Saudi CMA Approves ACWA Power IPO

ACWA Power (Asharq Al-Awsat)
ACWA Power (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi CMA Approves ACWA Power IPO

ACWA Power (Asharq Al-Awsat)
ACWA Power (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) approved the request of the International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA POWER) application for public offering of 81.2 million shares, representing 11.1 percent of its share capital.

The Company’s prospectus will be published within sufficient time prior to the start of the subscription period.

The investment value of the company's portfolio exceeds $66.1 billion, producing 42 gigawatts (GW) of electricity and 6.4 million cubic meters of desalinated water per day, provided as a huge production that meets the needs of state utilities, and according to long purchase contracts.

ACWA Power, through its projects, aims to produce reliable electricity and desalinated water at low cost, while contributing effectively to the sustainable social and economic development of societies and countries.

The company successfully raised $746 million, through a senior, unsecured floating Sukuk rate issuance with a seven-year tenor, under the Shariah-compliant Mudaraba-Murabaha structure.

The issuance marked the company’s maiden entry into Saudi debt capital markets and saw significant interest from fund managers, government funds, and insurance companies accounting for approximately 30 percent of the issuance and resulting in an oversubscription of 1.8 times over the issue size.

ACWA Power was established in 2004 in Saudi Arabia and is 50 percent owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). PIF increased in November its stake in ACWA Power from 33.6 percent as part of a move to support the renewable energy sector in Saudi Arabia.

It is a developer, investor, and operator of a group of power generation and water desalination plants, and its portfolio currently includes 64 plants that are in operation, construction, or in advanced stages of development.



Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
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Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports soared to a two-year high in May, reaching SAR 28.89 billion (USD 7.70 billion), marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase compared to May 2023.

On a monthly basis, non-oil exports surged by 26.93% from April.

This growth contributed to Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus, which recorded a year-on-year increase of 12.8%, reaching SAR 34.5 billion (USD 9.1 billion) in May, following 18 months of decline.

The enhancement of the non-oil private sector remains a key focus for Saudi Arabia as it continues its efforts to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues.

In 2023, non-oil activities in Saudi Arabia contributed 50% to the country’s real GDP, the highest level ever recorded, according to the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s analysis of data from the General Authority for Statistics.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan emphasized at the “Future Investment Initiative” in October that the Kingdom is now prioritizing the development of the non-oil sector over GDP figures, in line with its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

A report by Moody’s highlighted Saudi Arabia’s extensive efforts to transform its economic structure, reduce dependency on oil, and boost non-oil sectors such as industry, tourism, and real estate.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics’ monthly report on international trade noted a 5.8% growth in merchandise exports in May compared to the same period last year, driven by a 4.9% increase in oil exports, which totaled SAR 75.9 billion in May 2024.

The change reflects movements in global oil prices, while production levels remained steady at under 9 million barrels per day since the OPEC+ alliance began a voluntary reduction in crude supply to maintain prices. Production is set to gradually increase starting in early October.

On a monthly basis, merchandise exports rose by 3.3% from April to May, supported by a 26.9% increase in non-oil exports. This rise was bolstered by a surge in re-exports, which reached SAR 10.2 billion, the highest level for this category since 2017.

The share of oil exports in total exports declined to 72.4% in May from 73% in the same month last year.

Moreover, the value of re-exported goods increased by 33.9% during the same period.