DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Saudi Arabia's PIF to buy 10% stake in Heathrow airport holding company - SPA
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

RIYADH, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has struck a share purchase agreement to buy a 10% stake in TOPCO, the holding company of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, from Ferrovial (FERF.AS), state news agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday. Reporting by Clauda Tanios Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Clauda, Mark Potter Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Heathrow Airport Holdings, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, TOPCO, Ferrovial

☆ PGA Tour commissioner says he's talking to possible investors ahead of Saudi deal deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during a press conference prior to the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 24, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday that the organization is talking to several potential investors as a deadline to clinch a deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund rapidly approaches. LIV and the PGA Tour were engaged in an antitrust legal battle dating back to last year. The deal had the PGA Tour retaining control in the face of an existential threat, he added. The PIF and "likely another co-investor with significant experience in business and sports will help the PGA Tour take share from other sports and be even more competitive."

Persons: Jay Monahan, " Monahan, Yasir bin Othman Al, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Monahan, LIV Golf, LIV, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Saud Arabia's Organizations: East Lake Golf Club, PGA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, The New York Times, Saudi Crown, PGA Tour, Public Investment Fund, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group, Endeavor Group Holdings, Endeavor Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, Saudi

☆ Ferrovial ends bumpy Heathrow ride on a high
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ferrovial (FERF.AS) may be relieved to be exiting one of the world’s busiest airports. The Spanish infrastructure giant has sold its final stake in Heathrow, left over after its 2006 acquisition of BAA, which owned the hub along with Stansted and Gatwick. Regulators forced BAA to sell airports like Gatwick on competition concerns, and Ferrovial later trimmed its stake to just 25%. In 2020 Covid-19 struck, and Heathrow has since been locked in disputes with airlines like British Airways, who accuse it of overcharging. The price paid by Ardian and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund values Heathrow including debt, at 25 billion pounds, a 27% premium to its regulated asset base.

Persons: –, Aimee Donnellan, Julius Baer’s, Lisa Jucca, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, BAA, Stansted, Regulators, Gatwick, Heathrow, British Airways, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Jefferies, X, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Heathrow, Gatwick, It’s

☆ 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

Tiger Woods sounded more optimistic about playing golf next year than he did about the PGA Tour finalizing a deal with Saudi Arabia or private investors by the end of the year. Woods said only there were options, a lot of moving parts and that all sides were working aggressively toward finalizing a deal. “All the parties are talking and we’re aggressively working on trying to get a deal done,” he said. The other direction is working toward a finalized deal by the end of the year, or soon thereafter. Woods also is seen as a top candidate to be the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain for Bethpage Black in 2025.

Persons: Woods, LIV Golf, Jay Monahan, “, ”, Monahan, we’re, PIF, Henry Kravis, George Roberts, ” Woods, LIV, he's, ___ Organizations: PGA, Public Investment Fund, Fenway Sports Group, Riviera, Ryder, Bethpage Black Locations: Saudi Arabia, Bahamas, “

☆ Ray Dalio hails the Gulf's 'renaissance states' amid a period of 'greater disorder' globally
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Ray Dalio speaks during the 2023 Forbes Iconoclast Summit at Pier 60 on June 12, 2023 in New York City. We're now talking about a renaissance state here that happens within this greater geopolitical and economic environment," Dalio told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Tuesday. The UAE "is a renaissance state," Dalio said. Amid higher oil prices in recent years, the region's mammoth sovereign wealth funds had ever more to spend. The region's combined 10 largest sovereign wealth funds managed some $4 trillion in early 2023, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

Persons: Ray Dalio, ABU, Dalio, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Dalio's Organizations: Forbes, Getty, United, United Arab Emirates, Bridgewater Associates, United Arab, CNBC, Abu, Abu Dhabi Finance, GCC, Gulf Cooperation, Dalio's Bridgewater Associates, Pensions & Investments, The, Dubai International Financial, Sovereign Wealth Fund, —, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Locations: New York City, Taylor, ABU DHABI, United Arab, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, U.S, Singapore, The UAE, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, London, New York, France

☆ Former world number one Scott desperate to end win drought in Queensland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Scott won the first of his two Australian PGA Championship trophies 10 years ago in his prime and the second in 2019. Less than two months after winning the 2019 event, he broke a four-year victory drought on the U.S. PGA Tour by claiming the Genesis Invitational. "If I were to win this week or next week (at the Australian Open) it could be a springboard." The rival circuits, along with the European DP World Tour, announced plans in June to merge and end the sport's bitter divide. "There’s four or five other interested parties in investing in the PGA Tour like PIF," he added, referring to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Persons: Adam Scott, Paul Childs, Scott, ”, Cameron Smith, I’ve, Smith, LIV Golf, Ian Ransom, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: BMW, Wentworth, Rights MELBOURNE, Australian, Butterfield, Royal, British, U.S, PGA, Justice Department, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Wentworth , Virginia Water, Britain, California, Bermuda, Royal Queensland, Saudi, U.S, Melbourne

☆ Newcastle get green light to loan players from Saudi Pro League - media
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Newcastle United will be allowed to loan players from sides controlled by their Saudi owners in the January transfer window after a vote on a temporary ban on related-party loans did not get enough support from Premier League clubs, British media reported on Tuesday. Thirteen Premier League clubs voted in favour of the temporary ban on loan moves between teams under the same ownership at a shareholders' meeting on Tuesday, the BBC reported, falling one vote short of the number needed for it to be introduced. The vote means that Newcastle, who in October 2021 were acquired by a group led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), will be permitted to loan players from other clubs also owned by the fund. PIF owns majority stakes in the Pro League's "big four" clubs -- Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal -- who signed players including Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Ruben Neves and Neymar in the last transfer window. Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: PIF, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Ruben Neves, Neymar, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Newcastle United, Premier League, BBC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Newcastle, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Hilal, Gdansk

☆ Jordan Spieth replaces Rory McIlroy on PGA Tour board
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Golf - The 2023 Ryder Cup - Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome, Italy - September 30, 2023 Team USA's Jordan Spieth reacts after a missed putt on the 1st green during the Foursomes REUTERS/Phil Noble/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNovember 20 - Jordan Spieth will serve the remainder of Rory McIlroy's term as a player director the PGA Tour's policy board. Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the change to tour members on Monday. "With Rory McIlroy resigning from the PGA Tour Policy Board last week, per the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, the five remaining Player Directors have elected Jordan Spieth to serve the remainder of Rory's term which expires at the end of 2024," Monahan wrote to members, according to an email obtained by Golf Channel. He also acknowledged that the agreement between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which backs LIV Golf, over future cooperation affected his role on the board. Spieth, 30, is a 13-time winner on the PGA Tour with major victories at the Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015) and The Open Championship (2017).

Persons: Ryder, Marco Simone Golf, USA's Jordan Spieth, Phil Noble, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy's, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, Webb Simpson, Rory McIlroy, Monahan, Jordan, McIlroy, LIV Golf Organizations: Country Club, REUTERS, PGA Tour, Golf, PGA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, U.S

☆ Rory McIlroy resigns from PGA Tour policy board
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has resigned from his role as a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, the organization announced in a statement on Tuesday. “Citing personal and professional commitments, Rory McIlroy has notified the PGA Tour policy board that he is resigning his position as a player director,” a PGA Tour statement read. McIlroy served on the board for two years after spending the previous three years as a member of the player advisory council. “There has never been a better time to be a professional golfer,” he added. According to the “PGA TOUR Tournament Regulations, whenever the office of any player director becomes vacant due to resignation, the remaining player directors elect a successor to serve his unexpired term.”

Persons: Rory McIlroy, ”, McIlroy, LIV, LIV Golf, ” McIlroy Organizations: CNN, Northern, PGA Tour, Tour, PGA, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Locations: Saudi, Dubai

Rory McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour board on Tuesday, an abrupt move that comes as the tour is trying to finalize an agreement to create a new commercial enterprise involving Saudi Arabia's national wealth fund. Asked if he liked having a seat the table, McIlroy said, “Not particularly, no. No player has been more outspoken than McIlroy about the PIF's financial backing of rival league LIV Golf, which attracted a number of major champions with enormous signing fees. LIV Golf recently completed its second year, and it remains unclear how the PIF's deal with the tour affects it. The remaining five player-directors on the 12-member board will elect a successor to serve McIlroy's term, which ends after next year.

Persons: Rory McIlroy, McIlroy, “, Jay Monahan, Ed Herlihy, ”, Rory —, —, Monahan, LIV, LIV Golf, Greg Norman, I’ve, ” McIlroy, Tiger Woods, ___ Organizations: PGA, Saudi, New York Times, Public Investment Fund, Tour Enterprises, PAC, Tiger Locations: Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

The PGA Tour said Tuesday it will begin to offer professional players direct equity ownership in the new company that will be formed after it reaches a deal with investors, according to an internal memo obtained by CNBC. The talks with PIF and the DP World Tour remain the tour's "top priority," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in Tuesday's memo. The new program outlined in Tuesday's memo is the latest move to align the interests of PGA Tour players with the business itself. Monahan also wrote that the Tour's agreement with PIF and DP World Tour has generated interest from other investors. Last week, Fenway Sports Group Chairman Tom Werner acknowledged that the company has held talks with the PGA Tour, but declined to comment with any further details.

Persons: Woods, Rory McIlroy, LIV, Jay Monahan, Monahan, Tom Werner, There's Organizations: Northern, Augusta National Golf Club, CNBC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, PIF, PGA, Fenway Sports Locations: United States, Augusta , Georgia, Saudi, U.S

LONDON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Foreign investors pulled a record amount of money from U.S. equity funds tracking Saudi Arabia in October as the Middle East's worst violence in decades shook the region's business-friendly narrative. The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF saw record net outflows in October of more than $200 million, LSEG data shows, cutting 20% from what it held at the beginning of the month. "Capital flight can be quite indiscriminate," said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal analyst for the Middle East and North Africa with Verisk Maplecroft. The iShares MSCI Qatar ETF (QAT.O) lost $7.7 million in funds in October, while the iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE.O) suffered outflows of $2.75 million. Nearly all the region's main economies are strong enough to weather some turmoil, investors say.

Persons: Torbjorn Soltvedt, Verisk, Natalia Gurushina, Israel, Gurushina, Bonds, Sergey Dergachev, Maplecroft, Dergachev, Libby George, Alexander Smith Organizations: Saudi Arabia ETF, . Exchange, Exchange, ARK Israel Innovative Technology, BlueStar, BlueStar Israel Technology, Hamas, Union Investment, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, East, North Africa, BlueStar Israel, outflows, Saudi, London, Bengaluru

☆ Saudi Arabia's stake in Lucid dropped in value more than $50 billion as the EV startup struggles, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's sovereign fund has a 60% stake in Lucid Motors, an EV startup. Months after the company went public, the stake was valued at more than $55B, per Bloomberg. That value dropped about 90% to $5.4 billion as Lucid reports millions in net loss. The steep drop in the value of Saudi's stake coincides with Lucid's latest quarterly earnings. In 2018, PIF invested $1.3 billion in Lucid, and it seems the Saudis have more considerable expectations for the EV company.

Persons: —, Chris Bryant, Nora Naughton, Sherry House, PIF, Lucid Organizations: Lucid Motors, Bloomberg, Service, Public Investment Fund, EV Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia to sign deals worth over $500 mln with African nations -minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan gestures during an interview with Reuters at the Ministry of Finance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 12, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRIYADH, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The Saudi Fund for Development will sign agreements worth 2 billion riyals ($533 million) with African countries, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said on Thursday during the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference in Riyadh. Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih later said at the same conference the kingdom's over $700 billion wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, will make some "game changing" investments in Africa. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, also at the conference, signed preliminary agreements with African countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Chad and Ethiopia on energy-related cooperation. ($1 = 3.7511 riyals)Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; writing by Clauda Tanios and Yousef Saba; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohammed, Ahmed Yosri, Mohammed Al, Jadaan, Khalid Al, Falih, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Clauda Tanios, Yousef Saba, Jason Neely Organizations: Reuters, Ministry of Finance, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Fund, Development, Saudi Finance, African Economic Conference, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Energy, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights RIYADH, Ghana, Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Chad, Ethiopia

An electric pick-up truck is pictured at the Rivian Automotive Inc facility in Costa Mesa, California, U.S.,November 1, 2023. Smaller rival Lucid (LCID.O) cut its production forecast on Tuesday "to prudently align with deliveries", sending its shares down 3%. Last month, it reported third-quarter deliveries above market expectations. The company reported a net loss of $1.37 billion, compared with a loss of $1.72 billion a year earlier. Its third-quarter production fell nearly 30% to 1,550 vehicles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Tesla, Elon Musk, I'm, RJ Scaringe, Scaringe, Rivian, Alec Lucas, Akash Sriram, Zaheer Kachwala, Abhirup Roy, Krishna Chandra Organizations: Rivian Automotive Inc, REUTERS, Rivian, Reuters, Global, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Amazon, Wall, Thomson Locations: Costa Mesa , California, U.S, Bengaluru, San Francisco

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

☆ Fenway chairman confirms talks with PGA Tour as doubts grow about LIV Golf deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Fenway Sports Group Chairman Tom Werner on Monday acknowledged that the company has held talks with the PGA Tour as the golf organization's framework agreement with Saudi-backed LIV Golf faces new doubts. Werner, who spoke alongside PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy, said that the players "will decide the direction the tour goes." McIlroy had been outspoken in his disdain for LIV Golf, saying in July that if LIV Golf was "the last place to play golf on earth, I would retire." LIV lured PGA Tour players, like Phil Mickelson, to with deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. McIlroy sounded a friendlier note Monday, when asked about the potential for a renewed rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

Persons: Tom Werner, LIV Golf, we've, Werner, CNBC's Scott Wapner, Rory McIlroy, LIV, Alan Shipnuck, McIlroy, Critics, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Tiger Woods, LIV Golf's, Phil Mickelson, McIlroy's Organizations: Fenway Sports, PGA Tour, PGA, Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, Veteran, Endeavour Group Holdings, WWE, UFC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Tiger, Tour, ESPN, TGL, Fenway, Boston, CNBC Locations: Saudi, U.S

☆ The Israel-Hamas war threatens to derail Middle Eastern investment in US media and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Still, the US presence highlighted the deepening ties between Hollywood and the region , as Western media, entertainment, and sports entities have seen major investment in recent years from Saudi, Qatar, and the UAE. Even before October 7, US entities that were receiving investment from the Middle East were reluctant to speak publicly about those relationships. Insider spoke with investors, producers, and other media and entertainment stakeholders about what's next for Hollywood's relationships with Mideast backers. Qatar hasn't seen any recent major deals but earlier this year, Peter Chernin and Providence Equity's production roll-up The North Road received $150 million from the Qatar Investment Authority. "The political nature gets more complicated," an industry insider observer said, noting how countries like Qatar are grabbing headlines for their role in the situation.

Persons: haven't, Jamal Khashoggi, Israel, it's, Knaebel, They're, Greg Silverman's, Silverman, Harry Potter, Chris Nolan's, Abu Dhabi's, Ari Emanuel, Peter Chernin, Jeff Zucker, LIV Golf Organizations: Film, Washington Post, Hollywood, Global Media, Saudi, Stampede Ventures, Warner Bros, Endeavor, Qatar hasn't, Providence, North, Qatar Investment Authority, IMI, CNN, Investment Fund, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabia, American, Jeddah, Saudi, Qatar, UAE, Gaza, Israel, Germany, Silver

☆ Lucid cuts prices of electric sedans for limited time amid EV price wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Lucid Air electric vehicle is displayed in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S., September 27, 2021. Lucid slashed the price of its Air Touring model to $87,500 from $95,000 and the more powerful Grand Touring by $10,000 to $115,600. Tesla has cut the prices of its Model S premium sedan, Lucid Air's closest competitor, to $74,990. Lucid had previously cut prices for its cars in August as the company burned through cash as it ramped up production in a tough economy. The price cut offer will be valid till Nov 30, the company said.

Persons: Hyunjoo Jin, Elon, Lucid, Tesla, Zaheer Kachwala, Tasim Zahid Organizations: REUTERS, Cox Automotive, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Scottsdale , Arizona, U.S, Newark , California, Bengaluru

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

☆ Aston Martin shares plunge on volume target cut, lingering debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Company shares had plunged by as much as 20% in earlier trade. Aston Martin reported an adjusted operating loss of £48.4 million ($58.8 million) for the three months to the end of September and a net revenue of £362.1 million, below a company-compiled consensus of £370 million. "The DB12 production ramp up was temporarily affected as supplier readiness and integration of the new EE platform that supports the fully redeveloped infotainment system was delayed," Aston Martin said in its earnings report on Wednesday. Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll said the launch of the DB12 has seen "extraordinary demand" and is bringing in new customers, with 55% of initial DB12 buyers new to the brand. "With the shares trading at a tenth of the level at which they listed in 2018, the optimistic comparisons Aston Martin made for itself with Italian rival Ferrari look as fanciful as they ever did."

Persons: Aston Martin, Lawrence, Aston, Russ Mould, AJ Bell, Aston Martin's, " Mould, Ferrari Organizations: Company, Aston, Aston Martin, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Locations: London

☆ World Cup in Saudi Arabia would be structurally really good, says Howe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Newcastle United's Eddie Howe would expect a World Cup in Saudi Arabia to be well organised having previously travelled there with his team, the manager said on Tuesday. With Australia deciding not to enter a bid to host the 2034 World Cup, FIFA are expected to announce Saudi Arabia as the only bid received before the Oct. 31 deadline. "Our trips out there to Riyadh and Jeddah were two different experiences really," Howe told a press conference before Newcastle's League Cup tie against Manchester United. If that's a sign of what a World Cup might look like, structurally it will be really good." Newcastle also hosted two Saudi Arabia international games at St. James' Park in September with Costa Rica and South Korea.

Persons: Newcastle United's Eddie Howe, Howe, James ' Park, Trevor Stynes, Ed Osmond Organizations: Newcastle, Australia, FIFA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Newcastle's League, Manchester United, Saudi Arabia, St, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Newcastle, Riyadh, Jeddah, Costa Rica, South Korea

☆ Saudi Arabia is serious about its Jan. 1 deadline for companies to move regional headquarters to Riyadh — or lose out on government contracts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Saudi National Bank headquarters and other buildings in Riyadh. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesRIYADH — Saudi Arabia is holding on to its ultimatum that foreign companies will need to base their regional headquarters in the kingdom or be barred from lucrative government contracts. In a bold surprise move back in February 2021, the Saudi government announced that it would, by 2024, cease doing business with any international companies whose regional headquarters were not based within the country. The news stunned investors and expat workers, many of whom saw the move as a shot at Dubai, the United Arab Emirates commercial capital that is home to the highest concentration of Middle East regional headquarters. Faisal Al Ibrahim, Saudi minister of economy and planning, told CNBC that the plan is still going ahead and discussed how the kingdom aims to support foreign companies with the change.

Persons: Faisal Al Ibrahim, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Al Ibrahim, that's, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia — Organizations: Saudi National Bank, Riyadh . Bloomberg, Bloomberg, Getty, United Arab Emirates, East, CNBC, Future Investment Initiative, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Locations: Riyadh ., RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Dubai, Riyadh

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan gestures during an interview with Reuters at the Ministry of Finance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 12, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRIYADH, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will implement its January 2024 deadline requiring international firms that wish to secure government contracts in the kingdom to locate their regional headquarters to Riyadh, the finance minister said on Wednesday. "The deadline is not new, and yes it will be implemented," Mohammed Al Jadaan told Reuters when asked whether the January deadline remained on track. Foreign firms have for years used neighbouring United Arab Emirates as a springboard for their regional operations, including for Saudi Arabia. While the government has given cash injections to the PIF in the past, Jadaan said cash transfers were "very limited" and were disbursed from surplus.

Persons: Mohammed, Ahmed Yosri, Jan, Mohammed Al Jadaan, Jadaan, Pesha Magid, Angus MacSwan, Josie Kao Organizations: Reuters, Ministry of Finance, REUTERS, Rights, United, Future Investment Initiative, Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights RIYADH, United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa

Search resuls for: "Public Investment Fund"

25 mentions found