TAQA, ADNOC, Mubadala Enter Binding Agreements for Acquisition of Masdar Stake

General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo
General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo
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TAQA, ADNOC, Mubadala Enter Binding Agreements for Acquisition of Masdar Stake

General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo
General view of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 3, 2019. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/File Photo

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Mubadala Investment Company have entered into binding agreements for TAQA and ADNOC to purchase stakes in Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) from Mubadala, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Tuesday.

This is a major milestone towards completing the transaction announced late last year by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The partnership sets out to create a global clean energy powerhouse that consolidates the renewable energy and green hydrogen efforts of TAQA, Mubadala and ADNOC under the Masdar brand, WAM said.

The transaction puts a value for the new Masdar joint ventures at approximately AED7 billion (US$1.9 billion) on a 100% equity basis. The binding agreements will see TAQA acquire a 43% controlling stake in Masdar's renewables business, with Mubadala retaining a 33% interest and ADNOC owning the remaining 24% interest.

Meanwhile, ADNOC will hold a 43% controlling stake in Masdar's new green hydrogen joint venture, Mubadala will retain a 33% interest, and TAQA will hold a 24% effective stake.

As part of the deal, TAQA will contribute its rights to a minimum 40% share in future Abu Dhabi renewable projects and green hydrogen projects, WAM added.



Trump Suggests Fed May Be Ready to Lower Interest Rates

US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, DC, US, July 24, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, DC, US, July 24, 2025. (Reuters)
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Trump Suggests Fed May Be Ready to Lower Interest Rates

US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, DC, US, July 24, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, DC, US, July 24, 2025. (Reuters)

President Donald Trump said on Friday he had a good meeting with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and got the impression that the head of the US central bank might be ready to lower interest rates.

The two men met on Thursday when Trump made a rare visit to the US central bank to tour the ongoing renovation of two buildings at its headquarters in Washington.

The White House has criticized the cost of the project, and the president and Powell sparred over the issue during the visit.

Trump also took the opportunity to again publicly call on Powell to slash rates immediately.

"We had a very good meeting ... I think we had a very good meeting on interest rates," the president told reporters on Friday.

"He (Powell) said, 'Congratulations, the country is doing really well,' and I got that to mean that I think he's going to start recommending lower rates because of that conversation," Trump said.

The Fed is widely expected to leave its benchmark interest rate in the 4.25%-4.50% range at the conclusion of a two-day policy meeting next week. Powell has said the Fed should wait for more data before adjusting rates.

The visibly tense exchange between Trump and Powell at the Fed's massive construction site on Thursday marked an escalation of White House pressure on the central bank as well as Trump's efforts to get Powell to lower rates.

The US central bank said on Friday it was "grateful" for Trump's encouragement to complete the renovation of its buildings in Washington and that it "looked forward" to seeing the project through to completion.

Trump, who called Powell a "numbskull" earlier this week for failing to heed the White House's demand for a large reduction in borrowing costs, also said on Thursday he did not intend to fire the Fed chief, as he has frequently suggested he would.