Goldman to Open Abu Dhabi Office, Turkish Markets Slump, Abu Dhabi Family Plans Middle East’s Second SPAC Listing, BlackRock Seeks $1 Billion for New Fund With Middle East Backing.
Adnoc to Sell 15% Stake in Logistics Unit in Abu Dhabi IPO
Key Takeaways
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. will sell a 15% stake in its maritime logistics unit, Adnoc Logistics & Services, in an IPO.
The sale comes after Adnoc’s gas business raised $2.5 billion in the world’s second-biggest IPO this year.
Adnoc L&S plans to pay an annualized 2023 cash dividend of $260 million and aims to increase this by at least 5% annually.
Saudi Arabia’s Biggest IPO of Year Covered on First Day
Key Takeaways
Jamjoom Pharmaceuticals Factory Co.’s IPO received enough orders for all shares on offer within the first day of opening its books, indicating strong investor demand.
The IPO market in Saudi Arabia has been subdued this year, but the success of Jamjoom Pharma’s listing could signal renewed investor interest.
Other potential IPOs in Saudi Arabia, such as ADES International Holding and Aramco’s energy-trading business, are proceeding cautiously and may face delays.
Saudi Aramco to Postpone Mega IPO of Energy Trading Unit
Key Takeaways
Saudi Aramco is delaying its planned IPO for its energy-trading business due to difficulties in listing a large business on the stock market and the need for more time to complete the integration of its main trading unit.
Saudi Arabia’s stock market has been very quiet this year, with only $72 million raised from listings in Riyadh, the least since 2014.
The profits from trading oil, gas, and refined fuel have soared recently, but very few energy traders are listed on the stock market.
BlackRock Seeks $1 Billion for New Fund With Middle East Backing
Key Takeaways
BlackRock is seeking to raise an initial $1 billion for a new Middle East infrastructure and private equity-focused fund with contributions from some of the region’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
The fund’s capital could eventually increase to several billion dollars, and BlackRock is considering domiciling the fund in Abu Dhabi Global Market with operations run out of Riyadh.
BlackRock’s ties to Middle Eastern capital have been expanding as rulers in the region seek better returns on the investment of their oil wealth, while also diversifying their economies and opening up to more foreign capital.
Abu Dhabi Family Plans Middle East’s Second SPAC Listing
Key Takeaways
MEASA Partners, an investment firm backed by Abu Dhabi’s Al Maskari family, is planning to list a blank-check firm in the city, with Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners expected to anchor the transaction.
The SPAC market has seen waning demand, as equity markets took a turn for the worse amid heightened inflation and rising interest rates.
The Middle East has only seen one SPAC so far, after the UAE became the first regional market to introduce a legal framework for blank-check listings last year, with other planned Middle Eastern SPACs having floundered.
Goldman to Open Abu Dhabi Office in Sign of Moving Past 1MDB
Key Takeaways
Goldman Sachs is opening an office in Abu Dhabi to deepen relationships with clients.
The Abu Dhabi office will initially focus on asset management, while investment bankers will remain in the Dubai office.
The move marks a significant step for Goldman Sachs after being snubbed by the emirate for its involvement in the 1MDB scandal.
Turkish Markets Slump as Bets on Return to Orthodoxy Unravel
Key Takeaways
Turkey’s markets slid as the nation heads for a runoff election, with stronger-than-expected support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrong footing investors who were betting on a quick end to his unconventional economic policies.
Erdogan’s strong showing and the majority gathered by his party alliance in parliament suggest he has the momentum to win, which is a major disappointment to investors hoping for a win for opposition candidate Kilicdaroglu and the reversion to orthodox economic policy he promised.
The lira slid about 0.5% against the dollar, with state lenders intervening to limit losses, and the cost of protecting the debt against default jumped, as investors closely watching the elections to determine whether to plow money back into the $900 billion economy are losing confidence following Sunday’s first round of voting.
Egypt Sells 9.5% Stake in Telecom Egyptfor $121 Million
Key Takeaways
Egypt sold a 9.5% stake in Telecom Egypt, raising over $121 million as part of its economic reform program.
The sale is a significant step in the government’s plan to sell state assets and raise much-needed cash.
The move is part of a broader effort to revamp Egypt’s struggling economy, which has seen its currency devalued three times since March 2022.