AMERICAS
SK Capital, a private investment firm with a disciplined focus on the specialty materials, specialty chemicals, and pharmaceuticals sectors, agreed to acquire Apotex, a Canadian, global pharmaceutical company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Apotex is a dynamic, entrepreneurial company with a strong track record of success, underpinned by its diversified product portfolio, robust pipeline of new launches and iconic brand. We feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to support Apotex with our deep experience in the pharmaceutical sector as it continues to research, develop and produce safe and affordable medicines for patients in Canada, the United States and around the world,” Aaron Davenport, SK Capital Managing Director.
SK Capital is advised by Deutsche Bank, Jefferies & Company, RBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank, Kirkland & Ellis and McMillan. Debt financing is provided by Bank of Nova Scotia, HSBC, RBC Capital Markets and Truist Securities. Apotex is advised by Rothschild & Co and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg.
Semtech, a semiconductor products provider, confirmed that the security holders of Sierra Wireless, a wireless communication equipment designer and provider, have approved the $1.2bn acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Sierra Wireless.
The arrangement is subject to antitrust and competition approvals in the US and Canada, respectively, the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and other customary closing conditions. The Court hearing for the final order to approve the arrangement is scheduled to take place on September 29, 2022, and the completion is expected to occur in the company's fiscal year 2023.
LiveWire, Harley-Davidson's electric motorcycle division, went public via a SPAC merger with AEA-Bridges Impact in a $1.77bn deal. Investors in PIPE included Harley-Davidson and KYMCO.
"We are at the confluence of two seminal shifts impacting the industry – vehicle electrification and sustainability. LiveWire is well-positioned to become the premier sustainable electric motorcycle brand and redefine the industry by leveraging the manufacturing and distribution expertise of Harley-Davidson and KYMCO. We're excited to partner with Harley-Davidson and the LiveWire team to help define the future of electric motorcycles as the industry continues its rapid transformation," John Garcia, AEA-Bridges Impact Chairman and Co-CEO.
EQT, a private equity firm, agreed to acquire Billtrust, a B2B accounts receivable automation and integrated payments provider, for $1.7bn.
“This transaction marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Billtrust, our customers and employees while providing shareholders an immediate and substantial cash value with a compelling premium. We believe B2B payments and accounts receivable continue to be ripe for massive disruption and innovation, and our partnership with EQT will provide us with greater resources and flexibility to build on our leadership position," Flint Lane, Billtrust Founder and CEO.
EQT is advised by Evercore and Weil Gotshal and Manges (led by Robert Rizzo). Billtrust is advised by JP Morgan and Davis Polk & Wardwell. JP Morgan is advised by Sullivan & Cromwell (led by Melissa Sawyer).
23 First Nation and Métis communities to acquire a 11.57% stake in seven pipelines in Athabasca from Enbridge, a firm that owns extensive midstream assets that transport hydrocarbons, for $1.12bn.
"We are very pleased to be joining our Indigenous partners in this landmark collaboration. We believe this partnership exemplifies how Enbridge and Indigenous communities can work together, not only in stewarding the environment, but also in owning and operating critical energy infrastructure. We are looking forward to working with the Aii and deepening our relationship well into the future. This also fully aligns with our priority to recycle capital at attractive valuations, which can be used to fund numerous growth opportunities within our conventional and low carbon platforms," Al Monaco, Enbridge President and CEO.
Enbridge is advised by BMO Capital Markets and Torys. Athabasca Indigenous Investments is advised by RBC Capital Markets, Boughton Law and CIPR Communications.
Dunes Point Capital completed the acquisition of Kwalu. (FS)
Dunes Point Capital, a family office and private investment firm, completed the acquisition of Kwalu, a designer and manufacturer of premium furnishings. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Kwalu has a manufacturing facility in Matamoros, Mexico and showrooms in Atlanta, GA and Chicago, IL and employs approximately 800 people.
Kwalu was advised by Genesis Capital. Dunes Point Capital was advised by Alvarez & Marsal and Kirkland & Ellis. Debt financing was provided by Twin Brook Capital Partners.
PSG, an investment firm, completed the investment in Searchspring, a developer of AI-powered search software and navigation products. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Our growth and momentum these past few years speak to the value of our solutions as we support ecommerce merchants to drive the ultimate shopper experience. We are grateful for our employees, customers, and partners who make it possible for us to support the market so well. Not only does PSG recognize what we have accomplished, but they also share our vision for the future of ecommerce," Peter Messana, Searchspring CEO.
PSG was advised by Weil Gotshal and Manges and Prosek Partners. Searchspring was advised by Canaccord Genuity (led by Sanjay Chadda).
Diversified Energy, an independent energy company, completed the acquisition of the Oklahoma and Texas-based assets from ConocoPhillips, an independent exploration and production firm, for $240m.
"I am pleased to announce another strategically-aligned acquisition at a compelling valuation in the Company's Central Region that reinforces our commitment to create long-term value for shareholders. Financed entirely with existing liquidity, this non-dilutive acquisition represents a compelling opportunity to further scale our Central Region portfolio while maintaining a strong balance sheet. Building on our success in Appalachia, we are excited to increase our holdings within the Central Region that position us to drive greater synergies and unlock additional shareholder value through scale," Rusty Hutson, Diversified Energy CEO.
Altus Power, an independent developer, owner, and operator of commercial-scale solar facilities, agreed to acquire 97MW operating solar assets for $220m.
"We are excited to bring these new long-term customer relationships and operating assets to our portfolio of C&I solar and storage assets. We welcome the opportunity to serve customers in new markets, including Pennsylvania, Indiana, Arizona and Nevada, as well as to grow our footprint in existing markets. Altus Power will continue to focus on expanding our customer base as well as profitably increasing the size of our portfolio of commercial-scale assets by leveraging our specific expertise of executing both development and operating opportunities," Gregg Felton, Altus Power Co-CEO.
Tamarack Global, a venture capital firm, led a $100m Series B funding round in Moxion Power, a manufacturer of mobile energy storage products and technologies, with participation from Energy Impact Partners, Sunbelt Rentals, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, Enterprise Holdings Ventures, Marubeni Ventures, Suffolk Technologies, and Rocketship.vc.
"We’re proud to continue our partnership with Moxion Power as they continue to revolutionize the temporary power sector. Their technology sits at the forefront of the growing market trend to carbon-free technology and a largely untapped market with exponential growth potential. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to exceptional founders and companies shaping the future through bold and exciting new business models,” Jamie Lee, Tamarack Global Managing Partner.
Moxion Power was advised by Antenna Group (led by Regan Keller).
Siguler Guff, a global multi-strategy private markets investment firm, completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Solvd, a global technology consultancy and software engineering company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"Siguler Guff's investment is an important validator of the truly valuable experience our employees and management team have achieved for our clients. Siguler Guff's industry insights, strong relationships, and collaborative style make them an ideal partner. We are thrilled to be a core investment from their flagship growth fund and welcome Drew Guff and Shaun Khubchandani to our Board of Directors," Alex Khursevich, Solvd CEO.
Spirax-Sarco, a thermal energy management and niche pumping specialist, agreed to acquire Durex International, a specialist in custom electric thermal solutions for ultra-high criticality industrial equipment, for $342m.
"We are excited about this opportunity to further strengthen our ETS Business and look forward to welcoming colleagues from Durex into our Group. We have great respect and admiration for Durex that has grown and developed under the skilful leadership of Ed Hinz, who founded the business over 40 years ago. Ed's impending retirement provided an excellent opportunity for us to broaden our capabilities in key target sectors, accelerating the development of our ETS business in line with our long-term plans," Nicholas Anderson, Spirax-Sarco CEO.
Teleflex, a global provider of medical technologies, completed the acquisition of Standard Bariatrics, a producer of series of surgical disposable tools, for $300m.
"Teleflex's strategy is to invest in innovative products and technologies that can meaningfully enhance clinical efficacy, patient safety and comfort, reduce complications, and lower the overall cost of care. The acquisition of Standard Bariatrics adds an exciting and differentiated product serving the large and growing sleeve gastrectomy market, which we estimate to be approximately 120k procedures5 annually in the US In addition, the deal enables Teleflex to leverage our strength in our existing bariatric surgeon call point, with a differentiated product that complements many of our key surgical products, including our ligation portfolio, MiniLap Percutaneous Surgical System and Weck EFx Fascial Closure Portfolio," Liam Kelly, Teleflex Chairman, President and CEO.
General Mills, an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods, led a $120m funding Series round in GrubMarket, a food technology company, with participation from Tiger Global, Squarepoint, Apeira Capital, Grosvenor, Liberty Street Funds, Walleye Capital, and Celtic House Asia.
“We’re a very profitable business and don’t need financing for working capital purposes - we’ll use proceeds for mergers and acquisitions. We want to digitally transform the American food supply chain industry," Mike Xu, GrubMarket CEO.
Accel and Iconiq Capital-backed Calendly, a developer of a subscription-based scheduling software, agreed to acquire Prelude, a developer of interview scheduling software. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“This acquisition is a testament to how Calendly’s profitable business model affords us the ability to pursue initiatives that will meet the growing demand of our customers. For the last near-decade, Calendly has been laser-focused on simplifying scheduling to help teams increase revenue, have greater customer retention, and land more candidates. With Prelude, Calendly will offer the leading scheduling automation platform for all segments of the industry, from SMBs to the enterprise," Tope Awotona, Calendly Founder and CEO.
BlackRock sees insurers with $28tn adding private assets. (FS)
Insurers are poised to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into private assets over the next two years as they seek to overcome the highest inflation in four decades and heightened recession risk.
Charles Hatami, head of the firm’s Financial Institutions, said that the additional money is expected to go into private equity and debt funds, hedge funds, real estate, and other assets. Hatami’s group helps manage money for insurers.
“Their resolve to continue investing and growing their allocations to private assets has not changed. It’s a very meaningful allocation, and some of the largest clients are actually the most aggressive about this," Charles Hatami, BlackRock Head of Financial Institutions.
Cineplex approaches Cineworld lenders over a merger with Regal unit.
Canadian cinema chain operator Cineplex has reached out to the lenders of Cineworld to revive a potential merger with the bankrupt rival's Regal Entertainment.
The two companies are locked in a multi-million dollar legal battle over a scrapped merger from two years ago, Reuters reported.
Apollo Global is exploring a takeover of Ryder System. (FS)
Apollo Global Management is exploring a takeover of Ryder System, a transportation and logistics company. Terms of a transaction couldn’t immediately be learned, but any deal would value Ryder at a premium to the $3.4bn market value ascribed to the company, Bloomberg reported.
No deal has been reached, and it’s possible talks could collapse, in part due to challenges in the debt markets making it difficult to raise financing.
Blackstone reaps $7.8bn for third Asia real estate fund. (FS)
The world’s largest private equity investor, Blackstone, has scored over $7.8bn in the third installment of its opportunistic real estate fund series, per a filing on the SEC website.
The fund juggernaut has now achieved over 86% of its $9bn target for the Blackstone Partners Asia III fund despite the ‘periodic reassertion of Covid-19’ that Jonathan Gray, president and chief operating officer at Blackstone, acknowledged in its second-quarter earnings call as an obstacle for both growth and market stability in Asia.
"Combined with our BREP funds in Europe and Asia, we will have $50bn of opportunistic real estate capital to deploy globally, only 12% of which is invested today. This is a very advantageous position given the current environment,” Jonathan Gray, Blackstone President and COO.
GoldenTree announces oversubscribed distressed fund IV. (FS)
GoldenTree Asset Management, a global asset management firm with over $47bn in assets under management, today announced the closing of its Distressed Fund IV.
Distressed Fund IV reached its hard cap with commitments of $3bn and was oversubscribed. The Fund’s global investor base is complemented by GoldenTree partner, employee and firm commitments of over $100m alongside the Fund’s investors. Fund IV seeks superior risk-adjusted returns by investing in distressed, stressed and special situation assets. The Fund’s early investments are currently delivering a net Internal Rate of Return of over 30%.
ESR, LOGOS reach $250m first close of co-branded logistics vehicle. (FS)
ESR Group and its logistics subsidiary LOGOS have held an anchor close of the Hong Kong-based real asset manager’s new co-branded Pan Asia Core+ Venture, garnering $250m in equity commitments.
The initial close was raised from German pension fund Nordrheinische Ärzteversorgung and a large US State pension fund, ESR said in a statement.
PACV is the first open-ended pan-Asian strategy focused on stabilized assets, targeting to enhance returns for investors with some exposure to value-add/develop-to-core strategies across the Asia-Pacific.
EMEA
SATS, an Asia's provider of food solutions and gateway services, agreed to acquire Worldwide Flight Services, an air cargo logistics provider and providers of ground handling and technical services, from Cerberus Capital, a private equity firm, for for €2.25bn ($2.16bn).
“This is a transformational opportunity for SATS and our proposed acquisition of WFS will create a global leader that can become the go-to provider of mission critical aviation services. From our hub in Singapore, and in our newly combined markets, SATS and WFS will be at the heart of global trade flows, operating in the world’s busiest airports and supporting the biggest companies," Kerry Mok, SATS President and CEO.
Worldwide Flight Services is advised by Goldman Sachs, Linklaters and Deloitte. SATS is advised by Bank of America, DBS Bank, PwC, Accura (led by Kaare Stolt), Allen & Gledhill, Latham & Watkins (led by Sharon Lau) and FGS Global (led by Richard Barton and Ben Richardson).
Höegh LNG, a provider of floating energy solutions and operates floating liquefied natural gas import terminals, completed the acquisition of Höegh LNG Partners, a firm that owns and operates floating storage and regasification units, for $168m.
The merger is expected to close in the second half of 2022, and is subject to approval of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by a majority of the outstanding common units of the Partnership and certain regulatory filings and customary closing conditions. Höegh LNG owns 45.7% of the common units and has entered into a support agreement with the partnership committing to vote its common units in favor of the merger.
Chalhoub Group, a distributor and retailer of luxury brands and provider of marketing services, agreed to acquire a majority stake in Threads Styling, a digital luxury retailer and personal shopping platform. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“We are excited to partner with Chalhoub Group to further strengthen our proposition within the GCC. We have such a loyal customer base in the region and with Chalhoub Group’s presence in the market we have a unique opportunity to enhance our capabilities and continue Threads Styling’s journey alongside a strategic partner," Sophie Hill, Threads Styling Founder and CEO.
Chalhoub Group is advised by Rothschild & Co and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Threads Styling is advised by Broadgate Advisers and Latham & Watkins.
GoTo, business communication and IT support and management platform, completed the acquisition of Miradore, a cloud-based device management provider, from Standout Capital, a Nordic technology investor. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Miradore’s scalable, SMB-focused solutions are a natural fit for GoTo and our customers, and we’re extremely excited to be working together. Not only does it provide a leading platform for mobile and MacOS device management, Miradore also brings a talented team of employees, more than 2.7k customers and MSP distributors, and over 89k user accounts across 180 countries. All of this will further bolster GoTo’s internal talent and market potential within the fast-growing MDM market, which is expected to surpass $28bn by 2027," Mike Kohlsdorf, GoTo CEO.
Carpenter, an integrated polyurethane foams producer, and Recticel, an industrial group, have asked the CMA to consider a "fast-track" remedy to address concerns that their merger could lead to manufacturers and shoppers paying more for items like mattresses and kitchen sponges.
Carpenter agreed to buy the engineered foams business line of Recticel for $740m on December 7, 2021. The firms supply engineered foam products used to make household goods such as mattresses, upholstery and kitchen sponges from plants in the UK.
The CMA has now accepted the businesses' request and found that the deal could reduce competition. This means that, without remedies to restore this loss of competition, the deal could damage the competitiveness of UK-based manufacturers that rely on foams to make their products, as well as leading to less choice and a worse deal for consumers.
Recticel is advised by JP Morgan and Allen & Overy.
Ashtead Technology, an international subsea rental equipment and solutions specialist, completed the acquisition of WeSubsea, a subsea dredging specialist, supplying market-leading dredges and subsea tools. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"I am delighted that we have now completed what is the Group's sixth acquisition in the past five years. We have acquired an outstanding business and reinforced our commitment to broadening our capability and service offering through M&A to support customers' operations globally," Allan Pirie, Ashtead Technology CEO.
Aleksander Chachava, LETA Capital managing partner, agreed to acquire MY.GAMES, a provider of a mobile application designed to make tennis-related activities simple, digital, and playful, from VK, a social network, for $642m.
VK will continue to develop its own gaming services under the VK Play brand. VK Play is the largest Russian game platform, launched in April 2022. It brings together all the popular game-related entertainment into one place and includes a catalog of games, cloud gaming, VK Play Live streaming platform, tournament platform and news media.
Sonoco, a diversified global packaging company, agreed to acquire Skjern Paper, a manufacturer of paper based in Skjern, Denmark, for $88m.
"This acquisition builds on Sonoco's previously articulated strategy to invest in our core businesses while capitalizing on the growing market for sustainable paper and packaging products in Europe. Skjern has a strong reputation for high quality output from efficient and low emission operations, which aligns well with Sonoco's overall commitment to a circular economy and the reduction of greenhouse gases. With this acquisition, Sonoco is better positioned to be a trusted provider to new and existing customers and to further accelerate organic growth in Europe. We warmly welcome the Skjern team to the Sonoco family," Howard Coker, Sonoco President and CEO.
Shell, a British multinational oil and gas company, agreed to acquire Daystar Power, a provider of solar power and battery solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“It was important to find someone with a strong balance sheet to back us. We are happy because Shell has a lot of experience in energy and they have a long history in Africa and will be the right owners to take this business forward,” Jasper Graf von Hardenberg, Daystar CEO.
Permira and TA Associates are bidding for Rothschild-backed A2Mac1. (FS)
Private equity firms Permira and TA Associates are among the bidders for automotive software company A2Mac1.
Astorg, Eurazeo, and Hg are also interested in the digital technology firm backed by Rothschild's private equity arm. Any potential deal for the firm would be valued at the higher end of a range of $1bn to $1.5bn.
Founded in the 1990s, A2Mac1 develops technology that decodes data for automotive benchmarking used by original equipment manufacturers and suppliers. The company, headquartered in France, has more than 600 employees in 14 countries, including the US.
Entertainment firm Pophouse buys most of Avicii’s back catalog.
Stockholm-based Pophouse Entertainment Group has acquired a 75% stake in Avicii’s music catalog, with the family and estate of the late DJ retaining ownership of the remaining portion.
Avicii, a Swedish musician by the real name Tim Bergling, rose to the top of his profession about 10 years ago with electronic dance hits such as “Levels” and “Wake Me Up.” Bergling committed suicide while on holiday in Oman in 2018, Bloomberg reported.
“Through this collaboration, his fanbase will be taken care of in a more engaging manner than our time previously allowed, which was one of the important motives underpinning this deal,” Avicii father.
UK car dealer Pendragon revs up review after buyout proposal from top investor.
"The board continually evaluates all options to maximize shareholder value, although this review will be accelerated following the announcement made by the company on 26 September 2022 regarding a possible cash offer from Hedin Mobility Group," Evans Halshaw and Stratstone owner.
Danny McCarthy and Jens Welter from Credit Suisse exit the firm. (People)
Credit Suisse Group's global head of credit products, Danny McCarthy, and co-head of global banking, Jens Welter, are departing the firm ahead of a planned restructuring that will attempt to restore the bank to profitability and curb risk.
After a 27-year career at the Swiss company, Welter will become the new co-head of European investment banking at Citigroup, alongside Ignacio Gutierrez-Orrantia, according to a memo from the New York-based bank Tuesday. McCarthy has left Zurich-based Credit Suisse to pursue other opportunities, Bloomberg reported.
“Jens is an exceptional banker, a great leader, and has deep client relationships. A lot of his experience has come from doing consumer-facing transactions, which is entirely in line with what we’re trying to accomplish as it relates to the convergence across the health-care and consumer sectors," Chuck Adams, Citigroup head of health-care, consumer, and retail investment banking.
Evolution Data Centres, a disruptive data centre developer, and Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm, agreed to form a joint venture for the development of sustainable hyper-scale data centres in the fast-growing cloud markets within Southeast Asia. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“I am delighted to announce our new partnership with Warburg Pincus. It is great to have the backing of such a credible investor who shares our passion for building and operating hyper-scale, sustainable data centres across multiple high-growth markets in Southeast Asia. This funding will help us realise our vision of being the leading sustainable data centre provider in the region," Darren Webb, EDC Co-Founder & CEO.
EDC is advised by Conscient.
AIA, a Hong Kong-based American multinational insurance and finance corporation, agreed to acquire MediCard Philippines, a health maintenance organisations. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“MediCard is a leading health maintenance organisation in the Philippines with an established track record of high-quality services and strong brand recognition among customers and providers. With a focus on comprehensive, affordable and quality healthcare, MediCard brings new customer segments, healthcare assets and capabilities that will help accelerate AIA’s Integrated Health Strategy in the Philippines," Leo Grepin, AIA Regional Chief Executive and Group Chief Strategy Officer.
AIA group is advised by UBS.
IGIS Asia Investment Management, a Korea’s real estate asset manager and global real estate company, and QuadReal Property Group, a global real estate investment, operating and development company, formed a joint venture. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Global logistics market fundamentals remain compelling, driven by supply chain reconfiguration requirements and the growth of omni-channel retail. In South Korea we continue to witness the interrelation between e-commerce led occupational demand and a shortage of Grade-A space in proximity to dominant urban centres, which is forecast to underpin rental and capital growth,” Peter Kim, QuadReal Asia Managing Director.
Sun Life eyes insurance deal with Hong Kong-based Dah Sing.
Canadian insurers Sun Life Financial and Manulife Financial are among the companies considering bids for an insurance partnership with Hong Kong-based banking group Dah Sing Financial Holdings.
Other firms weighing an offer include closely-held FTLife Insurance. The insurer is owned by an arm of Hong Kong’s New World Development, the billionaire Cheng family’s conglomerate, Bloomberg reported.
Dah Sing is working with an adviser to pursue a so-called bancassurance partnership after it terminated an agreement with Tahoe Life Insurance. A deal, which could be worth a few hundred million dollars, could draw interest from other insurers seeking to expand in the territory.
PE firm MBK Partners considers joining JIC’s Toshiba bid. (FS)
MBK Partners is considering joining a consortium led by state-backed investment fund Japan Investment seeking to buy Toshiba.
The North Asia-focused private equity firm has held initial discussions to explore backing JIC’s bid. JIC is also in talks to team up with Bain Capital, Bloomberg reported.
Singapore’s Sun Venture weighs buyout of PS Cafe parent. (FS)
Sun Venture, a Singapore-based investment firm, is considering a deal for the remaining shares it doesn’t own in the parent of restaurant chain PS Cafe.
The potential transaction values the closely-held PSGourmet at about $207m. Sun Venture owns a majority stake in the firm and is in talks with banks to secure financing for a buyout, Bloomberg reported.
Deliberations are ongoing, and there is no guarantee that Sun Venture, which is backed by Taiwanese and Singaporean investors, will proceed with the deal.
Oman seeks to deepen capital markets with eye on Gulf IPO boom.
Oman appointed advisers to its stock exchange as part of ongoing efforts to attract more listings, the latest attempt by the Gulf nation to deepen its capital markets amid a regional boom in new share sales.
The Muscat Stock Exchange is teaming up with United Arab Emirates-based Al Ramz Corporation Investment and Development and Oman-based Ubhar Capital SAOC to formulate capital market opportunities, Bloomberg reported.
“MSX aims to promote public offerings, diversify capital markets solutions and encourage investment,” the bourse said in a statement. It’s looking to upgrade its market status “and prompt the return of capital markets to the center stage of economic development in the Sultanate.”
Saudi oil Driller’s IPO covered within hours in bearish market.
Arabian Drilling, a Saudi Arabian oilfield-services company partly owned by Schlumberger, took only hours to garner enough investor orders to fully cover an initial public offering that could raise as much as $710m.
Books are covered across the price range. Arabian Drilling set the range at $24 to $26.6 per share, valuing the company at as much as $2.37bn, Bloomberg reported.
Investors snapping up all shares on offer shows demand for Saudi IPOs remains strong even after its stocks became the first in the Gulf to fall into a bear market this week, dragged lower by the recent plunge in oil prices.
Oman oil driller Abraj Energy hires banks for $500m IPO.
The drilling unit of Oman energy firm OQ SAOC picked EFG Hermes, National Bank of Oman, and Ahli Bank of Oman to advise on its planned initial public offering.
Abraj Energy Services SAOC is seeking the necessary regulatory approvals for the share sale, the company said, Bloomberg reported.
The offering could raise as much as $500m and may happen in the first quarter of 2023 though the timing might change, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.
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