IMF Expects GCC Reserves to Grow by $300-$350 Bln in Three Years on Higher Oil Prices

General view of Bahrain's financial district in Manama, Bahrain, June 20, 2019. Picture taken June 20, 2019. (Reuters)
General view of Bahrain's financial district in Manama, Bahrain, June 20, 2019. Picture taken June 20, 2019. (Reuters)
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IMF Expects GCC Reserves to Grow by $300-$350 Bln in Three Years on Higher Oil Prices

General view of Bahrain's financial district in Manama, Bahrain, June 20, 2019. Picture taken June 20, 2019. (Reuters)
General view of Bahrain's financial district in Manama, Bahrain, June 20, 2019. Picture taken June 20, 2019. (Reuters)

The International Monetary Fund expects the foreign reserves of the six oil-rich Arab countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to increase by $300-$350 billion in the next three years, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The GCC - which comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman - "will benefit from the increase in oil prices", Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the IMF, told Asharq TV.

Oil prices have risen about 60% from the start of the year as global demand recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.



Abu Dhabi's ADNOC to Buy German Chemicals Company Covestro for $16.4 Bln

A general view of ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 29, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 29, 2019. (Reuters)
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Abu Dhabi's ADNOC to Buy German Chemicals Company Covestro for $16.4 Bln

A general view of ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 29, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates May 29, 2019. (Reuters)

Abu Dhabi state oil giant ADNOC said on Tuesday that it has agreed to buy German chemicals producer Covestro for 15.9 billion euros ($18 billion) including debt, sending Covestro shares up 4% in early trade.

The deal represents one of the biggest foreign takeovers by a Gulf state as Abu Dhabi and other countries in the region seek to reduce their economies' heavy dependence on oil in the face of the global energy transition.

It follows protracted negotiations between the two companies and will see ADNOC pay 62 euros per Covestro share, equal to 14.7 billion euros including about 3 billion euros in debt.

ADNOC added it would also buy 1.17 billion euros worth of new shares in Covestro, a former Bayer unit, from a capital increase to improve funding of the takeover target.

The deal marks a cornerstone for ADNOC's plans to grow its petrochemicals business along with gas and renewable energy.

Covestro, which makes plastics and chemicals for the automotive, construction and engineering sectors, was created in 2015 after being spun off from Bayer.