Borouge’s $2 Billion Abu Dhabi IPO Draws Asia’s Richest Man
Seven cornerstone investors have agreed to subscribe for $570 million worth of shares in the IPO, including billionaire Gautam Adani.
(Bloomberg) --
The United Arab Emirates’ biggest oil company and Borealis AG are seeking to raise $2 billion from an initial public offering of their chemicals joint venture in Abu Dhabi, set to be the biggest ever listing in the emirate.
Borouge’s IPO price has been set at 2.45 dirhams per share, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. said in a statement on Monday. Adnoc and Vienna-based Borealis are selling 3 billion shares in Borouge, equating to 10% of the maker of specialty plastics. The offer price implies an equity valuation of $20 billion.
Seven cornerstone investors have agreed to subscribe for $570 million worth of shares. The family of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, Asia’s richest man, has committed $75 million, Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ will buy shares worth $120 million and Alpha Dhabi Holding has committed $100 million.
The deal is the latest in a string of blockbuster listings from the UAE and neighboring Saudi Arabia, even as volatility rocks markets elsewhere. The region’s IPO boom has gathered steam as oil and gas prices have surged in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UAE is the third-biggest oil producer in OPEC.
At $2 billion Borouge is set to eclipse Adnoc Drilling Co.’s $1.1 billion IPO last year as the largest ever in Abu Dhabi, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Its order books were covered within a few hours, terms seen by Bloomberg show.
Crude prices have risen about 50% this year, boosting efforts by local energy companies to sell assets and support the shift to a post-oil economy. Saudi Aramco is considering an IPO of its trading arm in what could be one of the world’s biggest listings this year, while Adnoc sold stakes in two units -- Adnoc Drilling and Fertiglobe -- last year.
Read More: Abu Dhabi’s Energy Giant Adnoc Is Thinking About Life Beyond Oil
Issuers have looked to lure investors with rich dividends. Borouge’s owners are expected to receive $975 million in dividends for the financial year 2022, rising to at least $1.3 billion for 2023. Borouge will pay holders in two installments. Adnoc and Borealis will receive a one time $250 million dividend before the listing.
Founded in the late 1990s, Borouge makes plastics used in everything from automobiles and food packaging to medicine vials and piping systems. Its main plant is in Abu Dhabi. The company employs more than 3,000 people and serves customers across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The subscription period starts May 23 and runs until May 28 for UAE retail investors, and to May 30 for institutional investors. Borouge is expected to start trading on June 3.
Citigroup Inc., First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, HSBC Holdings Plc and Morgan Stanley are the the joint global coordinators for the IPO.
(Updates with books covered in fifth paragraph)
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