Saudi Aramco's Luberef Set for IPO

Aramco's base oil subsidiary, Luberef, has won approval from the Kingdom's stock market regulator, Capital Market Authority (CMA), to launch its IPO. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Aramco's base oil subsidiary, Luberef, has won approval from the Kingdom's stock market regulator, Capital Market Authority (CMA), to launch its IPO. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Aramco's Luberef Set for IPO

Aramco's base oil subsidiary, Luberef, has won approval from the Kingdom's stock market regulator, Capital Market Authority (CMA), to launch its IPO. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Aramco's base oil subsidiary, Luberef, has won approval from the Kingdom's stock market regulator, Capital Market Authority (CMA), to launch its IPO. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Al-Ahli Tadawul announced a potential initial public offering (IPO) for one of Saudi Aramco's subsidiaries.

Ahli Capital announced its capacity as the underwriting manager, financial advisor, institutional underwriting book manager, international coordinator, and underwriter of Citigroup Saudi Arabia, HSBC Saudi Arabia, and Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia as the financial advisers, global coordinators, and underwriters of public offerings.

The company said that Aramco's base oil subsidiary, Luberef, has won approval from the Kingdom's stock market regulator, Capital Market Authority (CMA), to launch its IPO and list its shares on the primary market of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul).

Luberef is one of the world's largest producers of base oils and produces one of every eight barrels of base oils globally, with a total capacity to produce 1.3 metric tons per year of base oils.

Luberef will sell 50 million shares, or 29.7 percent of the company's issued share capital, through the IPO on the Tadawul stock exchange, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

The final pricing of the offer shares will be determined at the end of the book-building period, it stated.

The company obtained Tadawul's approval for its request to list its shares in the main market on November 24 and also received the approval of the Capital Market Authority for its bid to offer 50 million ordinary shares.

The shares are open for subscription by institutional, individual, and qualified foreign investors.

Luberef pointed out that the shares will be offered for subscription to individual and institutional investors, including institutional investors outside the US, in offshore transactions following Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).

A maximum of 12.5 million shares, or 25 percent of the total share offering, will be allocated to individual investors, the company said.

Meanwhile, the main Saudi stock index fell 142.29 points to close at 10796.46 points, with transactions worth SR2 billion.

About 74 million shares were traded through more than 241,000 deals, in which 33 companies recorded an increase in value, while 173 companies closed in decline.

The Saudi parallel market (Nomu) plunged 300.87 points to close at 18866.13 points, with a value of SR68 million, and the number of shares reached more than 392,000 shares shared by 1157 transactions.



Gold Edges Lower as Dollar Firms, Traders Await Fresh Catalysts

A gold seller analyzes gold coins in the gold shop 'Cap Or Numismatique' in Nice, France, 19 March 2025. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER
A gold seller analyzes gold coins in the gold shop 'Cap Or Numismatique' in Nice, France, 19 March 2025. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER
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Gold Edges Lower as Dollar Firms, Traders Await Fresh Catalysts

A gold seller analyzes gold coins in the gold shop 'Cap Or Numismatique' in Nice, France, 19 March 2025. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER
A gold seller analyzes gold coins in the gold shop 'Cap Or Numismatique' in Nice, France, 19 March 2025. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

Gold dipped on Monday as the dollar strengthened, while traders awaited fresh catalysts after a recent rally pushed prices to record highs, fueled by geopolitical concerns and hopes of US rate cuts.

Spot gold was down 0.1% at $3,022.21 an ounce, as of 0526 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.2% to $3,026.30.

Gold reached a record high of $3,057.21/oz on Thursday.

The dollar index was hovering near its highest level since March 7, making greenback-priced gold less affordable for overseas buyers.

"Gold is still well-positioned for further upside if markets remain edgy about the possible negative growth effects of tariffs, but this could be partially offset if a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal comes closer to fruition," KCM Trade chief market analyst Tim Waterer said.

A US delegation will seek a ceasefire in the Black Sea and broader peace in Ukraine during talks with Russia on Monday. Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on a hospital in Gaza on Sunday killed five people, including a Hamas political leader.

US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs set to take effect on April 2, likely to drive inflation and hinder economic growth.

However, Trump hinted on Friday there would be some flexibility regarding tariffs.

"President Trump has left some wiggle room for the reciprocal tariffs to potentially be less severe than feared, which has lowered market anxiety to a degree but ... it has also sapped the gold price of a bit of momentum," Waterer said.

Zero-yield bullion is seen as a hedge against geopolitical turmoil, economic uncertainties, and inflation.

The US Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady in the 4.25%-4.50% range last week. Policymakers see two quarter-percentage-point cuts by 2025-end.

Spot silver firmed 0.4% to $33.16 an ounce, platinum was steady at $974.98, and palladium added 0.3% to $960.62.