Yahsat Plans to List on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

Mubadala said that the launch of Yahsat has made a number of achievements, including attracting foreign investments to the country. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Mubadala said that the launch of Yahsat has made a number of achievements, including attracting foreign investments to the country. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yahsat Plans to List on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange

Mubadala said that the launch of Yahsat has made a number of achievements, including attracting foreign investments to the country. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Mubadala said that the launch of Yahsat has made a number of achievements, including attracting foreign investments to the country. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company on Friday announced that it has priced its initial public offering at AED2.75 ($0.7) per share.

In all, 40 percent of the company is being floated, representing 975.90 million shares.

Based on the AED2.75 a share pricing, Yahsat will have a market capitalization of around AED6.7 billion ($1.8 billion).

The Emirates Investment Authority picked up 5 percent of the final offer size.

The offering has created an opportunity for investors to participate in the growth of a leading UAE-based integrated satellite solutions services provider.

Mamoura Diversified Global Holding, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala, will remain the majority shareholder with around 60 percent of Yahsat’s issued share capital.

Listing and trading on the ADX are expected to start on July 14.

“We are delighted that the offering has been met with substantial investor interest, both locally and internationally. It is a testament to the work and dedication of our team for more than a decade which has manifested in the strong business, operational and financial platform we have today," Yahsat CEO Ali Al Hashemi said in a statement.

"We are dedicated to ensuring we meet and exceed investor expectations as we continue to grow by expanding our geographical reach, while continuously innovating and driving new technologies to meet the local, regional, and global demand for reliable satellite connectivity and solutions.”

Yahsat has operations in more than 150 countries. The company was established in the UAE in 2007 to meet the growing demand for satcom services.



OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters
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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and next on Tuesday, highlighting weakness in China, India and other regions, marking the producer group's fourth consecutive downward revision in the 2024 outlook.

The weaker outlook highlights the challenge facing OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, which earlier this month postponed a plan to start raising output in December against a backdrop of falling prices.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said world oil demand would rise by 1.82 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. Until August, OPEC had kept the outlook unchanged since its first forecast in July 2023.

In the report, OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.54 million bpd from 1.64 million bpd, Reuters.

China accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade. OPEC trimmed its Chinese growth forecast to 450,000 bpd from 580,000 bpd and said diesel use in September fell year-on-year for a seventh consecutive month.

"Diesel has been under pressure from a slowdown in construction amid weak manufacturing activity, combined with the ongoing deployment of LNG-fuelled trucks," OPEC said with reference to China.

Oil pared gains after the report was issued, with Brent crude trading below $73 a barrel.

Forecasts on the strength of demand growth in 2024 vary widely, partly due to differences over demand from China and the pace of the world's switch to cleaner fuels.

OPEC is still at the top of industry estimates and has a long way to go to match the International Energy Agency's far lower view.

The IEA, which represents industrialised countries, sees demand growth of 860,000 bpd in 2024. The agency is scheduled to update its figures on Thursday.

- OUTPUT RISES

OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support prices, most of which are in place until the end of 2025.

The group was to start unwinding the most recent layer of cuts of 2.2 million bpd from December but said on Nov. 3 it will delay the plan for a month, as weak demand and rising supply outside the group maintain downward pressure on the market.

OPEC's output is also rising, the report showed, with Libyan production rebounding after being cut by unrest. OPEC+ pumped 40.34 million bpd in October, up 215,000 bpd from September. Iraq cut output to 4.07 million bpd, closer to its 4 million bpd quota.

As well as Iraq, OPEC has named Russia and Kazakhstan as among the OPEC+ countries which pumped above quotas.

Russia's output edged up in October by 9,000 bpd to about 9.01 million bpd, OPEC said, slightly above its quota.