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☆ 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

☆ Tiger Woods: How the battle for golf’s soul gave the US golfer new-found purpose – and human connection
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Don Riddell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

CBS Archive/Getty Images Woods, 6, sizes up a putt in Los Alamitos, California, in 1982. Getty Images/Getty Images Woods hits a tee shot during the 1995 Walker Cup, an international team event. Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images Woods plays a shot from the ninth fairway during the 2000 US Open in Pebble Beach, California. David Cannon/Getty Images Woods falls to the ground in pain after hitting a shot at The Barclays in August 2013. Jamie Squire/Getty Images Woods and his son, Charlie, warm up before the final round of the PNC Championship in December 2020.

Persons: Woods, Alan Shipnuck, LIV, ” Shipnuck, ” Bryson DeChambeau, Paul Casey, Crushers, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri, Chris Trotman, “ Tiger’s, “ He’s, he’s, “, “ LIV, Greg Norman, Quentin Tarantino, Brooks Koepka, Koepka, David J, Phillip, Mike Douglas, Bob Hope, Jack D, Miller, AP Woods, Rick Dole, Bob Galbraith, David Cannon, Robert Beck, Patrick Murphy, Nike — Woods, Lennox McLendon, Stephen Munday, Earl, Dave Martin, Alexander Hassenstein, Jonathan Ferrey, He's, Andy Lyons, Allsport, Bob May, Fred Vuich, Jack Nicklaus, Nicklaus, Logan Mock, Bunting, Phil Mickelson, Mickelson, Matthew Stockman, Steve Williams, Harry, Williams, Sam, Damian Dovarganes, Rocco, Gary A, Vasquez, Barack Obama, Pete Souza, Stuart Franklin, Elin, Charlie, Ezra Shaw, Eric Gay, Jimmy Fallon, Lloyd Bishop, Arnold Palmer, Chris Condon, Jason Dufner, Lindsey Vonn, Marco Trovati, Lannis, John Amis, Donald Trump, Getty Images Woods, Warren Little, Jamie Squire, Ben Jared, Wally Skalij, Shutterstock Woods, Tiger, Sam Greenwood, Cliff Hawkins, Jonathan Ernst, they’re, Shipnuck, ‘ I’m, Justin Thomas, I’m, ”, they’ve, what’s, Rory McIlroy, Rory, “ Rory, Bryson DeChambeau, ’, he’d, DeChambeau, “ Patrick Reed, Sergio García, “ Phil Mickelson, HyFlyers, Suhaimi Abdullah, Jay Monahan, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Phil Mickelson’s, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, Reed, Garcia Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, PGA Tour, LIV, Miami, PGA, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, CBS, AP, Tiger, US Junior Amateur, Getty, Los Angeles, Tour, Stanford University, NCAA, Nike —, Las Vegas, Green, Army, Tiger Woods Foundation, Ford, British, Woods Learning, USA, Office, Stanford, NBCU, Bank, Bay, Invitational, Barclays, Trump, Getty Images, PNC, Law, Los Angeles Times, PNC Championship, Hall of Fame, Reuters, HyFlyers GC, Sentosa Golf, European, MBS, Fox News, ” CNN Locations: Los Angeles, Saudi, Delaware, Tiger’s, Los Alamitos , California, Vietnamese, Vietnam, Orange, United States, France, Hamburg, Germany, Pebble Beach , California, St . Andrews, Scotland, Louisville , Kentucky, Fort Bragg , North Carolina, Hoylake, England, Anaheim , California, Woods, Dublin , Ohio, Beaver Creek , Colorado, Atlanta, Rancho Palos Verdes , California, Pacific Palisades , California, Singapore, London, McIroy

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

☆ Davos in the Desert: Jamie Dimon and other bankers visit Saudi Arabia as Israel-Hamas war rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Dubbed “Davos in the Desert,” the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) will welcome about 6,000 participants from more than 90 countries over the next three days. Since the Hamas assault on October 7, Israel has widened its offensive against the Palestinian militant group and other regional enemies. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, denied any personal involvement in Khashoggi’s murder but later confirmed it was carried out by Saudi officials. Bin Salman chairs the Public Investment Fund. “Very few people” had canceled plans to attend the conference, according to Richard Attias, the CEO of the FII Institute, the event’s organizer.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser, Defense Lloyd Austin, Larry Fink, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Noel Quinn, Ray Dalio, Stephen Schwarzman, Harvey Schwartz, Blackstone, Carlyle, “ We’re, it’s, ”, Fraser, Fink, “, Karen E, WeWork, Slack, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia’s, Mohammad bin Salman, Bin Salman, bin Salman, Masayoshi, Richard Attias, Young, — Winston Lo, Michelle Toh Organizations: London CNN, “, Future Investment Initiative, Defense, Palestinian, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, HSBC, Citigroup, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Columbia University’s Center, Global Energy, CNN, Reliance Retail, Softbank’s Vision, Future Investment, FII Institute, Young of Columbia University Locations: Saudi Arabia, Israel, “ Davos, Gaza, Lebanon, Riyadh, Ukraine, Europe, United States, Washington, Russia, Saudi, Istanbul, Kingdom, Hong Kong

☆ Saudi mega-city NEOM sets up $10 bln JV with Denmark's DSV
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

General view of NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia, January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's $500 billion flagship project NEOM on Tuesday set up a $10 billion joint venture (JV) with Denmark's DSV (DSV.CO), the world's third-largest freight forwarder, they said in a joint statement. "The partnership will focus on providing logistics services for NEOM in the coming years," the statement said, adding NEOM will hold 51% of the joint venture and DSV 49%. "The joint venture will provide end-to-end supply chain management, development and investments in transport and logistics assets and infrastructure as well as transport and delivery of goods and materials within NEOM," the companies said. The kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is the cornerstone investor in NEOM, a 26,500-square-km (10,230-square-mile) high-tech development on the Red Sea.

Persons: Hamad I Mohammed, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Yousef Saba, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Denmark's, Saudi Arabia's Crown, NEOM, Public Investment Fund, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Rights DUBAI, Saudi, NEOM

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

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

☆ Hyundai to build Saudi car plant jointly with Saudi wealth fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Hyundai Motor Company is pictured at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRIYADH, Oct 22 (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group (005380.KS) will build a car plant in Saudi Arabia jointly with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Sunday. Hyundai Motor Group, the world's No. Yoon visited Saudi Arabia where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler. Yoon traveled with a delegation of business leaders including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair E.S.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chung, Prince Mohammed, Pesha Magid, Heekyong Yang, Aziz El Yaakoubi, John Stonestreet, David Holmes Organizations: Hyundai Motor, New York, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai Motor Group, Public Investment Fund, South, Hyundai, South Korean, Saudi Crown, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Rights RIYADH, KS, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Riyadh, Gulf

☆ Saudi is wild card in Middle East’s new turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( George Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the 18th consultative meeting of the leaders of the GCC & the Gulf summit with the central Asian countries C5, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 19, 2023. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Mohammed bin Salman is the wild card in the Middle East’s new conflict. Saudi Arabia also needs prices above $85 a barrel in order to balance its budget. Saudi Arabia also needs to consider the views of international investors, though. For now, Saudi Arabia can count on the support of global bankers and fund managers.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Biden, Netanyahu, International Energy Agency reckons, Jamal Khashoggi, nix, Larry Fink, JPMorgan’s, Jamie Dimon, Israel, Antony Blinken, Jordan, ” Blinken, ”, “, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Al Jazeera, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: GCC, Saudi Press Agency, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Hamas, Israel . U.S, MbS, United, Gaza, International Energy Agency, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Saudi, kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, U.S, PGA, Foreign Investment, Telefonica, STC, BlackRock’s, Future Investment, United States, Diplomats, don’t, Palestinian, Israeli, United Arab, Iran’s, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Palestinian, Israel ., United States, Gaza, OPEC, Russia, Saudi Aramco, Riyadh, Palestine, United, Amman, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Lebanon, America

☆ EV maker Lucid's deliveries rise as special lower price aids demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Lucid Air electric vehicle is displayed in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S., September 27, 2021. REUTERS/Hyunjoo Jin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - Lucid Group (LCID.O) posted a nearly 4% rise in third-quarter deliveries on Tuesday compared to the prior three months, benefiting from a special lower price to promote the sale of its Air luxury electric sedan. The loss-making startup also said more than 700 additional vehicles were in transit to its new plant in Saudi Arabia for final assembly. They have lost more than a fifth of their value this year over concerns that EV startups will bear the brunt of Tesla's price war. Reporting by Jaspreet Singh and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hyunjoo Jin, Garrett Nelson, Lucid, Jaspreet Singh, Akash Sriram, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Scottsdale , Arizona, U.S, United States, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru

☆ Will the Saudi prince get his 1.5% GDP growth from sports?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The PIF, with estimated assets of around $700 billion, has also flexed its financial muscle in golf, tennis, boxing and motorsport, to name a few, along with a slew of music and entertainment ventures. These investments are all part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program, an ambitious plan to diversify the country's economy away from its traditional reliance on oil and gas exports. Saudi Arabia's growing presence in sport and entertainment around the world has given rise to allegations of "sportswashing" — with critics claiming the regime is using sport to launder its international reputation against the backdrop of a dismal human rights record. In a recent interview, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto leader and architect of Vision 2030, said he was happy to sportswash if it boosted the kingdom's GDP. But what role does this sporting spending spree play in the kingdom's efforts to secure its economic future, and will it work?

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, English Premier League, Newcastle United Locations: Europe's, Saudi

☆ LIV Golf loses its bid to earn ranking points over questions about a closed shop
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

LIV Golf is playing only for cash, not world ranking points, after the Official World Golf Ranking board determined it could not fairly measure the 48-man league with the other 24 tours around the world. LIV Golf made its debut in June 2022, and the lack of world ranking points has taken an enormous toll. Among those no longer in the top 100 are Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Talor Gooch, who has three LIV Golf victories this year. LIV Golf can reapply to be part of the OWGR system, though the board made it clear that turnover, objective access to LIV Golf and relegating players who don't perform remain key points in getting ranking points. There's also the matter of the PGA Tour, European tour and Saudi backers of LIV Golf (Public Investment Fund) working out a commercial partnership announced in June.

Persons: LIV, LIV Golf, OWGR, Peter Dawson, They're, Jay Monahan, Keith Pelley, Keith Waters, Dawson, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, — Andy Ogletree —, Mito Pereira, Thomas Pieters, Cameron Smith, Smith, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Talor Gooch, Sergio Garcia, Sebastian Munoz, Koepka, Munoz, There's Organizations: Centurion, The Associated Press, International Federation of PGA, Augusta National, PGA of America, U.S . Golf Association, LIV, League, PGA Tour, British, Investment Fund Locations: St Albans, London, Saudi, U.S, Florida

GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia formally informed FIFA of its wish to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 on Monday in a bidding contest that increasingly looks designed for the kingdom to win. That allows the 2034 edition to return to Asia 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup. Infantino has built close ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on frequent visits to the oil-rich kingdom since before the 2018 World Cup. The Saudi soccer project has seen the sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund buy English club Newcastle in 2021. The FIFA Council which agreed to the 2034 World Cup bidding process included nine delegates from European soccer body UEFA, which now has the 2030 tournament.

Persons: “, ”, Gianni Infantino, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, PIF, Karim Benzema, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, Oceania, Qatar, New Zealand, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Newcastle, FIFA Council, UEFA Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian, Europe, Africa, South America, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, United States, Mexico, Canada, Asia, Australia, Saudi, Qatar, Egypt

☆ Indian billionaire Ambani's Reliance Retail to raise $598 mln from ADIA
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail Ventures said on Friday it would raise 49.67 billion rupees ($598 million) from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, in the latest bet on India's largest retailer ahead of a potential stock market listing. "Reliance Retail has demonstrated strong growth and adaptability in a market that is evolving at an unprecedented pace," said Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, executive director of the private equities department at ADIA. The investment comes as Reliance set an internal target to raise $3.5 billion. ADIA and Singapore's GIC had invested $664 million each into the retail unit in 2020 as Reliance sold a 10.09% stake at a valuation of 4.68 trillion rupees. Morgan Stanley acted as financial adviser to Reliance Retail Ventures for the ADIA deal.

Persons: Amit Dave, Mukesh, Hamad Shahwan Aldhaheri, Singapore's GIC, Ambani, Morgan Stanley, Chris Thomas, Maju Samuel Organizations: Reliance Industries, REUTERS, Rights, Retail Ventures, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, ADIA, Reliance, KKR, Qatar Investment Authority, Reuters, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Reliance Retail Ventures, Thomson Locations: Ahmedabad, India, Abu Dhabi, ADIA, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Bengaluru

☆ Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf league will air on ESPN
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney' s ESPN has nabbed the broadcast rights to air matches from TGL, the startup golf league led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. TGL, which is in partnership with the PGA Tour, will have its debut Jan. 9 as part of a multiyear deal. Both TGL matches will air on traditional TV's ESPN and streamer ESPN+. The agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV has yet to be finalized. TGL, a new primetime, high-tech golf league created by Woods, McIlroy and former NBC Sports executive Mike McCarley, has attracted stars from the PGA Tour.

Persons: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, TGL, LIV Golf, LIV, Woods, McIlroy, Mike McCarley, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Steve Cohen Organizations: Augusta National Golf Club, Disney, ESPN, PGA, ABC, College Football, NFL, Tour, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Endeavor Group Holdings, Fenway Sports Group, CNBC, NBC Sports, Major League Baseball's New York Mets, New York, Private Ventures Locations: Augusta , Georgia, TGL, Palm Beach Gardens , Florida

☆ Lucid launches cheaper Air Pure electric sedan to boost demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Lucid Air electric vehicle is displayed at a shopping mall in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S., September 27, 2021. REUTERS/Hyunjoo Jin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 5 (Reuters) - Luxury electric-vehicle maker Lucid Group (LCID.O) on Thursday launched a cheaper, rear-wheel drive version of the Air Pure sedan starting at $77,400, as it looks to stoke demand. The new Lucid model, however, is more expensive than the world's most valuable automaker Tesla's (TSLA.O) Model S luxury sedan, which starts at about $75,000. The cheaper electric sedan will offer a range of 410 miles on a full charge and will be available immediately, Lucid said. The EV maker opened its first overseas production factory last month in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi government has agreed to buy up to 100,000 Lucid vehicles over the next decade.

Persons: Hyunjoo Jin, Tesla, Lucid, Akash Sriram, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, Air, stoke, Sapphire, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Scottsdale , Arizona, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Newark , California, Bengaluru

☆ Saudi Arabia is pouring billions into soccer, golf, and Formula 1. Its crown prince doesn't care if anyone calls it 'sportswashing.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Saudi Arabia is pouring billions into sports in a bid to transform its economy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made the sector a key part of his Vision 2030 plan. But the reality is that the crown prince has a grander ambition: to level up Saudi Arabia's economic growth. "But Saudi Arabia is piling into other sports too, because they want to achieve a lot in a short period of time." AdvertisementAdvertisementAs Crown Prince Mohammed made clear last week, all this forms part of a broader strategy to supercharge Saudi Arabia's economy through investment.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bankrolled, —, Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Joshua, –, Jamal Khashoggi, they've, Steve Luciano, AP Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio, PIF, LIV Golf, Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, LIV, Joshua, that's, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Frank Warren, Prince Mohammed, Mohammed bin Salman, Leon Neal, Simon Chadwick, Chadwick, megastars, Ronaldo –, Salman, bin Salman, Saudi Arabia –, St Andrews, Nick Kyrgios, who've, Elsa, he'd, they'll Organizations: Newcastle United, Service, Washington Post, Saudi, Investment Fund, Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle, AP, Saudi Pro League, Georgetown University Qatar, PGA, WWE, Fox News, SKEMA Business School, Indian Premier League, FIFA Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, England, Riyadh, Brazil, Liverpool, Kingdom, Jeddah, Lille, France, Reiche, Iran, Miami, Augusta, bankroll

☆ Endeavor, Fenway Sports consider investment in the PGA Tour
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) 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. The discussions, which are in preliminary stages, stem from a PGA Tour investment vehicle created as part of the framework agreement for its proposed deal with PIF. "Throughout 2023, the PGA Tour has demonstrated its strength, reach and value as an enterprise. In June, the PGA Tour announced a proposed deal that would see it combine with rival LIV Golf following months of lawsuits and competition between the two. The deal between LIV and the PGA Tour has faced criticism and controversy.

Persons: LIV, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, PIF Organizations: Investment, Endeavor Group Holdings, Fenway Sports Group, PGA Tour, PGA, Public Investment Fund, Endeavor, Fenway, Bloomberg, LIV Golf, Saudi Crown, LIV, UFC, Wrestling Entertainment, Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins Locations: Cromwell , Connecticut, Saudi

Trading information and logo for Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - Endeavor Group (EDR.N) and Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group have expressed interest in investing in the PGA Tour, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. After a very public war of words, PGA, DP World Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit in June announced a shocking agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity. PGA's talks with Endeavor and Fenway are still at an early stage, the source said, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential. Both Fenway and Endeavor are already major players in the sporting industry.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, LIV, PGA's, Niket, Shilpi Majumdar, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Endeavor, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports, PGA, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, U.S, Senators, Fenway, Bloomberg News, Public Investment Fund, Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, Premier League club Liverpool, World Wrestling Entertainment, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Saudi, Bengaluru

☆ 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

☆ Lucid opens first international EV factory in Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 27 (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle maker Lucid Group (LCID.O) said on Wednesday it had opened its first international manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah city, under a deal designed to further the Middle Eastern country's electrification push. Lucid announced plans for the Jeddah factory last year and said the kingdom had signed an agreement to buy up to 100,000 vehicles from the company over 10 years. In 2022, the kingdom launched its first EV brand Ceer and announced $6 billion in investments for a steel plate mill complex and an EV battery metals plant. Industry leader Tesla (TSLA.O) is also reportedly in early discussions to set up a manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia. Lucid's other manufacturing plant is in Arizona, United States.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Lucid, Tesla, Yuvraj Malik, Devika Organizations: Nasdaq, Lucid Motors, Churchill Capital Corp, REUTERS, Industry, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi's Public Investment Fund, EV, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, Jeddah, China, United States, Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, Arizona, Bengaluru

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