NCB, Samba Move Forward with Major Merger Plan

NCB and Samba received on Feb. 1, 2021, the approval of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for the merger. (File/Reuters)
NCB and Samba received on Feb. 1, 2021, the approval of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for the merger. (File/Reuters)
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NCB, Samba Move Forward with Major Merger Plan

NCB and Samba received on Feb. 1, 2021, the approval of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for the merger. (File/Reuters)
NCB and Samba received on Feb. 1, 2021, the approval of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for the merger. (File/Reuters)

Samba Financial Group and National Commercial Bank (NCB) are moving forward at a quick pace with the biggest merger of its kind in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority (CMA) gave the green light for NCB to increase its capital from SAR30 billion ($8 billion) to SAR 44.7 billion ($11.9 billion), through issuing 1.478 billion ordinary shares.

The move aims to merge Samba Financial Group into NCB by transferring the former's assets and liabilities to the latter under share swap.

NCB will publish the capital hike circular within sufficient time before holding its extraordinary general meeting.

The market regulator approved the proposed offer timetable, as well as the publication of the merger offer submitted by NCB. The offer will be published to Samba shareholders within sufficient time before holding its extraordinary general meeting.

If NCB shareholders approve the capital increase, and Samba shareholders accept the merger offer in their extraordinary general meetings, the new shares will be issued to Samba shareholders who are registered at the Securities Depository Center (Edaa).

In addition, Samba shares will be delisted from Tadawul after the merger decision becomes effective.

CMA said shareholders must be informed of the circular and the offer and should study them carefully in order to reach the right decision when voting.



US Crude Oil Inventories Fell by 3.2 Million Barrels, More Than Expected

Storage tanks are seen at Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into California Air Resources Board (CARB) gasoline, CARB diesel fuel, and other petroleum products, in Carson, California, US, March 11, 2022. Reuters 
Storage tanks are seen at Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into California Air Resources Board (CARB) gasoline, CARB diesel fuel, and other petroleum products, in Carson, California, US, March 11, 2022. Reuters 
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US Crude Oil Inventories Fell by 3.2 Million Barrels, More Than Expected

Storage tanks are seen at Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into California Air Resources Board (CARB) gasoline, CARB diesel fuel, and other petroleum products, in Carson, California, US, March 11, 2022. Reuters 
Storage tanks are seen at Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into California Air Resources Board (CARB) gasoline, CARB diesel fuel, and other petroleum products, in Carson, California, US, March 11, 2022. Reuters 

US crude oil and gasoline inventories fell last week, buoyed by stronger demand and exports, while distillate stockpiles rose, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories fell by 3.2 million barrels to 419 million barrels in the week ended July 18, the EIA said, double analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.6 million-barrel draw.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 455,000 barrels in the week, the EIA said.

Refinery crude runs rose by 87,000 barrels per day and refinery utilization rates rose by 1.6 percentage points.

Gasoline stocks fell by 1.7 million barrels last week to 231.1 million barrels, the EIA said, also nearly double expectations for a 908,000-barrel draw.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 2.9 million barrels in the week to 109.9 million barrels, the data showed, versus forecasts for a 1.1 million-barrel drop.

US crude exports were up by 337,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 3.86 million bpd, while net US crude imports fell last week by 740,000 barrels per day, the EIA said.