Banking & Finance Assets under management at ADGM rise by over 50% Abu Dhabi Global Market saw its assets under management increase by 56 percent year-on-year in 2022 as the authority became the fastest growing international financial centre in the region. Total licence issues for financial and non-financial firms increased by 30 percent from 4,262 companies in 2021 to 5,546 in 2022, according to figures released on […] March 20, 2023
Markets Saudi Arabia to introduce SPAC listings Saudi Arabia plans to allow special-purpose acquisition companies, also known as SPACs, to list on the kingdom’s bourse, a top official told a conference this week. These entities raise money through an initial public offering (IPO) and then use the proceeds to acquire other companies. SPACs were seen as a simpler, quicker and more effective […] March 17, 2023
Exclusive Markets Presight to use IPO as springboard to global expansion Big data and analytics company Presight is targetting international expansion once they have listed later this month. The firm, part of Abu Dhabi’s G42, plans to raise $495 million from its floating on the ADX. The subscription period for the initial public offering (IPO), which was 136 times oversubscribed, closed on Friday with a total […] March 17, 2023
Markets UAE exchange house Al Ansari seeks to raise over $210m in IPO UAE-based remittance and foreign exchange house Al Ansari Financial Services is seeking to raise up to AED772.5 million ($210.4 million) by listing on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). Al Ansari, which announced an intention to float 10 percent of the company last week, will price its shares between AED1 and AED1.03, implying a valuation of […] March 17, 2023
Markets Bahrain’s VCBank lists Turkish F&B firm on Borsa Istanbul Bahrain’s Shariah-compliant Venture Capital Bank has listed Turkish food and beverage producer Goknur, its investee company, on the Borsa Istanbul exchange. A total of 79.25 million shares were offered to the public, which drew interests worth 6.9 billion liras ($364 million) and was 7.9 times oversubscribed. VCBank chief executive Robert C Wages said the market […] March 16, 2023
Energy Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc Gas shares up 18% on debut Shares of Adnoc Gas rose 18 percent above its listings price, as the state-backed oil giant made its debut on the Abu Dhabi stock market on Monday. The energy firm’s shares traded at AED2.8 ($0.7625), versus its initial public offering (IPO) price of AED2.37, according to Reuters. Adnoc raised $2.5 billion from the listing of […] March 13, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Banking & Finance BNY Mellon reports 245% rise in net flows into GCC equities BNY Mellon clients’ net investments in GCC shares rocketed by 245 percent from 2019 through to the end of 2022, America’s oldest bank told AGBI. Over this three-year period, the bank’s clients have poured $1.2 billion into Gulf equities, “outpacing emerging developed markets and the Eurozone significantly”. The New York-headquartered bank did not supply yearly […] March 13, 2023
Banking & Finance Al Ansari to float 10% stake on Dubai stock market Al Ansari Financial Services has revealed plans to float 10 percent of the company on the Dubai Financial Market. The exchange house is making 750 million shares available through the initial public offering, each valued at one fil, with the subscription period running from March 16 to 24. The listing is scheduled to go live […] March 9, 2023
Analysis Markets Mena merger activity hits ‘unprecedented’ levels When Dubai-based headhunter Dulsco acquired Scottish energy personnel specialist Advance Global Recruitment this week, it was the latest deal in a mergers and acquisitions market that analysts say is growing at an “unprecedented” rate. The EY Middle East and North Africa M&A Insights 2022 report found that the Mena region – which historically records 500-600 […] March 8, 2023
Markets Oman’s Abraj Energy set to raise $498m via 49% stake sale Oman’s Abraj Energy Services, the oil and gas drilling business of state energy company OQ, has set its initial public offering price at 249 baizas per share, state-run Oman News Agency said. The company will, therefore, be valued at about $498 million. OQ is selling a 49 percent stake, equivalent to 377.39 million shares, of […] March 7, 2023
Israel’s Liquidity Group to support Gulf startups with $500m Liquidity Group, an Israel-based fintech and asset manager, is looking to provide $500 million this year to support startups in the UAE and across the Middle East. The company reached unicorn status last month, with fresh investment of $40 million from Japan’s MUFG at a valuation of $1.4 billion. Launched in 2018, Liquidity Group provides […] March 6, 2023
Markets Abu Dhabi’s G42 to list big data analytics arm Analytics firm Presight, part of Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence outfit G42, has announced plans to float on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Ahead of the AED1.82 billion ($495.6 million) initial public offering, 1.36 billion new shares will be issued, representing 32 percent of the share capital of the company. Shares will be priced at AED1.34 […] March 6, 2023
Energy Adnoc Gas completes record-breaking $2.5bn ADX IPO Adnoc has raised $2.5 billion from the initial public offering of its gas business, recording the largest ever listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Five percent of the company, or around 3.84 billion shares, were sold at AED2.37 ($0.64) per share, in the upper half of a range that began at AED2.25, according to […] March 3, 2023
Opinion Markets Regional IPOs, the ‘cannibal’ factor and irrational exuberance The listing of Adnoc Gas for $50 billion reveals the strength of regional IPOs in the Gulf March 3, 2023
Finance $5bn of trade on the table as Abu Dhabi and Israel grow ever closer A top level delegation of 10 Abu Dhabi entities has returned from Tel Aviv as experts predict bilateral trade between the UAE and Israel could reach $5 billion by 2025. Led by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio), the delegation included Abu Dhabi Global Market, Abu Dhabi Residents Office, Hub71, Abu Dhabi IPO Fund, Masdar […] February 23, 2023
Markets Oman’s OQ subsidiary Abraj Energy launches IPO The initial public offering (IPO) of Abraj Energy Services, a subsidiary of Oman’s state energy company OQ, opens today, February 20, 2023. A total of 49 percent of the issued capital, or 377.398 million shares, will be put up for sale, raising up to $244 million. The selling shareholders will have the right to adjust the IPO […] February 20, 2023
Retail UAE companies join ranking of elite brands UAE businesses including Adnoc, Dubai Duty Free and RAK Hospital have been recognised by the organisation that ranks elite brands around the world. Superbrands UAE welcomed its latest cohort of 29 brands, which also included Al Rostamani Group, Aster DM Healthcare, Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, Nando’s and Tabasco. The chosen few were selected from thousands […] February 17, 2023
Economy Abu Dhabi flexes economic muscles with 10.5% growth spurt Abu Dhabi’s economy is “proving its superiority” after producing the highest growth in the Middle East and North Africa during the first nine months of 2022. Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi said on Tuesday that it estimates that growth in GDP touched 10.5 percent compared to the same period of 2021. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman […] February 14, 2023
Markets Saudi Arabia has 23 IPOs in the pipeline as it builds on busy year Saudi Arabia has more than 20 companies on the launchpad for initial public offerings, according to its financial regulator, as the Tadawul stock exchange looks to build on its strong run. Mohammed El Kuwaiz, chairman of the Capital Market Authority, told the Saudi Capital Market Forum on Sunday that 23 businesses had been approved for […] February 14, 2023
Markets Hong Kong exchange courts Middle East companies The Hong Kong stock exchange has renewed its efforts to attract listings by Middle East companies, including Saudi Aramco. Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury in Hong Kong, confirmed interest from Middle Eastern companies during a week-long tour of the region by a 30-strong delegation. The tour aims to promote Hong Kong […] February 10, 2023
Dewa’s 2022 profit rises 22% on higher power and water demand Dubai utility provider Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) reported a net profit of AED8 billion ($2.18 billion) in 2022, up 22 percent year-on-year, due to higher power and water demand. Consolidated revenue increased 15 percent year-on-year to AED27.35 billion in 2022, the UAE state-owned WAM news agency reported. Net profit and revenue for the […] February 9, 2023
Energy Adnoc Gas IPO tipped to break record for Abu Dhabi exchange Adnoc’s listing of its gas business could take place as soon as this month – and become the largest IPO on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, according to reports. The state-owned oil giant is looking at a valuation of at least $50 billion for Adnoc Gas, two sources close to the matter have told Reuters. […] February 3, 2023
