COP28: UN climate event mobilizes over $57bn in first four days
Updated 04 December 2023
Arab News
DUBAI: The UN’s climate action summit has mobilized over $57 billion from various sectors in just four days of the event, with financial pledges and commitments covering finance, health, food, nature and energy.
On climate finance, the UAE announced on opening day a $30 billion catalytic fund, ALTÉRRA, with an emphasis on unlocking private finance across the Global South.
The COP28 host-country also partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to contribute $200 million for ‘Food Systems, Agriculture Innovation and Climate Action,’ focused on agricultural research, scaling agricultural innovations and funding technical assistance.
It also announced a $150 million pledge for water security.
The World Bank meanwhile announced an increase of $9 billion annually to finance climate-related projects.
In a historic move, the Climate Loss and Damage fund was finally operationalized with about $750 million pledged in the first 48 hours of COP28 to help vulnerable nations cope with the impacts of climate change.
In addition, $3.5 billion has been announced to replenish the Green Climate Fund; $2.7 billion was pledged for health; $2.6 billion for food systems transformation; $2.6 billion to protect nature; $467 million for urban climate action and $1.2 billion has been committed for relief, recovery and peace.
On energy, $2.5 billion was mobilized for renewables and $1.2 billion for methane emission reduction. In addition, $568 million was pledged to drive investments in clean energy manufacturing.
Meanwhile, eight new declarations have been announced that will help transform every major system of the global economy including food systems, health and renewable energy.
Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840
Parallel market Nomu gained 681.17 points, or 2.28%, to close at 30,540.28
MSCI Tadawul Index lost 4.52 points, or 0.30%, to close at 1,486.82
Updated 14 sec ago
REEM WALID
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Thursday, losing 27.40 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 11,840.52.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.39 billion ($1.43 billion), as 98 of the stocks advanced and 131 retreated.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 681.17 points, or 2.28 percent, to close at 30,540.28. This comes as 63 of the listed stocks advanced, while 23 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 4.52 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 1,486.82.
The best-performing stock of the day was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., whose share price surged 10 percent to SR0.33.
Other strong performers included Saudi Reinsurance Co., with a 7.05 percent increase in its share price to SR43.30, and Saudi Chemical Co., which saw its share price rise 5.46 percent to SR10.24.
Saudi Cable Co. recorded the largest decline, with its share price dropping 4.02 percent to SR97.90.
CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw its stock fall 3.13 percent to SR49.50.
Naseej International Trading Co. experienced a 2.64 percent drop in its share price, which fell to SR92.30.
On the announcements front, Saudi Awwal Bank has disclosed its intention to issue an SR-denominated Additional Tier 1 Sukuk through a private placement in the Kingdom, as part of its SR20 billion Additional Tier 1 Sukuk issuance program.
According to a Tadawul statement, the bank has appointed HSBC Saudi Arabia as the sole lead manager for the proposed offer. The statement said the purpose of the issuance is to strengthen the bank’s capital base and support the achievement of its long-term strategic objectives.
The amount and terms of the sukuk will be determined at a later stage, based on market conditions at that time.
Saudi Awwal Bank closed the session at SR31.40, down 0.63 percent.
The Saudi Investment Bank has announced the completion of its US dollar-denominated Additional Tier 1 capital sustainable sukuk offering under its Additional Tier 1 capital sukuk program.
A bourse filing revealed that the offer is valued at $750 million, comprising 3,750 sukuk with a par value of $200,000 each and a return of 6.275 percent.
The sukuk have a perpetual maturity, callable after five years. Settlement of the sukuk issuance is scheduled for Nov. 27, and the sukuk will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market.
Saudi Investment Bank closed the session at SR13.88, down 0.29 percent.
Aramco to increase borrowing, focus on dividend growth, CFO says
Updated 21 November 2024
Reem Walid
RIYADH: Saudi Aramco plans to increase borrowing and focus on enhancing its dividend distribution strategy, revealed the company’s chief financial officer.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Ziad Al-Murshed explained that this move is part of the company’s efforts to optimize its capital structure.
Aramco is considered one of the pillars of the Saudi economy, encompassing the entire oil production chain, from hydrocarbon extraction to energy generation, as well as refining and commercial distribution activities.
“You’ll see us do a couple of things. One is, just take on more debt compared to use of equity,” Al-Murshed said during the interview.
“It’s nothing to do with the dividend, it is optimizing our capital structure so that we end up with a lower weighted average cost of capital,” he added.
Aramco returned to the debt market earlier this year after a three-year hiatus, raising $9 billion in two separate issuances. In June, it launched a $6 billion offering of dollar-denominated bonds, followed by a $3 billion issuance of Islamic bonds in September.
The CFO noted: “We had the luxury of sitting out those three years until the market became conducive.”
Al-Murshed provided insight into how the company increased its dividend by 4 percent in each of the past two years and is now paying over $81 billion in base dividends.
“We’re looking for it to be progressive over the years,” he said, adding that the company’s free cash flow supports this strategy.
While the company plans to issue debt regularly, Al-Murshed emphasized that it will not be overly frequent and revealed that Aramco has no plans to sell more debt for the remainder of 2024.
“We want to be active, but we don’t want to be too active,” he said.
The CFO further clarified that the company’s decision to sell debt is primarily aimed at broadening its investor base.
Al-Murshed did not specify whether Aramco would borrow to support its dividend payments, which are set to total $124 billion this year, exceeding the company’s earnings.
Earlier this month, Aramco reported a net profit of SR103.37 billion ($27.52 billion) for the third quarter of 2024, exceeding analyst expectations, which had projected a median net income of $26.9 billion.
However, in a statement released at the time, the company noted a 15.4 percent decline in net profit compared to the same period in 2023, attributed to challenging market conditions, including lower prices for crude oil, refined products, and chemicals.
Aramco’s vision remains to be the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals company, operating in a safe, sustainable, and reliable manner.
Saudi Arabia's Ma’aden proceeds with $10bn capital raise to boost phosphate stake
Ma’aden said its shareholders will convene virtually on Dec. 11 to approve the capital increase
Plan includes issuing 111 million new ordinary shares valued at SR10 each
Updated 21 November 2024
MIGUEL HADCHITY
RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Mining Co., or Ma’aden, has issued a shareholder circular outlining the terms of its plan to raise its share capital to SR38.03 billion ($10.1 billion) from SR36.92 billion to boost its phosphate business.
The move follows an earlier announcement to acquire a 25 percent stake in Ma’aden Wa’ad Al-Shamal Phosphate Co. from Mosaic Phosphates B.V., increasing its ownership in the joint venture to 85 percent.
In April, Ma’aden announced the signing of an agreement to acquire 210.93 million shares owned by Mosaic Co. and its subsidiary, Mosaic Phosphates B.V. Regulatory approval for the transaction was granted in November by the Capital Market Authority.
In a bourse filing, Ma’aden said its shareholders will convene virtually on Dec. 11 to approve the capital increase. The plan includes issuing 111 million new ordinary shares valued at SR10 each, representing a 3.01 percent rise in the company’s share capital.
In exchange, Mosaic Phosphates will transfer its MWSPC stake to Ma’aden, aligning with the Saudi firm’s strategic expansion in the phosphate sector.
MWSPC, established in 2014 and based in Turaif, is a joint venture between Ma’aden, Mosaic Co., and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. Following the transaction, SABIC will retain its 15 percent stake while Ma’aden strengthens its position as a global phosphate leader.
Mosaic Netherlands Holding Co., a subsidiary of Mosaic Co., will receive the newly issued shares, which will be subject to a three-year lock-up period. Limited transfers will begin in the fourth year, with full tradability by the fifth year, the circular said.
The acquisition will enhance Ma’aden’s control over MWSPC, recognized as a low-cost, large-scale phosphate producer. It will also grant Ma’aden access to Mosaic’s marketing rights, a component of the deal’s valuation at SR5.62 billion.
Ma’aden expects increased earnings per share following the transaction, reflecting anticipated synergies and enhanced operational efficiencies, according to the document.
The company assured shareholders that all regulatory approvals for the transaction have been secured, with a detailed timeline for procedural steps provided in the circular.
The move underscores Ma’aden’s commitment to driving value creation in the Kingdom’s mining sector, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and develop industrial capabilities.
In the first half of this year, Ma’aden achieved a net profit of SR2 billion, marking a 160 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The surge in profitability was driven by several key factors. A major contributor to this financial success was the significant boost in sales volume, according to a Tadawul statement.
The company’s robust performance in primary aluminum and gold sales played a crucial role in driving up revenues. Ma’aden also benefited from reductions in raw material costs and lower depreciation expenses, which further enhanced its profitability.
Ma’aden’s performance and strategic advancements underscore its commitment to leading the mining sector and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification goals, particularly in developing mining as a critical pillar of the Kingdom’s industry.
Saudi Urban 20 delegation emphasizes need for frameworks to tackle development issues
Updated 21 November 2024
Nour El-Shaeri
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia emphasized the need for comprehensive strategic frameworks to tackle global economic, climate, and development challenges during the seventh Urban 20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
A delegation led by Fahd Al-Rasheed, adviser to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, participated in several key discussions at the event, highlighting the Kingdom’s urban development strategies and its commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and economic empowerment on a global scale.
Speaking about the country’s approach to urban transformation, Al-Rasheed said: “Saudi Arabia has adopted a comprehensive strategic framework for urban development and transformation that empowers city leadership to pursue the initiatives that drive their growth and success.”
He also underlined that the U20, which unites cities from G20 member states, is vital in facilitating tools such as financing models to support cities in achieving their goals.
Al-Rasheed gave those remarks during a panel discussion titled “Empowering Cities on their Own Paths to Development,” which included global urban leaders such as Edward Glaeser of Harvard University, Nasiphi Moya, mayor of Pretoria, and Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix.
At the summit, Al-Rasheed also attended the launch of the first U20 book, a compilation of insights from global urbanists addressing shared challenges faced by metropolizes.
His contribution, titled “Enlightened City Leadership: A New Model for a Sustainable Urban Future,” highlighted the importance of training city leaders to manage the complexities of modern urban administration.
“Delivering on urban development imperatives requires comprehensive strategic planning that embraces governance, resourcing, and competitive advantage,” he remarked.
Al-Rasheed pointed to projections that cities with populations exceeding 1 million will increase from 700 today to 1,600 by 2080.
To meet the growing demand, he underlined that approximately 2 million urban leadership professionals will need to be trained over the next 35 years.
“Urban development plans must include mechanisms to address pervasive issues, including poverty and social inclusion while preparing the next generation of city leaders to confront the deluge of challenges that cities will continue to face worldwide,” he said.
The Urban 20 event in Brazil. Supplied
Al-Rasheed further explained that although many institutions offer training in disciplines such as urban planning, civil engineering, and public administration, there remains a lack of programs providing a comprehensive curriculum specifically focused on preparing city leaders to address both the technical and socioeconomic aspects of their roles.
The U20 summit concluded with a closed-door session attended by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, where Al-Rasheed reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability and social equity in urban development.
“We are proud to represent Saudi Arabia’s unique perspective and experience in urban development on this important global stage,” he said, according to press release, adding: “We look forward to continuing Saudi Arabia’s legacy of leadership at the Urban 20 and to continuing our work with urban leaders from around the world to unify city voices around common challenges.”
Among the highlights of the delegation’s activities was a mayoral dinner co-hosted by Al-Rasheed and Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio de Janeiro and chair of this year’s Urban 20.
The event brought together more than 100 city leaders, including the mayors of major cities such as Paris, Pretoria, Helsinki, and Phoenix, to celebrate civic leadership and its impact on urban development.
Representatives from multinational organizations, such as Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, also attended the gathering.
In his opening remarks at the dinner, Al-Rasheed said: “Mayoral leadership calls for a unique combination of abilities to anticipate and navigate future trends, including technological disruptions, economic shifts, and demographic changes, while demonstrating the social sensitivity to care for and improve citizens’ daily lives.”
He added: “By convening senior city leaders from around the world to address the common challenges of urban development and city leadership, Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate its commitment to global collaboration in the spirit of the Urban 20.”
British Airways reverses plan to axe Bahrain flights amid outcry
Ex-UK defense secretary: Cancelation would have sent ‘totally the wrong message’
Decision to scrap Kuwait route remains ‘under review’
Updated 21 November 2024
Arab News
LONDON: British Airways has reversed a decision to scrap direct flights to Bahrain following a backlash, the Daily Mail reported.
However, flights to nearby Kuwait are still set to be suspended in March as part of previous plans aimed at tackling financially unviable flights at the airline.
Earlier this month, the Mail reported that BA had planned to cancel the Bahrain and Kuwait routes after almost a century of service.
The Gulf states have long had close ties to Britain, and the decision reportedly angered officials in Manama. Airline staff who served on the two routes were also set to lose their jobs.
Though the Kuwait route axing remains “under review,” the initial decision to cancel the Bahrain route would have sent “totally the wrong message” about the UK’s diplomatic stance toward the Gulf region, former Defense Secretary Liam Fox told the Mail.
Thousands of residents in Bahrain with close ties to the UK launched a petition demanding that the route remain available.
Bahrain hosts a Royal Navy base at Mina Salman Port, and the country has long had close commercial and trade ties with the UK.
BA said in a statement: “Following discussions with our partners and stakeholders, we can confirm we will operate a service between London Heathrow and Bahrain International Airport three times a week from the start of the summer 2025 season. This will increase to a daily service from the start of the Winter 2025 season.”
BA’s predecessor Imperial Airways first launched flights to Bahrain in 1971.
Manama became a key financial hub in the Gulf partly due to the presence of London-based Standard Chartered, which set up the country’s first bank in 1920.
Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, the Mumtalakat, owns McLaren, the UK luxury automotive manufacturer.
The fund plans to expand its British holdings through a series of investments, the Mail reported earlier this year.
The UK is also negotiating a free trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain and Kuwait.
The six GCC countries combined represent the UK’s fourth-largest export market after the US, the EU and China.
Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah, chief of the Bahrain Airport Co., said: “We are delighted to witness British Airways continue operations at Bahrain International Airport.
“As the oldest airline operating out of Bahrain for over 92 years, the enduring partnership with British Airways is a testament to our shared commitment to excellence.”
