UAE's ADNOC Closes Acquisition of 24.9% Stake in Austria's OMV

FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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UAE's ADNOC Closes Acquisition of 24.9% Stake in Austria's OMV

FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A worker injects a car with fuel at an ADNOC petrol station in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates July 10, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said on Thursday it formally closed the acquisition of a 24.9% stake in Austria's Austrian oil and gas group OMV from Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company.

"The transaction accelerates delivery of ADNOC's global chemicals growth strategy and reinforces its status as a responsible, long-term partner and growth-oriented investor," ADNOC said in a statement.

Following the successful completion of the transaction, ADNOC owns 24.9 percent of OMV, while Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (ÖBAG), an Austrian independent holding company, holds 31.5 percent, with the remaining share capital in free float.

“ADNOC is proud to become a shareholder in OMV, a leading international energy and chemicals company, with whom we share a long-standing strategic partnership. Together, we have created significant value through our joint venture Borouge, and today’s investment will unlock further value and future growth opportunities for both companies,” said Khaled Salmeen, Executive Director, Downstream Industry, Marketing and Trading at ADNOC.

“Building on our 25 percent shareholding in Borealis, this transaction marks the next transformative step as we accelerate our ambitious chemicals growth strategy, unlocking significant growth and value creation opportunities for ADNOC, OMV and their respective shareholders.”



E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
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E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters

China's State Administration of Market Regulation issued a statement on Friday saying Alibaba Group had completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior.
In 2021, the regulator slapped a record $2.75 billion fine on the e-commerce giant for abusing its market position by forcing merchants on its platforms not to work with rival platforms.
The regulator's statement said Alibaba's rectification work had achieved "good results" and that it would continue to "guide" Alibaba to continue to "regulate its operations and improve its compliance and quality."
The fine levied on Alibaba in 2021 came during a period of intense scrutiny for the business empire founded by billionaire Jack Ma, Reuters reported. A $37 billion IPO by the finance arm he founded, Ant Group, was also scuttled following Ma's public critique of the country's regulatory system in late 2020.
Alibaba, in its own statement, described the regulator's announcement on Friday as a "new starting point for development" and said it would continue to "promote the healthy development of the platform economy and create more value for society."