Saudi Tadawul to Offer 36 Mn Share in IPO

Tadawul prepares for initial public offering (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tadawul prepares for initial public offering (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Tadawul to Offer 36 Mn Share in IPO

Tadawul prepares for initial public offering (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tadawul prepares for initial public offering (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Tadawul Holding Group, the kingdom's stock exchange, announced its intent to proceed with an initial public offering after receiving approval from the Capital Market Authority (CMA).

CMA said on Wednesday it approved an initial public offering of Tadawul of 36 million shares, which represents 30 percent of Tadawul's share capital.

Tadawul chairwoman Sarah al-Suhaimi said that the announcement marks a significant milestone in the company's growth story.

Suhaimi indicated that the announcement is a "natural next step as we emerge as a Saudi powerhouse with a global mindset that can leverage scale, innovation, and execution capabilities to drive long-term value for all our stakeholders."

The listing will help achieve the "nationwide goal of the successful delivery of Saudi's Vision 2030", which is "aligned" with the strategy of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), she added.

CMA CEO Khalid al-Hussan, said the institutional offering will be on November 21 over six days, while individuals' offering will be on November 30 for three days, indicating that nearly $133 million have been achieved in 2020.

The company said that all the offered shares would be delivered to institutional investors, with a clawback to retail investors of up to 10 percent of the offered shares.

The Tadawul Group includes in its portfolio four wholly-owned subsidiaries: the Saudi Tadawul Company, one of the largest financial markets in the world in terms of market capitalization, the Securities Depository Center Company (Edaa), the Securities Clearing Center Company (Muqassa), and Wamid, the applied technology services business and innovation arm of the group.

Tadawul is characterized by a diversified and interconnected business model, allowing the company to provide a full range of products and services related to the financial markets.

In accordance with Saudi regulations, CMA's approval is valid for a period of six months from the date of issuance. It will be annulled if the offering and listing of the shares are not completed during this period.



Saudi Market Authority: Kingdom Unaffected by Global Technical Disruptions

Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)
Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)
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Saudi Market Authority: Kingdom Unaffected by Global Technical Disruptions

Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)
Two investors monitor stock prices on the Saudi Tadawul screen (Reuters)

The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has assured the integrity and full operational readiness of its systems following global technical disruptions affecting various sectors.
The CMA confirmed that it has been coordinating with relevant authorities from the outset to ensure uninterrupted service for all investors during Sunday’s trading sessions.
In a statement released on Saturday, the CMA emphasized that listed companies in the financial market have been instructed to disclose any significant developments related to the issue.
The Saudi Stock Exchange, Tadawul, also confirmed the reliability and readiness of its systems to ensure uninterrupted service for all investors.
The CMA highlighted that technical teams are monitoring the systems round-the-clock to ensure the continuous functioning of services and the technical infrastructure, ensuring business continuity and system efficiency in the market.
Limited Impact
Since the onset of the global technical crisis, the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) reported that the impact on the Kingdom has been limited.
In a statement, the NCA referenced media reports of widespread technical failures in critical sectors worldwide and clarified that the impact on national entities in Saudi Arabia has been minimal, based on current assessments.
The NCA attributed these global disruptions to a technical error in a product update released by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike early Friday morning.
Cyber Incidents
The NCA credited the robust support and significant backing from Saudi leadership for the cybersecurity sector, enabling proactive measures to detect and address cyber threats and risks.
The NCA has also been committed to fostering local cybersecurity capabilities and enhancing technological sovereignty.
The NCA affirmed that its cybersecurity regulations and standards have bolstered the security and reliability of the Kingdom’s cyberspace, positively impacting the protection of national entities and critical infrastructure.
The authority continues to oversee compliance with these regulations through its National Cybersecurity Services Portal (Haseen), working in partnership with all national entities to enhance national cybersecurity.
This initiative is fundamental to safeguarding the Kingdom’s vital interests, critical infrastructure, government services, and key sectors in both the public and private domains.