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☆ Hattan Alsaif: ‘When I fight, I can feel my soul alive,’ says Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking MMA star
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Alsaif is acutely aware of her status as a trailblazer for female MMA fighters in Saudi Arabia and takes such a responsibility seriously. I feel I’m alive when I train, when I fight, in the gym – I can feel my soul alive. “When I breathe after the rounds, when I feel sick, when I feel tired, when I feel courage, when I feel scared, those moments, every part of that, it makes me feel alive. It’s something that means a lot to me.”Alsaif (right) competed in Muay Thai prior to MMA. Sadaa, coach of Saudi Arabia’s Muay Thai national team, has been central to Alsaif’s success, though his influence extends far beyond a sporting sphere.

Persons: Hattan, Saudi Arabia –, – Alsaif, “, ” Alsaif, I’m, “ It’s, Egypt’s Nada Faheem, Alsaif, ”, it’s, Abdullah Al, Feras Sadaa, Sadaa, Claressa Shields, Kelsey De Santis, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Professional Fighters League, wasn’t, Professional, League, Thailand –, Combat Games, Saudi Games, International Federation of Muaythai, Muay Thai, Al, SRJ Sports Investments Company, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Thai, Thailand, East, North Africa, MENA

☆ Lucid CEO says Chinese automakers are still 'years and years behind' Elon Musk's Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChinese EV makers are challenging Tesla — but one of the company's rivals still thinks they're years away from overtaking Elon Musk's firm in one respect. Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson said that despite their success, Chinese automakers are still some distance behind Tesla when it comes to the underlying technology that powers EVs — but warned that they could catch up quickly. Related storiesHowever, Rawlinson warned that Western car makers must not "underestimate" the ability of their Chinese rivals to quickly catch up on core EV technology. After once laughing off Tesla's Chinese rivals, Musk now seems a lot more worried, telling investors that Chinese EVs are likely to "demolish" the competition if trade barriers aren't put in place. The company has slashed prices on its high-end Lucid Air sedan to compete with Tesla, and produced less than 10,000 vehicles last year.

Persons: —, Elon Musk's, Peter Rawlinson, EVs, they're, Tesla, Rawlinson, they've, They're, Warren Buffett Organizations: Service, Elon, Business, Financial Times, Geneva, Tesla, Saudi Public Investment Fund Locations: London, China

☆ Rivian, Lucid and other EV startups scramble to shore up cash and reassure Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article NKLARIVNLCID Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTR1T trucks on the assembly line at the Rivian electric vehicle plant in Normal on April 11, 2022. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Performance of Rivian, Lucid and Nikola stocks over the past year. Rivian reported $7.86 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments to end March, with more than $9 billion in total liquidity. Lucid, for its part, ended the first quarter with approximately $4.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments, with total liquidity of approximately $5.03 billion. Unlike Rivian and Lucid, Nikola is exclusively focused on commercial vehicles rather than ones to retail customers.

Persons: Brian Cassella, Tesla, Itay Michaeli, Rivian, Rivian's, Peter Rawlinson, he's, Rawlinson, " Rawlinson, LSEG, Nikola, Thomas Okray, Okray, Derek Jenkins, David Swanson Organizations: Tribune, Service, Rivian, Lucid Group, Nikola Corp, Wall Street, Citi, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Wall, Lucid, Los Angeles Auto Locations: Normal, Illinois, Georgia, Normal , Illinois, Los Angeles , California, U.S

☆ Saudi Arabia's $100 billion AI and semi-chip fund says it will divest from China if the US asks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi AI firm Alat would divest from China if the US requests it, CEO Amit Midha told Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia has been pouring billions into AI and semiconductor initiatives in an attempt to become a major hub. AdvertisementA new state-backed Saudi Arabian fund centered on semiconductor and AI technology has guaranteed that it would divest from China if Washington requests it. Officials have long portrayed China's access to AI and semiconductor technology as a national security threat. US officials have already had to mandate AI firms to divest from China, such as G42.

Persons: Amit Midha, —, Midha, that's Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Milken Institute Global Conference, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Officials, Silicon, New York Times, United Arab Emirates, Microsoft Locations: Saudi, China, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Beijing, Alat

☆ Lucid posts quarterly revenue beat as luxury EV sedan price cuts boost sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lucid Group reported first-quarter revenue above analysts' estimates on Monday as price cuts helped the company deliver more luxury electric sedans in the first three months of 2024. Revenue for the first quarter was $172.7 million, compared with analysts' estimate of $156.99 million, according to LSEG data. Lucid posted a net loss of $684.76 million, narrower than a $779.5 million loss a year earlier. It ended the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2.17 billion, compared with $1.37 billion in the fourth quarter of last year. The company said it expects capital expenditure of $1.5 billion this year, compared with $910.6 million in 2023.

Persons: Lucid, Elon Musk, Tesla Organizations: Lucid, Air, Revenue, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Locations: Newark , California

☆ BlackRock is opening a Saudi investment firm with initial $5 billion from PIF
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The BlackRock logo is displayed at the company's headquarters in New York City on Nov. 14, 2022. Asset manager BlackRock will launch an investment platform in Riyadh with the help of a $5 billion anchor investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager with $10 trillion in assets under management, will "launch investment strategies across asset classes for the Saudi market, including both public and private markets, managed by a Riyadh-based investment team," a joint press release from the firm and the PIF read. The new platform will be called BlackRock Riyadh Investment Management, or BRIM. BRIM aims to help bring foreign institutional investment into Saudi Arabia as well as develop the Saudi asset management industry, expand local capital markets and investor diversification, and support the development of the kingdom's asset management talent, the release said.

Organizations: BlackRock, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi, BlackRock Riyadh Investment Management Locations: BlackRock, New York City, Riyadh, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia says all NEOM megaprojects will go ahead as planned despite reports of scaling back
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's economy minister rejected recent reports that the kingdom's $1.5 trillion NEOM megaproject, a futuristic desert development on the Red Sea coast, is scaling back some of its plans. "All projects are moving full steam ahead," Faisal Al Ibrahim told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Monday at the World Economic Forum's special meeting in Riyadh. "We set out to do something unprecedented and we're doing something unprecedented, and we will deliver something that's unprecedented." Al Ibrahim stressed that the projects would be delivered according to plan, but with the qualification that decisions were being made for "optimal economic impact." "We see feedback from the market, we see more interest from the investors and we'll always prioritize to where we can optimize for optimal economic impact," he said.

Persons: Faisal Al Ibrahim, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Al Ibrahim, we'll Organizations: Bloomberg, Saudi, NEOM, Public Investment Fund Locations: Saudi, Riyadh

☆ Saudi Arabia is becoming a hot spot for global technology manufacturing with sustainable practices in mind. Here's how.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Sponsor Post | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AI and industry 4.0 technology presents an unprecedented opportunity for manufacturers to transform their operations. Alat has already partnered with several global leaders in advanced manufacturing to work together on these challenges. Alongside advanced technology, another critical element of Alat is the use of clean energy and sustainable practices to become a leader in sustainable manufacturing. Alat will also implement sustainability best practices into every facet of its processes, which integrate the most up-to-date industry 4.0 thinking to enable sustainable manufacturing. Through the combination of advanced technology, best practices, and commitment to sustainability, Alat is reimagining manufacturing, for a better tomorrow.

Persons: Alat Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Alat, SoftBank Group, Saudi, Sustainable Technology, Insider Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, worth more than $60M, hopes to send ‘positive message’ to struggling industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Boasting the largest prize pool in esports history, this year’s inaugural 2024 Esports World Cup (EWC) could prove to be a pivotal moment for the industry. Clubs will be able to choose which games they participate in before the best performing team across the various championships will be crowned the ultimate Esports World Cup champion for the very first time. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, hopes this new competition in Saudi Arabia can be a game changer. “Setting the record for largest esports prize pool is a remarkable achievement, but what I’m most proud of is the positive message this sends to the wider esports and gaming community,” Reichert said in a statement. In 2023, Saudi launched ‘The National Gaming and Esports Strategy’ (NGES) which hopes to make the country the center of the competitive gaming world by 2030.

Persons: Ralf Reichert, ” Reichert, Saudi Arabia –, “, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ” Organizations: CNN, Apex, EA Sports FC, of, League, Riot, New York Times, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Saudi, National Gaming, Saudi’s, New Global Sport Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Saudi Arabia is building the world's first Dragon Ball Z theme park
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Visitors try out the latest version of Dragon Ball Z Kakarot at the 2019 Gamescom gaming trade fair in Cologne, Germany. Saudi Arabia is set to become home to the first-ever Dragon Ball Z theme park — a 5.3 million square foot entertainment venue announced as part of the kingdom's huge Qiddiya project. Five of the rides at the Dragon Ball Z theme park will be "world firsts," according to the release, one of which will be a 230-foot-high roller coaster called Shenron, named after the series' magical dragon. Vision 2030, the name of this project, a brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has also set a target of 150 million tourists visiting the kingdom annually by 2030. Tourism reached a record for the country in 2023 at 106 million, according to its tourism ministry — an increase of 56% from 2019.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, It's Organizations: Toei Animation, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Nintendo, Tourism Locations: Cologne, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Riyadh —, Riyadh, City

☆ Saudi Arabia's massive wealth fund is in talks to acquire national airline Saudia: Report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's behemoth sovereign wealth fund is in talks to buy the kingdom's national airline Saudia, Bloomberg reported over the weekend, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the initial report, the acquisition would see the PIF take over the airline's ownership from the government to increase its efficiency and ability to make profit. Founded in 1945, Saudia has a fleet of 144 aircraft — 93 Airbus planes and 51 made by Boeing — and flies to more than 100 destinations, according to its website. It is not yet known how the airline would be valued. Talks are said to be in early stages, and could be delayed or axed altogether, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: Saudia, Boeing — Organizations: Saudi, Saudia, Bloomberg, Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air, Airbus, Boeing Locations: Saudi Arabia

☆ Steve Mnuchin breaks out the checkbook
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Mnuchin rebornNine months after President Joe Biden was inaugurated and Mnuchin left the Treasury Building, Mnuchin formed a new private equity group, Liberty Strategic Capital. Steven Mnuchin's private equity firm made a $450 million investment in New York Community Bank last week. When Mnuchin left CIT less than two years later, he received a $10.9 million severance package. “It’s a great business and I’m going to put together a group to buy TikTok,” Mnuchin told visibly stunned anchors on CNBC Thursday morning. Mnuchin may be the founder and managing partner of Liberty Strategic Capital, but Saudi Arabia is reportedly covering a big chunk of his firm’s tab.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Steven Mnuchin, Mnuchin, Joe Biden, Jackie ”, Trump, Goldman Sachs, ”, Liberty, Steven Mnuchin's, Spencer Platt, “ It’s, ” Mnuchin, “ You’re, ” Andrew Ross Sorkin, ” interjected, TikTok, “, he’s, Will Lanzoni, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Treasury, Liberty Strategic Capital, Lionsgate, New York Community Bank, Getty, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, CIT Group, CIT, CNBC, CNN, Senate, Liberty Strategic, Crown, New York Times, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Meta, ByteDance . Liberty Strategic Locations: New York, cybersecurity, New, California, China, Montana, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, ByteDance

☆ Saudi oil giant Aramco posts 25% fall in full-year profit
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Dan Murphy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Artur Widak | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesSaudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco reported a 25% decline in profit to $121.3 billion in 2023, down from $161.1 billion in 2022. Changing HandsThe earnings come after the Saudi government transferred an additional 8% of Aramco shares, worth $164 billion, to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). PIF already owned 4% of Aramco, and controls Sanabil, a financial investment firm, which owns 4% of Aramco as well. Aramco said total dividends of $97.8 billion were paid in 2023, up 30% from 2022. watch nowThe PIF's 16% state in Aramco, worth an estimated $328 billion, is set to strengthen its financial position and boost its ability to deploy capital to invest on behalf of the Saudi state.

Persons: Artur Widak, Amin Nasser, Yasir Al Organizations: Aramco, Saudi Arabian Oil Group, World Petroleum Congress, Nurphoto, Getty, Saudi, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Locations: Saudi, Stampede, Calgary, Canada, Aramco

☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund to partner with men's tennis tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will become the official naming partner of the ATP Rankings and will partner with ATP Tour tennis events, including Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing and the Nitto ATP Finals under a multi-year partnership announced Wednesday. "Our strategic partnership with PIF marks a major moment for tennis. It's a shared commitment to propel the future of the sport," ATP CEO Massimo Calvelli said in a press release. A deal to merge the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV tour is still in negotiations and there is no deadline for the talks to end. The PIF launched the LIV tour in 2022, luring away top stars from the PGA Tour, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, with hundreds of millions in signing bonuses.

Persons: Hamad Medjedovic, Arthur Fils of, Massimo Calvelli, LIV, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohamed AlSayyad Organizations: King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, ATP, ATP Tour, PGA Tour, PIF, LIV, PGA, Saudi, Crown, U.S Locations: Serbia, Arthur Fils of France, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing

☆ Saudi Arabia's futuristic megaprojects are so expensive that even its oil riches may not be enough
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Tom Porter | Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is borrowing to help fund an array of ambitious projects including the $500 billion Neom desert megacity, The Wall Street Journal reported. Under its ambitious ruler Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels and become a global hub for technology and innovation. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is providing funding for cornerstone "gigaprojects" estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars apiece. He said Saudi Arabia may need to raise another $270 billion for the Public Investment Fund by 2030. AdvertisementThe International Monetary Fund said in October that the Saudis needed oil to be about $86 a barrel to fund its spending commitments.

Persons: Mohammed bin Salman's, Tim Callen, Brent, Karen Young Organizations: Street Journal, Public Investment Fund, Aramco, Gulf States Institute, Saudi, Bloomberg, Monetary Fund, US Energy Information Administration, Middle East Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Diryah

☆ Saudi Arabia is reportedly borrowing to help fund its megaprojects as oil prices struggle
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Tom Porter | Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi Arabia has started borrowing to fund megaprojects including Neom, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is borrowing to help fund an array of ambitious projects including the $500 billion Neom desert megacity, The Wall Street Journal reported. Under its ambitious ruler Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels and become a global hub for technology and innovation. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is providing funding for cornerstone "gigaprojects" estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars apiece. He said Saudi Arabia may need to raise another $270 billion for the Public Investment Fund by 2030.

Persons: —, Mohammed bin Salman's, Tim Callen, Brent, Karen Young Organizations: Street Journal, Saudi, Service, Public Investment Fund, Aramco, Gulf States Institute, Bloomberg, Monetary Fund, US Energy Information Administration, Middle East Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Diryah

☆ US lawmakers question the loyalties of McKinsey and other big American consulting firms over their work in Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

American consulting shops like McKinsey & Co., BCG, Teneo, and M. Klein & Co. are helping Saudi Arabia diversify its oil-dependent economy through its lucrative Public Investment Fund. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Saudi Arabia, though, has imposed strict rules on what information the American consulting companies can share with the US government, and that's irked some American lawmakers. AdvertisementSo much so that Congress forced the heads of McKinsey, BCG, Teneo, and M. Klein & Co. to testify this week about their failure to comply with subpoenas regarding their firms' work with Saudi Arabia . BCG, Teneo, and M. Klein & Co. did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Bob Sternfels, Rich Lesser, Blumenthal, Michael Klein Organizations: Service, McKinsey & Co, Klein, Co, Public Investment Fund, Business, Saudi, Al, McKinsey, Investigations Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, Saudi

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Cantlay has spent about as much time on the phone as the golf course this week as a PGA Tour board member trying to nail down a deal for a $3 billion investment. It didn't seem to affect his day job at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Torrey Pines winner Matthieu Pavon had the best round at Pebble Beach, closing with four birdies over the last five holes for a 65. He became the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour two weeks ago. In his pro debut, Dunlap opened with a 76 at Pebble Beach.

Persons: — Patrick Cantlay, Cantlay, Thomas Detry, Detry, Matthieu Pavon, Rory McIlroy, LIV, McIlroy, “, ” McIlroy, ” Detry, ” Cantlay, LIV Golf, Rickie Fowler, Rory, ”, ” Fowler, Nick Dunlap, Dunlap Organizations: Tour, Torrey Pines, PGA Tour, Hollywood, NFL, Saudi, Strategic Sports Group, SSG, Public Investment Fund, American Express, U.S, Amateur, PGA Locations: Calif, Spyglass, Belgium, Saudi, Pebble

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The PGA Tour is getting a $3 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group in a deal that would give players access to more than $1.5 billion as equity owners in the new PGA Tour Enterprises. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was holding a conference call with players about the deal that was finalized Tuesday night. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“By making PGA Tour members owners of their league, we strengthen the collective investment of our players in the success of the PGA Tour,” Monahan, who will be CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises, said in the formal announcement. While specific details of the equity ownership program were not announced, the initial grants would be based on career accomplishments, recent achievements and PGA Tour status. The European tour was part of the framework agreement on June 6, and it has a strategic alliance with the PGA Tour.

Persons: LIV Golf, Jay Monahan, ” Monahan, Marc Attanasio, Arthur Blank, Steven Cohen, Wyc Grousbeck, Tom Werner, John Henry, Marc Lasry, Alec Scheiner, ”, Henry, Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, Peter Malnati, Yasir Al, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, LIV, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, PIF, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, ___ Organizations: Strategic Sports Group, Tour Enterprises, PGA Tour, SSG, Associated Press, Washington Post, Public Investment Fund, PGA, SSG —, Tour, Fenway Sports Group, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Falcons, New York Mets, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Browns, RedBird, Fenway Sports, PGA Tour Enterprises, Saudi, Monday, PIF Locations: Calif, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, PIF, Mexico

☆ PGA Tour secures up to $3 billion from U.S. investors as LIV Golf merger hangs in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The PGA Tour logo is seen during the third round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, on June 24, 2017. A U.S. consortium has agreed to invest up to $3 billion into the PGA Tour, the professional golf organization announced on Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal, the investor, Strategic Sports Group, will become a minority owner in PGA Tour enterprises, the for-profit entity of the PGA Tour. "Today marks an important moment for the PGA Tour and fans of golf across the world," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said. "By making PGA Tour members owners of their league, we strengthen the collectives investment of our players in the success of the PGA Tour," Monahan said.

Persons: LIV, PIF, Jay Monahan, " Monahan, Fenway Sports Group's John Henry, Arthur Blank, Steve Cohen, Tom Ricketts, Wyc Grousbeck, John Henry, Monahan, Henry, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Critics, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brook Koepka, John Rahm Organizations: PGA Tour, Strategic Sports Group, Saudi, PGA, Fenway Sports, Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank , New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Boston Celtics, Fenway Sports Group, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi Public Investment, CNBC, Justice Department Locations: Cromwell , Connecticut, U.S, Arthur Blank ,, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Steve Cohen and other sports investors set to pump billions into the PGA Tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A US sports consortium is set to pump billions into the PGA Tour, according to a new report. The PGA Tour didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider before publication. The major investment comes amid an ongoing rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Families of the 9/11 terrorist attacks criticized the PGA Tour for the merger, classifying the decision as a demonstration of "hypocrisy and greed." "We cannot compete with a foreign government with unlimited money," Jay Monahan, the commissioner of PGA Tour, told The Wall Street Journal regarding the merger.

Persons: Steve Cohen, Cohen, Marc Lasry, LIV Golf, LIV, Phil Mickelson, Jay Monahan Organizations: PGA, Strategic Sports Group, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Bloomberg, Business, New York Mets, Cohen Private Ventures, Milwaukee Bucks, Fenway Sports, PGA Tour Enterprises, LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour, Wall

☆ Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund overtakes Singapore's GIC to top spending table
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was the top spender among global sovereign wealth funds last year, accounting for about a quarter of the $124 billion splashed by state-owned investors, according to a preliminary report by research consultancy Global SWF. The Saudi fund boosted its deal activities from a total of $20.7 billion in 2022 to $31.6 billion in 2023, the research said, even as most other counterparts tapered down their spending. Overall, global sovereign wealth funds deployed 20% fewer funds compared with 2022, despite most major stock markets seeing a rally last year. "This may signal an overly cautious approach, as there is no shortage of capital to put to work among these institutions," the report, which tracks activities across the world's sovereign funds, noted. The Saudi fund has sought frequent deals and joint ventures in its pursuit toward Vision 2030 — a plan originally launched in 2016 which aims to increase economic diversification away from oil.

Persons: spender, Saudi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, Nintendo, Materials Locations: Saudi, Japan, Brazil

☆ PGA Tour and LIV Golf are working to extend merger deadline into 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PGA Tour and LIV Golf are working to extend their proposed merger deadline, which was originally set at Dec. 31, Commissioner Jay Monahan told players in a memo on Sunday. The delay is the latest update in a long and tumultuous saga between the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed LIV Golf that has divided players and could dramatically change professional golf if the merger is completed. PGA Tour and LIV are expected to make a formal decision on the combination ahead of the Masters tournament in April, according to The Telegraph, which first reported the extension. Under the structure of the agreement, PGA Tour would hold a permanent controlling interest in the new entity's board of directors. The agreement also includes the DP World Tour, also known as the PGA European Tour.

Persons: LIV Golf, Jay Monahan, LIV, Monahan Organizations: THE, Sawgrass, CNBC, PGA Tour, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Strategic Sports Group, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour Enterprises, U.S, Fenway Sports Group, The, PGA European, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department Locations: Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida

REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Saudi Arabia's PIF buys into Rocco Forte hotel groupPlans to help expand luxury hotel groupItalian investor CDPE checks out of chainDec 4 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's PIF sovereign wealth fund will buy a 49% stake in luxury hotel group Rocco Forte Hotels and help to support its expansion, the owner of Britain's Balmoral hotel said on Monday. A spokesperson for Rocco Forte Hotels declined to confirm the size of PIF's stake. Rocco Forte Hotels, founded in 1996, operates across Italy, Britain, Germany, Belgium and Russia and has 20 private villas in addition to its hotels. CDPE, which owned a 23% stake in Rocco Forte Hotels, is owned by Italy's state-backed fund CDP. Rocco Forte, which was advised by Rothschild, reported revenues of around 300 million pounds last fiscal year, with a core profit of around 60 million pounds, according to a source.

Persons: Russell Cheyne, Companies Saudi Arabia's PIF, Rocco Forte, CDPE, Olga Polizzi, Forte, Rocco Forte Hotels, Al Nowaiser, PIF, Rothschild, Yadarisa, Elisa Anzolin, Keith Weir, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Saudi Arabia's, Saudi Arabia's, Rocco Forte Hotels, Financial Times, Granada, Thomson Locations: Balmoral, Scotland, Edinburgh, Britain, Saudi, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Milan, Sardinia, Italy's, SAUDI ARABIA, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru, London

☆ Asia's first ETF tracking Saudi equities debuts in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bull statues in front of screens showing Hong Kong stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 29 (Reuters) - A new exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking Saudi equities made its trading debut in Hong Kong on Wednesday, becoming the first product of its kind in Asia amid warming bilateral relations between China and Saudi Arabia. The ETF, called CSOP Saudi Arabia ETF (2830.HK), is managed by Hong Kong-based CSOP Asset Management. "Today is a milestone in our financial cooperation with Saudi Arabia," said Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan at a launch event. Through the ETF, investors in Hong Kong will be able to trade Saudi stocks including the oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) and the Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) in Hong Kong dollars or Chinese yuan.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, CSOP, Paul Chan, Yazeed, Humied, PIF, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi, Saudi Arabia ETF, HK, Management, Public Investment Fund, Hong, Hong Kong Financial, FTSE, Saudi Aramco, Saudi National Bank, Reuters, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, bourse, ETF, People's Bank of China, Saudi Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Exchange, China, HONG KONG, Asia, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, FTSE Saudi Arabia, Europe, East, Africa, Beijing, Riyadh

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