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☆ California-based EV maker Lucid opens first-ever auto plant in Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Tom Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Californian EV-maker Lucid has opened the first ever car manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom looks to establish itself as a global player in the EV race. The factory — the company’s first international plant — will initially focus on re-assembling vehicle kits sent over from the United States. “We look forward to delivering Saudi-assembled cars to customers in Saudi Arabia and beyond.” Saudi Arabia’s powerful Public Investment Fund (PIF), controlled by the Saudi government, is Lucid’s largest shareholder. Saudi Arabia wants 30% of new car sales in the kingdom to be electric by 2030. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia had also held talks with Tesla over an EV factory in the kingdom.

Persons: Lucid, ”, Peter Rawlinson, Tesla, Elon Musk Organizations: CNN, King Abdullah Economic, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Siemens, Street Journal, EV Locations: Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, Jeddah, United States, Saudi

☆ PGA Tour says LIV merger attracts unsolicited investor interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the logo of PGA Tour during the Canadian Open’s Championship Pro-Am after news was released of a new partnership between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Nick Lachance/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 27 (Reuters) - PGA Tour said its planned merger with Saudi-backed LIV Golf and DP World Tour has garnered unsolicited interest from investors as it continues to finalise an agreement with the Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour. The PGA said that while it did not solicit additional investment interest, it has a responsibility to members, sponsors and fans to thoroughly evaluate all potential options. Any investments that come from the talks will be made into PGA Tour Enterprises, a subsidiary of the PGA Tour, which it would permanently control. PGA said additional investor interest is not about politics, but because the PGA Tour has, for the first time, created an investment vehicle in PGA TOUR Enterprises and its business is strong.

Persons: LIV, Nick Lachance, LIV Golf, Juby Babu, Chris Reese Organizations: Tour, Canadian, PGA Tour, Oakdale, Country Club, REUTERS, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, PGA, PGA Tour Enterprises, Bloomberg, Enterprises, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, U.S, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ Saudi crown prince says he does not care about 'sportswashing' claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, June 7, 2023. "If sportswashing (is) going to increase my GDP by 1%, then we'll continue doing sportswashing," the crown prince told Fox News. Saudi Arabia denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its national security through its laws. When asked specifically about the term "sportswashing", the crown prince said: "I don't care. Saudi Arabia has been hosting a Formula One Grand Prix since 2021 and has also held boxing world title fights.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we'll, PIF, LIV, Hritika Sharma, Michael Perry Organizations: Saudi Crown, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi Arabian Crown, Fox News, Public Wealth Fund, Premier League, Newcastle United, PGA, Saudi Pro League, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, Saudi, Hyderabad

LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Barely a day goes by without an eye-catching story involving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. A third of the fund consists of significant stakes in domestic companies like the $51 billion Saudi Telecom Company (7010.SE) and $53 billion Saudi National Bank (1180.SE). Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe PIF’s investment strategy is also racier than its more conservative peers. But the episode reinforces the impression that the PIF is a mix of venture capital, hedge fund and startup money. The most spectacular was probably handing $45 billion to SoftBank Group (9984.T) boss Masayoshi Son for his $100 billion first Vision Fund.

Persons: Kylian Mbappé, It’s, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Yasir Al, Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, Rumayyan, Salman bin Abdulaziz, Masayoshi Son, SWFs, Taiwan’s Foxconn, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Standard Chartered, Spanish telco Telefonica, Fund, Abu, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Global, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Saudi, Saudi Telecom Company, Saudi National Bank, Saudi Aramco, giga, Qatar Investment Authority, Singapore’s Temasek, Al, MbS, SoftBank Group, Vision, Credit Suisse, UBS, Saudi giga, Aramco, Investment, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Saudi

☆ Saudi crown prince says he will keep 'sportswashing' as criticism of the practice grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Call it whatever you want, we're going to get that one and a half percent," the crown prince said. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), an entity controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed, has backed Saudi soccer clubs and LIV Golf. The LIV Golf merger with the PGA Tour has faced widespread scrutiny. Key U.S. lawmakers have criticized the pending golf merger as an attempt by the kingdom to distract from its human rights record. Prior to the deal, LIV Golf sued the PGA Tour for alleged anticompetitive practices, which prompted the PGA Tour to countersue, saying LIV Golf was stifling competition.

Persons: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sportswashing, I'm, Critics, Jamal Khashoggi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf, Crown Prince Mohammed, LIV, Osama bin Laden, It's, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Jimmy Dunne, Ron Price, Price, Benjamin Freeman, — CNBC's Lillian Rizzo, Chelsey Cox Organizations: Saudi, Saudi Arabian Crown, Partnership, Global Infrastructure, Fox News, Washington Post, Neymar, PGA Tour, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Crown, Reuters, PGA, Key U.S, Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Tour, Quincy Institute, Responsible Locations: Saudi Arabian, New Delhi, India, Saudi, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Key, Yemen

☆ 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

Meanwhile, failed uprisings in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia were followed by years-long crackdowns and a continuing civil war in Syria. “What we’re beginning to see in Saudi Arabia right now is the emergence of a new social contract. Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, and nearly two-thirds of its income still comes from selling fossil fuels. If Saudi Arabia can become a hub for major sporting events, then that’s a way of attracting interest to the country,” said Maguire. In response to previous criticism about Saudi Arabia’s purported “sportswashing,” the kingdom’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said: “People that don’t know Saudi Arabia, have never been to Saudi Arabia, go out and talk about it as if they’ve lived there for 30 years, 40 years.

Persons: Hilal, Kylian Mbappé, Germain, Neymar Jr, Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Patricia de Melo Moreira, it’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman –, Leon Neal, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, spender, –, Carlo Nohra, Jordan Henderson, Henderson, “, ’ ” Simon Chadwick, “ We’ve, ” Chadwick, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Al Nassr, Stringer, you’re, Kieran Maguire, they’re, Everybody’s, ” Maguire, Chadwick, Ronaldo, Maguire, … Mohammed bin Salman, ” James Dorsey, ”, Chadwick –, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al, Faisal, don’t, they’ve, LIV Golf, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Dunne, Aleksander Ceferin, Erling, Haaland, Jurgen Klopp, Michael Emenalo, Steven Gerrard, Nohra, ” “ They’ve Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Al, Paris Saint, PSG, Saudi Pro League, Ligue, Liga, Serie, Bundesliga, English Premier League, Deloitte, Investment Fund, AFP, Getty, SPL, Saudi Crown, Spanish, Arsenal, CNN Sport, English, Newcastle United, Liverpool, The Athletic, SKEMA Business School, Argentina, Zamalek, King Fahd Sports City, Anadolu Agency, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Football, AFC Asian, FIFA, Greece, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish Super, ”, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Middle East Soccer, Saudi Ministry, Sport, PGA Tour, European, UEFA, Premier League, Ettifaq Media, Reuters New Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Russian Direct Investment Fund, Investigations, PGA Locations: Saudi Arabian, Brazil, Saudi, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Real Madrid, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Liverpool, China, Qatar, Taif, Egypt, Spanish, East, North Africa, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, “, ”, Europe, ” Liverpool

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a rare interview with Fox News on Wednesday that negotiations over Israel means the prospects of normalized relations between both countries “get closer" every day, but that treatment of Palestinians remains a “very important” issue to be resolved. Saudi Arabia is discussing a major agreement with the United States to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact and aid in developing its own civilian nuclear program. We think it’s good not just for Israel and Saudi Arabia, we think it’s good for the whole region,” Kirby said. Saudi Arabia has made major progress in winding down its devastating war with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, this week hosting a rebel delegation in the capital, Riyadh. The 38-year-old bin Salman assumed day-to-day rule after the aging King Salman named him next in line to the throne in 2017.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “, Bret Baier ”, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, ”, bin Salman, we’ve, John Kirby, Saudi Arabia “, ” Kirby, Bin Salman, ” Bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, ” bin Salman, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s, PIF, Salman, King Salman Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Fox News, MBS, Israeli, General Assembly, West Bank, National Security, Washington Post, Saudi, Fox News Channel, White House, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Trump, Arab League Locations: — Saudi, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United States, Palestinian, Saudi, New York, Asia, East, Europe, Iran, Saudi Arabi, Western, Yemen, Riyadh, Syria, America

☆ Morgan Stanley says higher oil prices could boost these 2 global real estate stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The recent increase in oil prices could provide a boost to London's prime office real estate market, according to Morgan Stanley. According to their analysis, higher oil prices tend to correlate with increased demand for top-tier commercial properties. When oil prices rise above this threshold, the excess profits are invested by its sovereign wealth fund, PIF, in assets around the world, including tech stocks. Morgan Stanley says that in the past, a similar rise in oil prices has preceded strong 12-month share price performance for London office REITs (real estate investment trusts). For Derwent London, Morgan Stanley forecasts the stock reaching £27.00 ($33.43), up 45% from current levels, within 12 months.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Bart Gysens Organizations: Bank of London, Cooperation Council, Monetary Fund, GCC, Saudi, London, Derwent, Great Portland Estates, Derwent London, Great Locations: London, WTI, Great Portland

The behind-the-scenes details on the IPO pricing decision are based on interviews with three people familiar with the discussions. Together with other previously unreported deliberations, they shed new light on why SoftBank took a conservative approach in valuing Arm in the IPO. SoftBank, which had owned 75% of Arm, agreed to buy the remaining 25% from its $100 billion Vision Fund at a $64 billion valuation last month. Representatives for Arm, SoftBank, PIF, Mubadala and Raine either declined to comment or did not immediately respond to requests for comment. VISION FUND BOUNCEBACKThe Vision Fund returned to profitability in the latest quarter thanks to investors' excitement around artificial intelligence boosting the value of some of the startups in which it invested.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Masayoshi Son, Raine Group, Son, SoftBank, Fund's, Abu Dhabi's Mubadala, Raine, Didi Global, Echo Wang, Anirban Sen, Greg Roumeliotis, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, SoftBank, Wednesday, Arm Holdings, Nasdaq, Vision Fund, Investors, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Vision, Reuters, Nvidia Corp, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, New York, Mubadala, China, United States

☆ US Senate issues subpoena to PIF subsidiary regarding PGA Tour deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the logo of PGA Tour during the Canadian Open’s Championship Pro-Am after news was released of a new partnership between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Nick Lachance/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate has issued a subpoena to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund's (PIF) U.S. subsidiary over its planned partnership with the PGA Tour, it said on Wednesday. The subpoena calls for the release of documents related to PIF's framework agreement with the PGA Tour and other investments throughout the United States, the U.S. Senate said in a news release. The announcement came ahead of Wednesday's hearing by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), which is expected to focus on PIF's investments and efforts to gain influence in the United States. "The Saudi's Public Investment Fund cannot have it both ways - if it wants to engage with the United States commercially, it must be subject to United States law and oversight," Senator Richard Blumenthal, chair of the PSI, said.

Persons: LIV, Nick Lachance, Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal, Greg Norman, LIV Golf, Yasir al, Jamal Khashoggi, Frank Pingue, David Holmes Organizations: Tour, Canadian, PGA Tour, Oakdale, Country Club, REUTERS, U.S . Senate, Saudi Arabian Public Investment, PGA, Investigations, Public Investment, United, Senate, Saudi, LIV Golf, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, United States, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Toronto

The surprise deal, which would join the venerable PGA Tour and a rival Saudi-funded golf start-up, LIV, was announced in June. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, called the Public Investment Fund, or PIF, is controlled by the Saudi government. The Saudi Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the subpoena, which names the Public Investment Fund's New York-based U.S. subsidiary, USSA International. This summer's announcement of the PGA-Saudi golf deal ended a legal battle between the two rivals. Blumenthal said available public records indicate the Saudi sovereign wealth fund has expanded its investments in the United States from $2 billion in 2018 to $35 billion now.

Persons: Sen, Richard Blumenthal's, al, LIV, ” Blumenthal, Blumenthal, “, ”, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: WASHINGTON, Saudi, PGA, Connecticut, Senate, PGA Tour, Public Investment Fund, Public Investment, United, Saudi Embassy, USSA, Crown Locations: United States, Saudi, York, San Francisco, Saudi Arabia

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

Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the January 6th insurrection, in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 2, 2021. WASHINGTON — Bipartisan members of a Senate subcommittee on homeland security demanded transparency Wednesday from a Saudi Arabian investment fund at its second hearing on the controversial deal to merge PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf. "Saudi Arabia's bid to buy professional golf in America is not just one investment in a vacuum," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said on Capitol Hill. Blumenthal announced that he had issued a subpoena on Wednesday to USSA International LLC, the PIF's wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, for documents related to the PGA Tour-LIV Golf deal and other U.S. investments. A PGA Tour representative declined to comment.

Persons: Richard Blumenthal, LIV Golf, Sen, Conn, Blumenthal, LIV, Benjamin Freeman, Joey Shea, LIV didn't Organizations: WASHINGTON, Saudi, Investigations, Capitol, USSA, PGA, Quincy Institute, Responsible, United, Human Rights Watch Locations: Hart, Washington , DC, Saudi Arabian, Saudi, America, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, United States, United Arab Emirates

"I will match your offer and commit today to open an office," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih said after India's trade minister Piyush Goyal invited Saudi Arabia to set up an office of its sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), in GIFT City. Goyal also said he would suggest that his ministry starts an investment promotion office in Riyadh. During the Crown Prince's visit India and Saudi Arabia signed 50 initial pacts in various fields and agreed to form a joint task force for $100 billion in Saudi investment in India, originally announced by the Crown Prince in 2019. Half of the planned $100 billion is earmarked for a delayed refinery project along India's western coast, an Indian foreign ministry official said. He said Saudi Arabia is looking to invest in sectors including oil, gas, petrochemicals, new energy, technology, manufacturing and defence.

Persons: Amit Dave, Narendra Modi, Khalid Al Falih, Piyush Goyal, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Goyal, Crown Prince, Falih, Shivangi Acharya, Nidhi Verma, Blassy Boben, Ed Osmond, Susan Fenton Organizations: Gujarat International Finance Tec, REUTERS, Indian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund, Crown, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Aramco, Thomson Locations: Gujarat, Gandhinagar, DELHI, Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, City, Falih, Delhi, Saudi, Riyadh, India, Indian, Maharashtra

☆ US, Saudi Arabia in talks to secure metals in Africa, Wall Street Journal reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

VinFast electric vehicles are parked before delivery to their first customers at a store in Los Angeles, March 1, 2023. The United States and Saudi Arabia are in talks to secure metals in Africa needed to help them with their energy transitions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the talks. In a similar arrangement in July, Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Ma'aden) (1211.SE) and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) acquired 10% of Brazilian Vale's base metal unit, while U.S. investment firm Engine No. The White House is seeking the financial backing of other sovereign-wealth funds in the region, but talks with Saudi Arabia have progressed the farthest, the Journal added. The Saudi government and The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: PIF, Ma'aden Organizations: Wall Street, Democratic, Saudi Arabian Mining, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Manara Minerals, Saudi Locations: Los Angeles, United States, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Saudi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Namibia, U.S, China, Brazilian, Congo

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

☆ Why Saudi Arabia is spending hundreds of millions on soccer stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Anuz Thapa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Soccer in Saudi Arabia has entered a new era — the era of having global superstars play on Saudi turf. "This is what we're doing by bringing household names like that to the Saudi league. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is the financial vehicle driving these high-priced transactions. "Saudi Pro League is the top men's professional soccer league in Saudi Arabia." Watch the video above to find out why Saudi Arabia is doubling down its investment in professional soccer and more.

Persons: Neymar, Ballon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fahad Nazer, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Stefan Szymanski, Simon Chadwick Organizations: Soccer, Pro League, Saudi, CNBC, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Pro League, University of Michigan, Newcastle United, Critics, Skema Business Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Saudi Embassy, U.S, Ittihad, Al, Hilal, Ahli

☆ Saudi Arabia soccer spending ranks second in the world as it bids to become global powerhouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Matthew Ward-Perkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowThe Saudi Arabian soccer transfer window has slammed shut, marking the end of a historic summer of spending from clubs based in the Gulf state. Saudi clubs outspent four of the "big five" soccer leagues, the first time another league has outspent any members of the dominant European grouping since 2016. However, human rights groups and activists have criticized the high levels of soccer investment from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, with accusations of "sportswashing" leveled at the country. The European Club Association, which represents 220 soccer clubs from across Europe, discussed the impact of Saudi Arabia's investment in the sport at its General Assembly this month. "We believe in ourselves … we have the best competition in the world, the biggest clubs in the world, the best players in the world.

Persons: Mohamed Salah, Hilal, spender, CNBC's David Faber, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Glazer, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Karim Benzema Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Pro League, English Premier League, Liverpool, country's Public Investment Fund, Chelsea FC outspent, Public Investment, Manchester United Saudi, Manchester United, Saudi, European Club Association, Assembly, Champions League, Afp, Getty Locations: Saudi, Gulf, Al, Ittihad, Ahli, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Europe

FILE PHOTO: An Aramco employee walks near an oil tank at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. Riyadh says it aims to stabilise the oil market by extending a voluntary oil output cut of 1 million barrels per day until the end of 2023. Declining oil production and revenue this year could see Saudi Arabia's economy shrink for the first time since 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, although a hefty dividend from state oil producer Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) should provide a cushion for public finances. Last year the Saudi economy grew 8.7% and generated a fiscal surplus of 2.5% of GDP, its first surplus in nine years as oil soared to highs near $124. "Certainly, we see no signs that the Public Investment Fund's acquisition streak is cooling," RBC Capital Markets said in a note.

Persons: Ahmed Jadallah, Justin Alexander, Monica Malik, Alexander, James Swanston, PIF, Neil Quilliam, Quilliam, Rachna Uppal, Yousef Saba, Ahmad Ghaddar, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi Aramco, OPEC's, Khalij Economics, Abu, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, PMI, GlobalSource Partners, Capital Economics, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Public Investment, RBC Capital Markets, Reuters, Chatham House, Aramco, Riyadh bourse, Thomson Locations: Aramco, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, DUBAI, Riyadh, Ukraine, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Aramco, London, PIF

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

☆ Saudi Arabia's STC Group acquires 9.9% stake in Telefonica
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Spanish Telecom company Telefonica is seen next to a traffic ligth at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's STC Group has amassed a 9.9% stake in Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica (TEF.MC) for 2.1 billion euros ($2.25 billion) in shares and financial instruments, STC said on Tuesday. STC does not intend to acquire majority control of Telefonica, it added in a statement. STC is Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator and also owns subsidies and has stakes in companies operating in Kuwait and Bahrain. It is 64% owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the main engine of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 to wean the economy off its dependence on oil.

Persons: Sergio Perez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang Organizations: Spanish Telecom, Telefonica, REUTERS, Saudi Arabia's, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi, Europe

☆ Saudi's SABIC to sell steel unit Hadeed to PIF for $3.3 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Basic Industries Corp (2010.SE) said on Sunday it had agreed to sell subsidiary Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed) to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) for an enterprise value of 12.5 billion riyals ($3.33 billion). SABIC, one of the world's biggest petrochemical companies, reported a massive slump in its second-quarter net profit on lower average sales prices and weaker demand. The fair valuation of Hadeed's net assets is expected to result in a non-cash loss of between 2 to 2.5 billion riyals in Q3 earnings, SABIC said. Separately on Sunday, it was announced the PIF had sold its 10.9% stake in National Gas and Industrialization Company through a private share sale for 491.2 million riyals ($130.96 million). ($1 = 3.7508 riyals)Reporting by Rachna Uppal; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: SABIC, Hadeed, Rachna, David Evans Organizations: Saudi Basic Industries Corp, Saudi Iron and Steel Company, Public Investment Fund, National Gas and Industrialization Company, Jadwa Investment, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saudi

☆ Major Gulf bourses fall amid China gloom
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Md Manzer Hussain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO-Traders wait at the Bahrain Bourse after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency, in Manama, Bahrain, November 8, 2020. The Qatari index (.QSI) fell for a third consecutive session, ending 0.1% lower, with most sectors in the red. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) was down 0.3%, with a 1.3% slump in oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE). The world's biggest oil company is considering selling a stake worth as much as $50 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) dropped 0.8%, snapping its winning streak from the six previous sessions, with most sectors in the red.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hamad I Mohammed, Md Manzer Hussain, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Bahrain Bourse, U.S, REUTERS, Qatar National Bank, Commercial Bank, Saudi Aramco, Wall Street, Saudi Basic Industries, Saudi Iron and Steel Company, Public Investment Fund, International Bank, Thomson Locations: Bahrain, Manama, China, Saudi, El

☆ StanChart to sell jet leasing arm to Saudi wealth fund unit for $3.6 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Rishav Chatterjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Standard Chartered bank logo is seen at their headquarters in London, Britain, July 26, 2022. Riyadh-headquartered AviLease, also known as Aircraft Leasing Co, is a jet lessor owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. StanChart said in January it was exploring options for its global aviation finance business. Dublin-based Standard Chartered Aviation Finance owns and manages more than 120 aircraft and offers services including jet fuel hedging, debt financing and remarketing of unneeded planes. PIF is setting up startup carrier Riyadh Air to predominantly serve the kingdom’s capital, which has ambitions to become a global business hub.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, StanChart, Simon Cooper, Airfinance, Fahad Al, Saif, AviLease, Rishav Chatterjee, Shounak Dasgupta, Mark Potter Organizations: Chartered, REUTERS, Aircraft Leasing Co, Chartered Aviation Finance, Aviation Finance, Corporate, Institutional Banking, Standard Chartered, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, Dublin, Europe, Bengaluru

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