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☆ Saudi PIF-backed ADES prices IPO at top end, implying over $4 bln valuation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Saudi oil and gas driller ADES Holding said on Wednesday it has set the final price for its initial public offering (IPO), implying a valuation of 15.242 billion riyals ($4.06 billion) for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund-backed firm. ADES confirmed the pricing for the IPO, saying it drew nearly $76.5 billion in orders from institutional investors. Its clients include state oil giant Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Oil Company and North Oil Company in Qatar. The four banks are also bookrunners and underwriters, joined by GIB Capital, HSBC, Al Rajhi Capital and Saudi Fransi Capital. Arab National Bank, Alrajhi Bank and Saudi National Bank are the receiving agents and Lazard is independent adviser to ADES.

Persons: ADES, EFG Hermes, Goldman Sachs, Lazard, Yousef Saba, Sonia Cheema Organizations: Reuters, Saudi Exchange, Kuwait Oil Company, North Oil Company, SNB, JPMorgan, underwriters, GIB Capital, HSBC, Al, Saudi Fransi Capital, Arab National Bank, Alrajhi Bank, Saudi National Bank, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saudi, Khobar, ADES, East, North Africa, India, Saudi Aramco, Qatar, Al Rajhi Capital

☆ Saudi golf shot plays through CFIUS hazards
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

U.S. congressional lawmakers scrutinized PGA Tour officials on Tuesday this week about the group’s tie-up with a rival golf tournament owned by Saudi Arabia. Enter the Saudis, who launched an upstart golf tournament last year, LIV Golf, that competed with the U.S.-based PGA Tour and its European counterpart DTP. There are worries that Saudi Arabia, a regime viewed as hostile to women and LGBTQ groups, would have significant sway over golf’s culture. LIV Golf is owned by Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. Former AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson resigned from the PGA Tour policy board, the Washington Post reported on July 9.

Persons: State Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore, Covid, LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Yasir Al, Ed Herlihy, Wachtell, Lipton, Katz, hasn’t, Randall Stephenson, Jamal Khashoggi, ”, Richard Blumenthal, –, Sherrod Brown, Maxine Waters, Janet Yellen, LIV Golf’s, Joe Biden hasn't, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi, Uncle Sam, Refinitiv, China’s ByteDance, LIV, Stephenson, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Public Investment Fund, Augusta National Golf Club, State, U.S, PGA, LIV, Rosen, Breakingviews, Former AT, PGA Tour, Saudi, Department of Justice, Foreign Investment, U.S . Treasury, Saudi Arabian Crown, Walmart, Visa, Uber Technologies, Nation Entertainment, National Basketball League, Houston Rockets, People’s, NBA, backtrack, FIFA, Qatar, The Justice Department, Treasury, Committee, Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, T, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, American, U.S, South Carolina, Iran, China, Saudi, Hong Kong, People’s Republic, Beijing

☆ Saudi adviser proposed giving Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy ownership of LIV Golf teams, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Wayne Sterling | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Prior to a truce between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf last month, an adviser to the Saudi Public Investment Fund proposed that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy could own LIV Golf teams and play in the Saudi-backed tour, according to a 276-page report released by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on Tuesday. In an April 26 meeting, PCP Capital Partners, a Saudi PIF adviser, presented a slideshow to PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne and PGA Tour Policy Board Chairman Edward Herlihy entitled “The Best of Both Worlds.”The slideshow proposed that McIlroy and Woods would own LIV Golf teams and participate in at least 10 LIV Golf events, documents showed. A May 24 email also revealed PGA Tour officials intended to fire LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman after the merger. Norman has been an advocate for the rival Saudi tour and a fierce public critic of the PGA Tour. The framework agreement between the Saudis and the PGA Tour needs to be approved by the PGA Tour’s 10-member policy board.

Persons: LIV, Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jimmy Dunne, Edward Herlihy, McIlroy, Yasir Al, Greg Norman, Norman, Jay Monahan’s, PIF, Roger Devlin, Dunne, Delvin, Rumayyan, ” Devlin, Devlin, “, McIlroy “ Organizations: CNN, PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf, US, Capital Partners, Tour, Augusta National, International Golf Federation, Saudi, PGA Tour, LIV, Fund, Al Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Rumayyan

☆ PGA officials say they had no choice but to reach deal with the Saudis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Two top officials of the PGA Tour said the sport’s governing body had no choice but to reach a truce in its yearlong battle with LIV Golf and try to reach a merger with the Saudi-funded tour. But Ron Price, the chief operating officer of the PGA Tour, and Jimmy Dunne, a board member of the tour’s governing body, both said that the framework of the planned merger was the best chance to allow the PGA Tour to keep some measure of control over the sport. He pointed out that the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which is funding LIV Golf, has 500 times the financial resources as the PGA Tour. “It would be grossly unfair to expect the PGA Tour to bear the full burden of holding Saudi Arabia accountable. The committee released a 276 page report with details of the legal battle and the negotiations between LIV and the PGA Tour.

Persons: LIV Golf, “, ”, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Price, Jimmy Dunne, Sen, ” Dunne, LIV, Price, Ron Johnson of, it’s, ” Johnson, Blumenthal, Roger Devlin, Dunne, ” Blumenthal, “ It’s, … Organizations: New, New York CNN, PGA Tour, Saudi, PGA, Connecticut Democrat, Republican, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi Public Investment, ” Locations: New York, Saudi, American, Connecticut, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Saudi Arabia, British, “

☆ LIV-PGA Tour deal probe urged by Rep. Maxine Waters and Sen. Sherrod Brown
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lawmakers’ calls to investigate the proposed merger between the US-based PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund–backed LIV Golf are escalating. An investigation by CFIUS would not be the first probe into the surprise merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, formerly bitter rivals. The Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations have also opened separate probes into the deal. Waters and Brown acknowledged the multiple investigations in their letter, writing, “We understand and appreciate that CFIUS is, by statute, an authority of last resort. Before the deal announcement, PGA Tour and LIV Golf were locked in a legal battle and traded barbed accusations of unfair competition, but the two organizations agreed to drop all pending litigation under the new agreement.

Persons: LIV, Maxine Waters, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Waters, Brown, “, Mohammed bin Salman, bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Bin Salman, CFIUS, LIV Golf Organizations: CNN, Tour, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Financial Services Committee, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, US Treasury Department, Foreign Investment, Treasury, PGA, Wall Street Journal, US Department of Justice, Finance, Investigations Locations: Ohio, United States, “ Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ PGA Tour-Saudi deal scrutiny intensifies as Senate Finance Committee investigates
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The backlash to the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf intensified as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, opened an investigation into the deal on Thursday. The committee will probe the deal between the US-based PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed LIV Golf and assess what the deal means for national security. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment. The surprise deal this month between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, competing tours locked in a legal battle before the merger announcement, has faced growing opposition from lawmakers. The US-based PGA Tour said the merger would “unify the game” and all pending litigation between the tours would be dropped under the new agreement.

Persons: LIV Golf, Ron Wyden, ” Wyden, Wyden, Mohammed bin Salman, Bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Elizabeth Warren, LIV, “ Organizations: CNN, PGA, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Saudi, of Justice, PGA Tour, DOJ, Democratic, Senate, LIV Locations: Oregon, United States, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, U.S

☆ Saudi Arabia's cold-blooded crown prince keeps winning
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Joe Ciolli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The recent PGA-LIV golf merger is the latest example of growing Saudi influence on sports. Originally viewed as a deep-pocketed but unserious distraction from the PGA Tour, they effectively muscled into the picture through sheer financial willpower. The new PGA Tour might look a whole lot like the old one, except with a far wealthier outside party controlling the purse strings. And that's kind of been the Saudi strategy as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has expanded his influence over multiple sports worldwide. Detailed below are the six recent high-profile examples of how the Saudi PIF keeps winning:

Persons: Mohammed bin Salman, LIV, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed's, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi PIF Organizations: Saudi Public Investment Fund, Morning, PGA, LIV, PGA Tour, English Premier League team, Saudi, league, Prince, CIA Locations: England, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger is a major win for the Saudis — and Americans are slamming it
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

It's lured some of the biggest golf stars away from the PGA Tour with huge paychecks, spurring antitrust lawsuits with the American organization. "This is Saudi Arabia buying the PGA tour," sports talk show host Rich Eisen said in his broadcast after hearing the news. USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan called the move "a total wimp-out by the PGA Tour. Glyn Kirk | AFP | Getty ImagesSocial media was rife with self-described golf fans vowing to never again watch the PGA Tour. Pro golfer Phil Mickelson, another member of the LIV Tour, tweeted "Awesome day today" in response to the news.

Persons: LIV Golf, that's, —, LIV, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, It's, Jay Monahan, Rich Eisen, Pat Welter, it's, Christine Brennan, Tiger Woods, Glyn Kirk, Ron Wyden, Chris Murphy, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi LIV, Monahan, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jim Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Jeffries, Yasir Al, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia's, Al Organizations: PGA Tour, Saudi, LIV Players, PGA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, CNBC, Twitter, 150th, St, AFP, Getty, LIV, Washington Post, Amnesty, Saudi Arabian Crown, Saudi Embassy, Washington D.C, Saudi Foreign Ministry, CNN, Royal, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Investment, Rumayyan, Nassr Football Club, Al Nassr Football Locations: Saudi Arabia, North Carolina, Saudi, Scotland, Oregon, Connecticut, American, Washington ,, Washington, videoconference, Riyadh, PIF, Portuguese

☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund close to deal for Boeing jets, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 11 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is close to a deal for Boeing Co. (BA.N) commercial jets for the fleet of a new national airline, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. The deal includes wide body jets which are often used for long international flights, the report added. Boeing declined to comment while the Saudi PIF did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the report. The deal is part of a rapid expansion by the country under a strategy to transform the kingdom into a transport hub and promote tourism. Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; editing by Grant McCool and Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund reportedly near $35 billion deal for Boeing jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is close to a deal to order Boeing commercial jets for the fleet of a new national airline, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. The aircraft order is valued at $35 billion, the report said, adding that the deal could be announced as soon as Sunday during an official launch of the national airline. The deal includes wide-body jets which are often used for long international flights, the report added. Boeing declined to comment and the Saudi PIF did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the report. The deal is part of a rapid expansion by the country under a strategy to transform the kingdom into a transport hub and promote tourism.

☆ Tesla's stock is getting trounced by EV challenger Lucid, which is leading techs' 2023 rally thanks to Saudi takeover rumors
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Shares in electric-vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors have jumped 69% in 2023. Speculation of a takeover by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund has fueled Lucid's recent rally. Lucid is even beating rival EV manufacturer Tesla, which is up just under 60% so far this year at $196.81, despite analysts' fears. Lucid shares have also risen thanks to rumors of a looming takeover by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which invests on behalf of the government and already owns over 60% of the carmaker. The stock jumped 43% on January 27 alone, after the deals website Betaville reported the Saudi PIF could be close to finalizing a full takeover.

☆ EV maker Lucid surges on reports Saudi PIF to buy remaining stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Lucid Group's (LCID.O) shares doubled on Friday on market speculation that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is working on plans to buy out the rest of the electric vehicle maker. The speculation came as a result of an "uncooked" alert from deals website Betaville. The website uses the term "uncooked" to refer to market gossip. The PIF, the sovereign wealth fund that owns more than 65% of Lucid, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Musk defended his "funding secured" tweet in a securities fraud trial brought by Tesla shareholders. He testified that he sent the tweet after verbal assurances from Saudi investor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. He said that Al-Rumayyan told them that "they would do whatever it took to get it done," and that he'd been "unequivocal" about supporting the deal. Al-Rumayyan, Musk, and attorneys for Musk and Tesla shareholders did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication. The billionaire claims he planned to take Tesla private at the time of tweeting "funding secured" in August 2018.

☆ Elon Musk attorneys try to move trial from California to Texas, citing ‘local negativity’
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Attorneys for Tesla and Elon Musk are asking a federal judge in San Francisco to move, or delay, a forthcoming trial from Northern California to Western Texas, saying they won’t be able to find unbiased jurors and citing “local negativity” toward Musk. That year, Musk resided in California and Tesla was headquartered in Palo Alto. In a recent public appearance in San Francisco, Musk was booed after comedian Dave Chappelle invited him on stage. The Tesla CEO has repeatedly claimed that he made a handshake deal with investors from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to take Tesla private at $420 per share. Text messages revealed in another trial in 2022 suggested Saudi PIF investors had not fully agreed to fund a Tesla deal.

☆ Elon Musk attorneys aim to move trial from California to Texas, citing ‘local negativity’
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Attorneys for Tesla and Elon Musk are asking a federal judge in San Francisco to move, or delay, a forthcoming trial from Northern California to Western Texas, saying they won't be able to find unbiased jurors and citing "local negativity" toward Musk. That year, Musk resided in California and Tesla was headquartered in Palo Alto. In a recent public appearance in San Francisco, Musk was booed after comedian Dave Chappelle invited him on stage. Musk and his attorneys have previously argued that his statements about a possible take-private deal for Tesla in 2018 did not violate the law. The Tesla CEO has repeatedly claimed that he made a handshake deal with investors from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to take Tesla private at $420 per share.

☆ Saudi Arabia's new love for soccer could cause ripple effects across the sports world
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with the jersey after signing with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr Football Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2022. Al Nassr Football Club / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesSoccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Saudi club Al-Nassr, and the kingdom's growing investments in the sport, could have ripple effects across Europe and the U.S., experts have told CNBC. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star earlier this week contended that the "unique contract" was befitting of his status as a "unique player." The Financial Times reported in October that the Saudi PIF had committed more than $2 billion to sponsorship deals over the first eight months of 2022, most of which was directed toward domestic soccer competitions. The Saudi PIF's takeover of Newcastle United was met with criticism across the soccer world — deemed an effort to launder the country's reputation against the backdrop of a poor human rights record.

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