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In northwestern Syria, families make a living scouring through dangerous dumps for treasures they can sell. The job could make them sick — or even kill them — but in a country that's suffering a major economic crisis, it's often the only choice they have. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account?

Persons: it's Organizations: Business Locations: Syria

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, 7 aid workers killed in Gaza strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A Palestinian-American doctor walked out of a meeting with US President Joe Biden before it was over Tuesday evening, underscoring the high tensions, anger and concern from Arab, Palestinian and Muslim-American communities around the Israel-Hamas war. “I said it was disappointing I’m the only Palestinian here, and out of respect for my community, I’m going to leave,” Ahmad said he told the president. Before he left, he handed Biden a letter from an 8-year-old orphaned girl, Hadeel, who lives in Rafah. “I beg you, President Biden, stop them from entering Rafah,” a translation of the letter shared with CNN says. Biden told him he understood that he needed to leave, Ahmad said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Thaer Ahmad, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, ” Biden, “, ” Ahmad, Khan Younis, Al Nasser, Biden, Hadeel, Israel's, Ahmad Organizations: CNN, White Locations: Israel, Chicago, Gaza, Rafah, “

On Monday, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, energy minister and the key climate negotiator, for the kingdom, was a no-show at the Saudi Green Initiative. "The climate finance that they have pledged at this COP28 is simply not enough," said Pakistani activist Zaigham Abbas, whose country was devastated last year by widespread flooding. Elsewhere, France and Japan said they would support a move by the African Development Bank to leverage IMF Special Drawing Rights for climate and development. This year also features the biggest-ever representation of business at the annual U.N. summit, amid hopes for more private investment toward climate causes. "The scale of the climate crisis demands urgent and game-changing solutions from every industry," COP28 President Ahmed Al-Jaber said.

Persons: COP28, Johanna Geron, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Nicholas Stern, Mia Mottley, Antonio Guterres, Zaigham Abbas, Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Al, Jaber, Simon Jessop, Maha El, Al Sayegh, Alexander Cornwell, Elizabeth Piper, David Stanway, Katy Daigle Organizations: of, European Union, REUTERS, Companies, Saudi, United, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Green Initiative, Crown, Grantham Research, Asian Peoples ' Movement, Development, African Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, BlackRock, HSBC, Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Brussels, Belgium, Companies UAE, DUBAI, COP28, United Arab, Saudi Arabia, Sharm el, Sheikh, Egypt, Paris, China, Grantham, Barbados, France, Japan, Copenhagen, Abu

President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attends the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose country is hosting the COP28 climate summit, announced on Friday the establishment of a $30 billion climate fund that aims to attract $250 billion of investment by the end of the decade. Dubbed ALTÉRRA, the fund will allocate $25 billion towards climate strategies and $5 billion specifically to incentivise investment flows into the Global South, according to a statement by the COP28 Presidency. ALTÉRRA has also committed to invest $2 billion into its second Brookfield Global Transition Fund. ALTÉRRA was established by Lunate, a newly set up Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment manager with over $50 billion in assets.

Persons: United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Amr Alfiky, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ALTÉRRA, BlackRock, Abu, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, William James, Nadine Awadalla, Al Sayegh, Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Susan Fenton, Sharon Singleton, Miral Organizations: United, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, BlackRock, TPG, Brookfield Asset Management, Transition, Lunate, Chimera Investment, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United Arab Emirates, Dubai, United Arab, COP28, Brookfield, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The sources said the UAE would provide the bulk of the money and private equity firm TPG and infrastructure investor Brookfield would also be involved. Two sources said the money would be overseen by UAE-backed investor Lunate Capital. A view of Dubai's Expo City during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) Climate Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky Acquire Licensing RightsA second source said BlackRock, TPG and Brookfield would allocate money currently housed in other funds to the UAE fund and that talks over the fund began after the summer and carried on through October. Additional reporting by Andres Gonzales, Anousha Sakoui and Elisa Martinuzzi in London Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lunate, Amr Alfiky, Andres Gonzales, Anousha Sakoui, Elisa Martinuzzi, Susan Fenton Organizations: Lunate, BlackRock, TPG, Brookfield, United, Reuters, Lunate Capital, Financial Times, Dubai's, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, UAE, COP28, Thomson Locations: UAE, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, United Arab, BlackRock, Brookfield, London

☆ PetroChina to replace Exxon as lead contractor for Iraq's West Qurna 1 oilfield, oil executive says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Aref Mohammed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We studied the settlement agreement and the oil ministry with the Basra Oil Company believe that the best option is for Petrochina to become the lead contractor of West Qurna 1," Hassan Mohammed, deputy Basra Oil Co. manager in charge of oilfields and licensing rounds affairs, told Reuters. Exxon and PetroChina were not immediately available for comment, but two oil managers at the West Qurna 1 field confirmed the details of the settlement and sale agreement signed with Exxon. Basra Oil Company director Khalid Hamza told Reuters in an interview in 2021 that Exxon was seeking to sell the share for $350 million. West Qurna 1, in southern Iraq, is one of the world’s largest oilfields with recoverable reserves estimated at more than 20 billion barrels. Following its exit from West Qurna 1, Exxon will have no presence in Iraq's energy sectory, said BOC officials.

Persons: Hassan Mohammed, PetroChina, Mohammed, Pertamina, Khalid Hamza, Aref Mohammed, Hadeel Al, Ahmed Rasheed, Kirsten Donovan, Giles Elgood Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corp, Basra Oil Company, Basra Oil Co, Reuters, Exxon, Exxon Mobil Corp's, BOC, Exxon Mobil’s, Thomson Locations: BASRA, Iraq, Iraqi, Basra, West, Indonesia’s, Iraq’s, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Dubai

Net profit fell to $32.6 billion for the quarter to Sept. 30, above the $31.8 billion expected by 12 analysts in a company-provided forecast. The Saudi oil producer said lower oil prices and volumes were partially offset by a reduction in production royalties, which are linked to Brent prices. Chevron (CVX.N) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) last month reported sharp year-on-year falls in third-quarter profit as energy prices cooled. Saudi Aramco logo and stock graph are seen through a magnifier displayed in this illustration taken September 4, 2022. Back in 2021, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said that Saudi Aramco would sell more shares, with the proceeds going to bolster the PIF, the Vision 2030's main funding source.

Persons: Brent, Aramco's, Dado Ruvic, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Yousef Saba, Miral Fahmy, Jason Neely, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: DUBAI, Saudi Aramco, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Reuters Graphics, OPEC, Aramco, REUTERS, Investment Fund, Energy, RBC, Riyadh bourse, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Reuters Graphics Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Aramco, Riyadh

Saudi Aramco logo and stock graph are seen through a magnifier displayed in this illustration taken September 4, 2022. Net profit fell to $32.6 billion for the quarter to Sept. 30 from $42.4 billion a year earlier. The Saudi oil producer said lower oil prices and volumes were partially offset by a reduction in production royalties. Chevron (CVX.N) and Exxon Mobil <XOM.N> last month posted sharp year-on-year falls in third-quarter profit as energy prices cooled. Aramco's revenue fell to $113.09 billion in the quarter from $144.99 billion a year earlier.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Yousef Saba, Miral Fahmy, Jason Neely Organizations: Saudi Aramco, REUTERS, DUBAI, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, OPEC, Aramco, Energy, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia

Global fundraising for alternative investments, which include private equity, dropped 21% to $972 billion in the year to Nov. 1 from the same period a year earlier, according to research firm Preqin. As their money becomes more vital, Gulf funds are encouraging private equity firms to invest locally in plans for a post-oil future. "Building a partnership based on reciprocity is nowadays necessary to succeed in the Gulf," said Francois Aissa-Touazi, co-global head of investor relations at private equity fund Ardian. Private equity funds are getting the message. In turn private equity funds can use these pools of capital to fund large private debt or equity transactions, according to Tikehau Capital's Deputy CEO, Frédéric Giovansili.

Persons: Amr Alfiky, Francois Aissa, Ardian, Touazi, Brookfield, Bruce Flatt, thronged, Flatt, Mohammed Al Jadaan, Anthony Diamandakis, Rishi Kapoor, Investcorp, Tikehau, Frédéric Organizations: United, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, Global, Investment Initiative, Public Investment Fund, Brookfield, Tikehau, CVC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Rights RIYADH, LONDON, Davos, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Dubai, Brookfield, Bahrain

☆ STC reportedly drops plan to up stake in Spain's Telefonica to 9.9%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company is displayed atop the company's building in Madrid, Spain, September 6, 2023. Telefonica and STC declined to comment on the report. In September, Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator amassed a 9.9% stake worth 2.1 billion euros ($2.23 billion) in a move to become Telefonica's top shareholder, though it added it did not intend to acquire control or a majority stake. STC's holding consists of 4.9% of Telefonica's shares and financial instruments that give it another 5% in so-called economic exposure to the company. As Telefonica is considered a defence service provider, the Spanish defence ministry has a say in acquisitions and holdings between 5% and 10% unless the buyer commits not to request a seat on the board.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, David Latona, Belen Carreno, Jesus Aguado, Hadeel Al, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, STC, Telefonica, El Economista, Saudi, Inti Landauro, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Saudi, Spanish, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Riyadh

A Saudi man's reflection is seen in mirror glass at the Future Investment Initiative conference, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2022. Geopolitical tensions heightened by the Middle East conflict pose the biggest threat to the world economy, World Bank President Ajay Banga said. The conflict could upset the stability of the Middle East just as regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia pours hundreds of billions of dollars into a vast economic transformation plan. Saudi Arabia is putting U.S.-backed plans to normalise ties with Israel on ice, two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking said, signalling a rapid rethinking of its foreign policy priorities as war rages between Israel and Hamas. The last year has seen Saudi Arabia spend billions on companies, from sports to gaming to aviation.

Persons: Ahmed Yosri, Ajay Banga, Banga, Laurence Fink, Fink, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, JPMorgan's, Jamie Dimon, Jane Fraser, Ray Dalio, Dalio, Noel Quinn, Bill Winters, Barack Obama, Yasser al, Salomon, Hess, Stephen Schwarzman, Schwarzman, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden's, Richard Attias, Rosario, Amanda Cooper, Alun John, Michael Georgy, Anousha, John O'Donnell, Susan Fenton Organizations: Future Investment Initiative, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Arabia's, Hamas, BlackRock, Bridgewater Associates, HSBC, Former U.S, U.S, Saudi Telecom Corp, Telefonica, Investment Fund, Chevron, Blackstone Group, Investment Initiative, Saudi, FII, Reuters, Jorgelina, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights RIYADH, Israel, Davos, Swiss, Gaza, Europe, Asia, London

☆ Wall Street leaders appear at Saudi conference amid conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Saudi man's reflection is seen in mirror glass at the Future Investment Initiative conference, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/ Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRIYADH/LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Wall Street's top financiers showed up in force at an annual financial conference in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday despite broad concerns over travel in the Middle East in the wake of an escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas militants. Goldman Sachs' (GS.N) David Solomon, JPMorgan's (JPM.N) Jamie Dimon and Citi's (C.N) Jane Fraser were among a group of high-profile bankers and asset managers speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. The last year has seen Saudi Arabia spend billions on companies, from sports to gaming to aviation. This year, Saudi Telecom Corp took a near 10% stake in Spain's Telefonica.

Persons: Ahmed Yosri, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, JPMorgan's, Jamie Dimon, Jane Fraser, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Anousha Sakoui, Amanda Cooper Organizations: Future Investment Initiative, REUTERS, Rights, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Saudi Arabia's, Hamas, Saudi Telecom Corp, Spain's Telefonica, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights RIYADH, LONDON, Israel, Davos, Swiss, Spain's

☆ Ride-hailing app Yango to set up global office in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Yango, the ride-hailing app owned by Russian tech group Yandex NV <YNDX.O), is establishing a global operational office in Dubai, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. Yango said the office will be open in the fourth quarter of this year and will be based in Dubai Internet City, part of Dubai business park operator TECOM Group. "The strategic move to establish Yango’s global operational office represents a significant milestone to oversee operations of its myriad services," the company said in a statement. These include Yango ride-hailing and last-mile delivery solution provider Yango Delivery, the company added. Reporting by Hadeel Al SayeghOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yango, Hadeel Al Organizations: Russian, TECOM, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, City

☆ Free meals for Israeli soldiers divide McDonald's franchises over Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Pesha Magid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, Oct 17 (Reuters) - McDonald's (MCD.N) franchises in some Muslim countries disavowed a move by the company's Israeli restaurants to give free meals to the Israeli military, highlighting the polarized regional politics that global corporations navigate during war. McDonald's Israel said on its social media accounts last week that it has given thousands of free meals to Israel Defense Forces personnel. McDonald's Israel is owned by Alonyal Ltd, according to a company statement. We affirm that it was an individual decision on their part," McDonald's franchise in Saudi Arabia said in a statement. "Neither global McDonald's nor us nor any other country had a role or relationship with that decision, neither directly nor indirectly."

Persons: McDonald's Israel, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Rod Nickel Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Alonyal Ltd, United Arab, McDonald's Corp, U.S ., Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Gaza, McDonald's Israel, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Israel

Iran, which backs Hamas, refers to regional countries and forces opposed to Israel and the United States as a "resistance front." Diplomatic efforts have concentrated on getting aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the sole route out that is not controlled by Israel. While tens of thousands have fled south, the United Nations says there is no way to move so many people without causing a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the United Nations, a million Gazans have already been driven from their homes. The Kremlin readout of the call did not include any mention of the ceasefire Russia was trying to achieve by putting forward a resolution in the United Nations Security Council.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Israel Russia's Putin, Israel's Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, gunning, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amirabdollahian, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Israel, Netanyahu, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Khaled Meshaal, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Putin, Abu Dahoud, Nidal al, Bassam Massoud, Nuha Sharaf, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Diplomats, Gaza, U.S, Tel Aviv . Iranian, Zionist, Israel, National Security, Hezbollah, Nations, United Nations, Pentagon, United Nations Security Council, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, WASHINGTON, Israel, Tel Aviv, Iran, Hamas, Israel's, Jerusalem, United States, Lebanon, Tehran, Egypt, Cairo, Rafah, Washington's, Syria, Lebanese, Russian, Russia, Dubai, Razek, Washington

Last February, the State Department said that Hamas raises funds in other Gulf countries and gets donations from Palestinians, other expatriates and its own charities. Blockchain researchers TRM Labs said this week in a research note that crypto fundraising has previously increased following rounds of violence involving Hamas. However, since last weekend's violence, prominent Hamas-linked support groups had moved just a few thousands dollars through crypto, TRM noted. Between Dec. 2021 and April this year, Israel seized almost 190 crypto accounts it said were linked to Hamas. SHIPS AND SHELLSWhether through crypto or other means, Hamas' allies have found ways to get money to Gaza.

Persons: Matthew Levitt, Levitt, Tom Robinson, TRM, Israel, they've, Stephen Reimer, Saeed Azhar, Sinead Cruise, Tom Wilson, Tommy Wilkes, Andrew Mills, John O'Donnell, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: LONDON, Hamas, Barclays, Islamic Resistance Movement, State Department, Reuters, TRM Labs, The U.S . State Department, U.S . Treasury, UN, Qatari, Royal United Services Institute, Parisa, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Iran, Qatar, United States, Britain, The, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Tehran, Islamic Republic, New York, London, Doha, Dubai

☆ Analysis-Hamas' Cash-To-Crypto Global Finance Maze in Israel's Sights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

In the past, Hamas has said financial restrictions placed on its donors were an attempt to neutralise legitimate resistance against Israel. However, since last weekend's violence, prominent Hamas-linked support groups had moved just a few thousands dollars through crypto, TRM noted. Between Dec. 2021 and April this year, Israel seized almost 190 crypto accounts it said were linked to Hamas. SHIPS AND SHELLSWhether through crypto or other means, Hamas' allies have found ways to get money to Gaza. "Qatari aid to the Gaza Strip is fully coordinated with Israel, the UN and the U.S.," the Qatari government official said.

Persons: Al Sayegh, John O'Donnell, Elizabeth Howcroft, Matthew Levitt, Levitt, Tom Robinson, TRM, Israel, they've, Stephen Reimer, Saeed Azhar, Sinead Cruise, Tom Wilson, Tommy Wilkes, Andrew Mills, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON, Reuters, Hamas, Barclays, Islamic Resistance Movement, State Department, TRM Labs, The U.S . State Department, U.S . Treasury, UN, Qatari, Royal United Services Institute, Parisa Locations: DUBAI, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Iran, Qatar, United States, Britain, The, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Tehran, Islamic Republic, New York, London, Doha, Dubai

But on Saturday, for the first time in seven years, these two rivals will play each other on Indian soil in the opening stages of Cricket World Cup, which India is hosting. As Pakistan’s cricket team arrived in India’s southern city of Hyderabad last month, they were met with rapturous applause from Indians waiting at the airport for the star players. Even the Pakistan cricket team were only able to obtain visas at the eleventh hour, after complaints of a delay in the process which the Pakistan Cricket Board said disrupted the team’s preparation for the event. Chaudhry Abdul Jalil, popularly known as Chacha Cricket, waves after crossing the India-Pakistan border in Wagah on March 29, 2011, on the eve of the India-Pakistan Cricket World Cup semi-final match. “The World Cup is the one with the history and the legacy, it’s the one you want to win,” Shah said.

Persons: Farees Shah, ”, Vijay Hazare, Pakistan's Amir Eliah, Babar Azam, Azam, Abdul Jalil, Chaudhry Abdul Jalil, Narinder Nanu, “, ” Hadeel Obaid, Asif Hassan, Punit Paranjpe, Mukerji, Imran Khan, “ Ajay Jadeja, Waqar Younis, Venkatesh Prasad, Amir Sohail, Divya Bakhshi Bhatnagar, It’s, Narendra Modi, Money Sharma, Modi, Modi –, Shah, ” Shah Organizations: Islamabad CNN —, Indian, Pakistan cricket, Cricket, Keystone, Hulton, Sri, Pakistan Cricket Board, CNN, India’s Sports Ministry, Ministry, Pakistan Cricket, Getty, Gaddafi, Pakistan, Pakistan …, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Western, India, Pakistani, team, – Locations: Delhi, Islamabad, Pakistan, Republic of India, Lahore, Amritsar, Hindu, India, New Delhi, India’s, Hyderabad, Sri Lanka, Wagah, AFP, Australia, Chennai, Gurgaon, Kashmir, UAE, Ahmedabad, India's, Gujarat, China

Temasek said it does not comment on market speculation, while Mubadala declined to comment. The Singapore state investment firm's talks with Mubadala, which manages $276 billion globally, are at an early stage, said the first of the sources. And Mubadala is "bullish on India (and) wants to double down on investments," the source added. Temasek intends to retain its majority stake in Manipal by continuing to be the largest and majority shareholder with a stake of more than 50%, said the third source. India's private healthcare space, worth about $48 billion, is forecast by PwC to grow 12% to 14% a year.

Persons: サマリー, Mubadala, Temasek, Mukesh, Tata Power's, Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Sriram, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Aditya Kalra, Clarence Fernandez 私たち Organizations: Temasek, Manipal, fund's, Singapore's Temasek, Mubadala, Tata, Economic Times, Cleveland Clinic Locations: Manipal, Middle, MUMBAI, DUBAI, SINGAPORE, India's Manipal, Abu Dhabi, India, Temasek, Singapore, Bengaluru, Mubadala, Asia, U.S

☆ Supermarket franchisee Spinneys Dubai plans IPO in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman looks at products as she buys food supplies at a supermarket, as Muslims prepare for the fasting month of Ramadan in Dubai July 8, 2013. Albwardy Investment, the franchise's 100% owner, hired Rothschild & Co to advise on the planned IPO, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the plans are not public. The potential IPO of Spinneys Dubai, planned on the Dubai Financial Market, would add to the small but growing regional food retail sector. Spinneys Dubai operates more than 65 stores across the UAE, its website says. Albwardy, which says it has annual turnover above $1 billion, also owns the franchise rights to upmarket British supermarket chain Waitrose.

Persons: El, Rothschild, Moelis, Yousef Saba, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Spinneys, United Arab, Albwardy Investment, Co, Dubai Financial, Americana, North, KFC, Lulu, Reuters, UAE, Spinneys Dubai, Waitrose, Nestle UAE, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Spinneys Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Albwardy, East, North Africa, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Middle East, Africa

Reliance Retail is India's largest retailer and is led by Asia's richest person Mukesh Ambani. Of that, QIA last month announced a $1 billion investment and KKR & Co (KKR.N) this week $250 million. Reliance sold a 10.09% stake in its retail unit in 2020, valuing it at 4.68 trillion rupees ($56.4 billion). When ADIA invested in Reliance Retail in 2020, it said it was part of its strategy of targeting market leading businesses in Asia linked to the region's consumption-driven growth. Reliance Retail reported a consolidated net profit of 91.81 billion rupees ($1.11 billion) for the financial year that ended in March 2023, on revenue of 2.6 trillion rupees.

Persons: Singapore's GIC, Mukesh Ambani, QIA, ADIA, PIF, Marks, Spencer, Ambani, Sriram, Aditya Kalra, Yantoultra Ngui, Alexander Smith Organizations: Reliance, Asia's, Reuters, KKR, Co, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Reliance Industries, Reliance Retail, Unilever, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, DELHI, DUBAI, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, GIC, Asia

☆ Abu Dhabi's Mubadala commits $1 billion to Blue Owl Capital's credit platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Company has committed $1 billion to U.S.-based Blue Owl Capital's credit platform under a strategic partnership announced by the two companies on Monday. The investment will initially focus on providing financing for technology companies, Mubadala and Blue Owl said in a statement. Blue Owl is an alternative investment manager with $150 billion in assets under management. Private credit funds are increasingly competing with banks, including for financing large company buyouts. I would advise that for the next maybe one year, the credit space would be an interesting space to deploy some investment," al-Mahmoud said at the time.

Persons: Fabrizio Bocciardi, QIA, Mansoor Ebrahim Al, Mahmoud, al, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Susan Fenton Organizations: Mubadala Investment Company, Asia Pacific, Qatar Investment Authority, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, North America, Europe, Asia

As Telefonica's rivals slashed prices to attract internet users, the Spanish company also borrowed to invest in new mobile and internet networks. But the secrecy with which STC (7010.SE) built its stake did catch some observers off guard, the person said. Telefonica said it was informed Tuesday about STC'S investment, after the companies had become more acquainted in recent months. STC sought to keep the stake under wraps until it could buy at least 9.9% of Telefonica, the person said. Middle Eastern investors have been taking stakes in Spanish companies for some time.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Jose Maria Alvarez, Pallete, Alvarez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, UGT, Morgan Stanley, Linklaters, Motaz Al Angari, Al Angari, pare, EFG Hermes, Nadia Calvino, Inti Landauro, Tomas Cobos, Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, John O'Donnell, Anousha, Elisa Martinuzzi, David Gregorio, Ros Russell Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, STC Group, STC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Foresight, Saudi, United Arab, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights DUBAI, MADRID, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Riyadh, Telefonica, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Latin America, theocracies, United Arab Emirates, Iberdrola, Davos, Gulf, London

He learned Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator, STC Group, aimed to be Telefonica's biggest shareholder, with an interest of 9.9%. The move is a vote of confidence in Telefonica, burdened by billions of dollars in debt while STC gains expertise to modernize Saudi telecoms infrastructure. As Telefonica's rivals slashed prices to attract internet users, the Spanish company also borrowed to invest in new mobile and internet networks. STC sought to keep the stake under wraps until it could buy at least 9.9% of Telefonica, the person said. Middle Eastern investors have been taking stakes in Spanish companies for some time.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Jose Maria Alvarez, Pallete, Alvarez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, UGT, Morgan Stanley, Linklaters, Motaz Al Angari, Al Angari, pare, EFG Hermes, Inti Landauro, Tomas Cobos, Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, John O'Donnell, Anousha, Elisa Martinuzzi, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, STC Group, STC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Foresight, Saudi, United Arab, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights DUBAI, MADRID, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Riyadh, Telefonica, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Latin America, theocracies, United Arab Emirates, Iberdrola, Davos, Gulf, London

☆ Oman's OQ Gas Networks plans Muscat's biggest IPO in almost two decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

OQGN is Oman's exclusive gas transportation system operator, supplying natural gas to the country's power plants, freezones, industrial clusters, LNG complexes and other customers. OQ, directly and indirectly through Oman Energy Trading Company Limited and Oman Oil Services Limited, is offering up to 49% of the shares, the document said. The company plans to pay a semi-annual dividend in cash to investors after the offering. A first dividend of 33 million rials for the first nine months of 2023 is estimated to be paid around January next year, and a second dividend of 11 million rials for the last three months of 2023 will be paid around April, 2024. Reuters first reported the IPO plans for the company last May.

Persons: OQGN, Talal Al Awfi, Al Awfi, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Louise Heavens, Sharon Singleton, Ed Osmond Organizations: OQ Gas Networks, Reuters, Oman Telecommunications, Oman Energy Trading Company Limited, Oman Oil Services, OQ, Abraj Energy Services, Oman Investment Authority, OQ's, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia

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