information. The Securities Commission does not bear any responsibility for the accuracy of information contained in the prospectus, which is the responsibility of the issuer. The Securities Commission does not bear any responsibility for the information contained under the feasibility of investing in the offered sukuk, which is the responsibility of the issuer. The issuer may prepare a promotional brochure provided that it is based on and compatible with the information and data contained in the prospectus, after the Board’s approval of the prospectus. The prospectus shall be printed in a uniform and clear script. All attachments to the prospectus (such as the authorization of the Central Sharia Supervisory Commission, the auditor's report, the approval of the general assembly of the issuer, the certificate of legal advisor ... etc) shall be originals or certified copies of the original and printed on paper bearing the letterhead of the party that issued the document as well as the date. The prospectus shall be prepared according to the order contained in this form. All principal or sub headings shall be in bold script. The issuer shall provide the Securities Commission with the complete prospectus according to the desgined form for depositing the prospectus. Cover page The cover page of the prospectus shall include the following information:
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9 / 15 First:Full description of the sukuk offered. This item includes the following information:
10 / 15 16. Notifications and data that should be sent to the sukuk owners: determine the means of sending periodic notifications and project financial reports to the sukuk owners and the frequency of sending them 17. The issuer shall put in place a mechanism for market value valuation to inform sukuk owners of the expected returns over the life of the project 18. Credit rating and the licensed party that did the classification (if any). 19. Taxes: transactions related to Islamic sukuk are exempted under Islamic Finance Sukuk Law No 30 of 2012 from all taxes and fees including income tax, general sales tax, and revenue stamp tax. Also, returns on investment in sukuk are not subject to income tax. 20. The sukuk owner shares in the profit (Ghonom) and loss (Ghorom) according to the type of sukuk and its type. 21. Expenses of the Sukuk Owners’ committee. Second: Subscription conditions and procedures
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12 / 15 the extent to which the issuer’s products enjoy protection and the type of protection if any. xii. Statement of the extent to which the issuer benefits of the Investment Promotion Law. xiii. The relationship between the issuer and affiliate companies or the mother, sister, or allied company if any. xiv. Any claims or seizure by the sales tax or income tax or any other party or any mortgages on the company's assets. 2. The project, which explains the following: A. The economic feasibility study of the project B. Statement of the main products and services for the project C. Description of the main sources of raw materials and their places of existence. D. A brief statement about the environmental considerations involved in project’s activities. E. A full explanation of the risks that may result from investing in the project. Fifth:The management of the issuer and the project showing the following:
13 / 15 We, the undersigned acknowledge our full responsibility for the correctness, accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this prospectus and we affirm that it does not contain any other data or other information the deletion of which may cause the information to be misleading or may affect the investor’s pricing of the sukuk offered, or impact the investor's decision. We affirm our commitment to providing those interested in investing in this prospectus before subscribing in the sukuk offered and to provide the Securities Commission with any data or information that may arise after the submission of this prospectus to the Securities Commission or after the Board of Commissioners has adopted it. Auditor's report As auditors of the accounts of the issuer ............................... we hereby acknowledge that we have audited and / or reviewed the annual/semiannual financial statements attached to this prospectus in accordance with the auditing standards approved by the Securities Commission and we are not aware of any information that could influence the accuracy of the information contained in this prospectus, and its accuracy and completeness. Name seal and signature General Manager Name and signature Chairman of the Board Name and signature Board members or founders Names and signatures Chairman of the executive board Name and signature CEO Name and signature CFO Name and signature Legal Advisor’s report The prospectus of the issuer........... ........... agrees with the provisions of Islamic Finance Sukuk Law, the Companies’ Law and the Securities Commission Law as well as Statutes of the issuer, and all actions taken are consistent with the laws and regulations in force. There are no legal claims by the issuer or against him pending before the courts. Legal Advisor Name and signature
14 / 15 Issuance manager As issuance manager of the sukuk offered in this prospectus, we hereby acknowledge that we have prepared the prospectus based on the information that was provided to us by the issuer and that we are not aware of any other information that may influence the correctness, accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this prospectus. Issuance Manager Name and Signature Attachments The following attachments shall be submitted with the prospectus without the need to incorporate it therein:
15 / 15 Announcement of the offer of sukuk The issuer...................., registered with the Ministry of Industry and Trade under number (......), on.../../.... Announces the Central Sharia Supervisory Commission authorization No. (......), taken in its meeting of (... / ... / ....), and the approval of the Board of Commissioners of the Securities Commission’s decision No. (.... / ....), taken in its meeting of / /, of the registration of (...No...) sukuk according to the following: