Saudi Arabia-based Arab Petroleum Investments Corp (Apicorp) has mandated four banks for a debut international sukuk issue this year, according to sources, in what could be the first overseas debt offer from the kingdom in over a year.

The company picked Standard Chartered, First Gulf Bank, NCB Capital and GIB Capital to arrange the debut sukuk, two sources with knowledge of the deal said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information is private.

One of the sources said Apicorp might add more banks before pressing ahead with the transaction.

The four mandated banks are also listed as the dealers and arrangers of a $3 billion sukuk programme previously set up by Apicorp, according to the prospectus seen by Reuters. Moody's has given the programme a provisional Aa3 rating, in line with its score for the company.

Earlier this month Reuters reported that Apicorp, an energy investment company owned by the governments of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, was looking to issue its debut sukuk this year.

The last U.S. dollar-denominated deal from a Saudi issuer was real estate firm Dar Al Arkan, which sold $400 million of five-year sukuk in May 2014.-Reuters