Dubai's TECOM Group Expected to Raise $455 Mln in IPO

One of the TECOM industrial complexes in Dubai (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the TECOM industrial complexes in Dubai (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Dubai's TECOM Group Expected to Raise $455 Mln in IPO

One of the TECOM industrial complexes in Dubai (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the TECOM industrial complexes in Dubai (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Dubai business park operator TECOM Group set price guidance on Thursday for its initial public offering that showed it could raise up to 1.67 billion dirhams ($454.7 million) in the listing.

TECOM Group, owned by the investment vehicle of Dubai's ruler, plans to sell 625 million shares, or 12.5% of issued share capital, at a price range of 2.46 dirhams ($0.66) and 2.67 dirhams ($0.72) per share.

That implies a market capitalization of between 12.3 billion dirhams ($3.3 billion) and 13.4 billion dirhams ($32.6 billion), said the group, which operates 10 business parks and districts across the emirate of Dubai.

UAE Strategic Investment Fund and Shamal Holding will be “cornerstone” investors in the listing, with a combined commitment of 283.75 million dirhams ($77.2 million).

The company is also offering an attractive dividend yield of between 6% and 6.5%, based on a dividend payout of 800 million dirhams ($217.7 million), higher than water and electricity utility DEWA.

On July 5, TECOM will be the latest firm to go public on the Dubai stock market, known as the DFM, under a government initiative announced in November to list 10 state-linked companies.

The IPO subscription period started on June 16 and runs until June 23 for the UAE retail offering, while the qualified investor offering begins on June 24.

Subsequent to Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s announcement on the planned listing of 10 government-owned companies on the DFM, the UAE Strategic Investment Fund was established to act as a strategic long-only investor in key Dubai IPOs.

The UAE Strategic Investment Fund is a segregated portfolio of Emirates NBD AM SPC managed by Emirates NBD Asset Management, one of the largest and longest established asset managers in the Middle East with a long-standing track record of investing in, amongst other asset classes, listed equities within the MENA region via segregated mandates and mutual funds.



Saudi Arabia Sees Highest Level of Non-oil Private Sector Activity in 4 Months

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Sees Highest Level of Non-oil Private Sector Activity in 4 Months

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Business activity in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector accelerated to a four-month high in September, driven by strong demand, which led to faster growth in new orders. The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), adjusted for seasonal factors, rose to 56.3 points from 54.8 in August, marking the highest reading since May and further distancing itself from the 50.0 level that indicates growth.

The 1.5-point increase in the PMI reflects a larger expansion in both output and new orders, alongside challenges in supply. The improvement in business conditions contributed to a significant rise in employment opportunities, although difficulties in finding skilled workers led to a shortage in production capacity.

At the same time, concerns over increasing competition caused a decline in future output expectations. According to the PMI statement, inventories of production inputs remained in good condition, which encouraged some companies to reduce their purchasing efforts.

Growth was strong overall and widespread across all non-oil sectors under study. Dr. Naif Al-Ghaith, Senior Economist at Riyad Bank, said that the rise in Saudi Arabia's PMI points to a notable acceleration in the growth of the non-oil private sector, primarily driven by increased production and new orders, reflecting the sector’s expansionary activity.

Al-Ghaith added that companies responded to the rise in domestic demand, which plays a crucial role in reducing the Kingdom's reliance on oil revenues. The upward trend also indicates improved business confidence, pointing to a healthy environment for increased investment, job creation, and overall economic stability.

He emphasized that this growth in the non-oil sector is particularly important given the current context of reduced oil production and falling global oil prices. With oil revenues under pressure, the strong performance of the non-oil private sector acts as a buffer, helping mitigate the potential impact on the country's economic conditions.

Al-Ghaith continued, noting that diversifying income sources is essential to maintaining growth amid the volatility of oil markets. He explained that increased production levels not only enhance the competitiveness of Saudi companies but also encourage developments aimed at expanding the private sector's participation in the economy.

This shift, he said, provides a more stable foundation for long-term growth, making the economy less susceptible to oil price fluctuations.