Nakheel restructuring to be done by H1

Dubai World's property arm Nakheel expects its $10.9 billion debt restructuring process to be completed by the first half of 2011, it said on Wednesday.

Nakheel, which has been in negotiations with both trade creditors and banks to repay its debt obligations, said it will soon issue restructuring agreements, including a term sheet for an Islamic bond offering, to trade creditors that have signed on to its restructuring plan.

Under Nakheel's restructuring proposal, trade creditors will receive repayment through 40 per cent cash and 60 per cent in the form of an Islamic bond, or sukuk. It has said that 91 per cent of its trade creditors have given the deal a stamp of approval.

"This is a critical milestone for the Nakheel restructuring process, upon completion of which the sukuk will be issued," Nakheel said on Wednesday.

Nakheel needs to reach a 95 per cent "restructuring threshold" to push the proposal through among trade creditors.

The developer said it will also issue a term sheet to its core creditor committee for final approval from lenders, adding that the restructuring process is nearing completion.

Nakheel's statement follows an announcement from parent Dubai World on Wednesday that it has signed a final agreement with its 80 creditors to restructure $24.9 billion in debt.

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