Brands For Less partners sells 35% stake to US retail giant the TJX Cos.
Updated 21 August 2024
Nadin Hassan
RIYADH: UAE-based fashion, homeware, and toys retailer Brands For Less, has agreed to sell a 35 percent stake to the TJX Cos. in a deal that values the business at $1.2 billion.
BFL will use the partnership to receive valuable guidance from the US-based department store corporation, as it seeks to expand beyond the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The TJX Cos. has over 5,000 stores across nine countries on three continents, while BFL has over 120 outlets across the GCC and Europe – entering into the Saudi market in June 2022
“We are thrilled and honored to have TJX as an investor and we thank TJX CEO and President Ernie Herrman and his leadership team for placing their trust in our business,” said Toufic Kreidieh, executive chairman and co-founder of Brands For Less Group.
He added: “This is an exciting opportunity for growth, and with TJX’s international expertise, we are well placed to successfully execute our strategy while supporting the development and rewarding the dedication of our employees.”
In the last two years, BFL has opened more than 35 new stores in Saudi Arabia and is preparing for further international expansion.
Speaking during the 10th Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit in February, Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al-Hojail highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s retail sector contributes 23 percent to the non-oil economy and is aiming to exceed SR460 billion ($122.6 billion) by the end of 2024.
He said this area holds utmost importance as it is a key driver in the economy and local gross domestic product.
Closing Bell: Saudi benchmark index declines 1.84% amid mixed market movements
Updated 12 sec ago
MANAL AL-BARAKATI
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Wednesday, shedding 220.2 points, or 1.84 percent, to close at 11,766.4.
The benchmark index saw a total trading turnover of SR6.15 billion ($1.66 billion), with 18 stocks advancing and 212 retreating.
In contrast, the Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, rose by 163.52 points, or 0.64 percent, ending the day at 25,764.1. In this market, 25 stocks advanced while 38 declined.
Additionally, the MSCI Tadawul Index fell by 28.96 points, or 1.94 percent, to close at 1,463.16.
The best-performing stock was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., with its share price rising 5.56 percent to SR0.19.
Other notable performers included Middle East Specialized Cables Co., which saw a 5.24 percent increase in its share price, and Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund, which rose by 5.12 percent.
On the downside, Saudi Fisheries Co. was the worst performer, with its share price falling by 10 percent to SR23.94.
ARTEX Industrial Investment Co. and Red Sea International Co. also saw their share prices slip by 5.13 percent and 5.12 percent, respectively, closing at SR16.6 and SR48.2.
On the parallel market, Leaf Global Environmental Services Co. stood out as the top performer, with its share price surging 18.82 percent to SR101.
Other notable gainers in the Nomu market included Qomel Co., which rose 8.2 percent, and Edarat Communication and Information Technology Co., which saw a 6.74 percent increase.
The worst performer on the parallel market was Meyar Co., with its share price dropping 4.47 percent to SR62. Fad International Co. and Alhasoob Co. also experienced declines of 4.37 percent and 3.97 percent, respectively.
SAMA Healthy Water Factory has announced its intention to launch an initial public offering on the parallel market, Nomu, offering 30 percent of its shares to the public.
Based in Saudi Arabia, SAMA Healthy Water Factory specializes in the production and distribution of bottled water. This IPO is a strategic step in the company’s broader plan to expand its footprint in Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning water and beverage sector, while also raising capital for future growth and operational initiatives.
The move is expected to boost SAMA’s visibility and open up new investment opportunities. It aligns with Vision 2030’s goals of fostering private sector growth, diversifying the economy, and creating new prospects for both local and international investors.
By listing on Nomu, SAMA Healthy Water Factory aims to solidify its market position and contribute to the Kingdom’s ambitious economic transformation.
Wizz Air launches cheap flights between London, Jeddah
Overnight route will run daily using new Airbus long-haul A321XLR planes
The route will launch in March, with tickets already on sale for £135
Updated 11 September 2024
Arab News
LONDON: People in the UK will be able to reach Saudi Arabia for significantly reduced prices after budget carrier Wizz Air launched new flights from London.
The seven-hour overnight route will run from March 2025, connecting Gatwick Airport to Jeddah on new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The carrier will also run a route to Abu Dhabi from the Italian city of Milan from June.
Tickets to Jeddah have gone on sale at £135 ($176.5), with each flight to carry up to 239 passengers.
The airline said some flights will be cheaper at $116.99 and run daily all year round, adding that they will connect “two vibrant cities.”
At a press conference in Jeddah, Andras Rado, Wizz Air’s head of communications and government affairs, said: “The Airbus A321XLR is the most cost-efficient aircraft of its class and, given the enhanced range capability, it enables Wizz Air to connect the furthest destinations in its network and further expand it, connecting cultures and continents.
“We’re excited to unlock unbeatable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London, while offering the most sustainable option for flying … This new aircraft type marks a new era of ultra-low-fare travel on long-haul routes.”
Wizz Air will become one of the first operators of the new Airbus model, alongside Aer Lingus and Iberia, and has ordered 47 of the planes.
It is the furthest ranged of Airbus’s A320 aircraft, with a range of 8,700 km, and emits 30 percent fewer carbon emissions than its Boeing 757 and 767 competitors.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, said the new model should help open more long-haul routes for the travel hub.
Wizz Air hopes that the new route to Jeddah will undercut British Airways. In a press release, Wizz Air said it “remains committed to expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”
The airline added that it is “contributing to the country’s connectivity in line with Vision 2030 and following a partnership agreement with the Saudi Tourism Authority to increase connectivity to Europe and boost inbound visitors.”
Apple committed to user privacy, says director at Global AI Summit
Device owners at center of Apple policy, says Gary Davis
Firm supports Saudi Arabia’s personal data protection law
Updated 42 min 35 sec ago
Arab News Japan
RIYADH: Apple remains committed to protecting the data and privacy of its users, according to a senior executive speaking at the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Gary Davis, global senior director of privacy and regulatory matters, said: “Apple’s privacy commitments are built into our products and features by design because at Apple, we believe that privacy is a human right.”
“That’s why Apple has, for many years, supported the introduction of data privacy laws globally. And that is why we support the introduction of your personal data protection law here in Saudi Arabia.”
Davis said the company’s approach will remain the same even as it integrates artificial intelligence into its products.
“Apple's approach to emerging technologies, like AI, is no different,” he said. “As we deeply integrate Apple Intelligence into iOS, iPadOS and macOS, we will not veer from our whole commitment to user privacy.”
Davis said the use of AI must encompass respect for human values. “It’s not only a possibility, it’s a responsibility,” he said. “We’ve been guided by our belief that great artificial intelligence and great privacy standards are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually reinforcing.”
He added that Apple operates from four basic principles: collecting as little data as possible; device owners have the rights to their data; users will have the final say in data collection; and there is no privacy without security.
“Time and again, we’ve introduced many exciting cutting-edge features that are built from the bottom up to protect user privacy,” he said, citing the firm’s browser, Safari, its cloud storage and Apple Intelligence as examples.
“Safari blocks third-party cookies by default and has undertaken many new innovations to continue to ensure that, as you use it, you remain completely in control of your data,” he said.
“Apple Intelligence is built from your experiences across your device. That includes your photos, your messages, your files, and calendar events. So that it can provide you, and only you, with information and assistance based on what matters to you.”
He said that even if some companies say they will not misuse people’s data, the users have no way of checking or verifying if this is true.
“Our basic principle is that no one, not even Apple, perhaps even especially Apple, should have visibility into your requests, even if your data is leaving your device and going to a cloud.
“To mitigate entire classes of privacy risk, we omitted persistent data storage, we replaced the tools normally used to manage servers, and we took steps to prevent privileged access.
“The result is an unprecedented cloud security foundation based on Apple Silicon. With Private Cloud Compute, user data is never available to Apple. It’s never stored,” he said.
Saudi Arabia increasingly attractive to investors: BlackRock official
Updated 11 September 2024
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is drawing attention from local and international investors as the Kingdom continues to prosper, according to a top global asset management company official.
In an interview with Arab News, BlackRock’s Managing Director, Head of Middle East Client Business and CEO Saudi Arabia Yazeed Al-Mubarak, said that the global client base has shown a growing interest in gaining exposure to Middle Eastern assets.
He also underlined that regional investors are increasingly seeking more appealing opportunities within the local market.
“As Vision 2030 and its accompanying capital investment comes to life, Saudi Arabia has become an increasingly attractive destination for local and international investment,” Al-Mubarak said.
In August, BlackRock signed a memorandum of understanding in New York with the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co., fully owned by the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund.
The signing occurred during an official visit to the US by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid Al-Hogail.
The deal seeks to develop the real estate finance sector in the Kingdom and increase the share of businesses in the industry’s capital markets.
The agreement was signed by SRC CEO Majid Al-Abduljabbar and Al-Mubarak in the presence of BlackRock President Robert Kapito.
Al-Mubarak said that SRC is leading the way in developing mortgage refinancing solutions for Saudi banks and housing finance companies, enabling global institutional investors to engage with this expanding and high-quality fixed-income asset class.
Commenting on his company’s memorandum with SRC, the CEO said the announcement is an agreement to develop a high-quality fixed-income asset class of mortgage-related securities.
Providing insight on how BlackRock foresees this partnership impacting the real estate finance market in the Kingdom, he said that the Saudi housing sector is experiencing rapid growth due to population expansion, urbanization, and proactive government initiatives.
“Central to this growth is the Housing Program under Vision 2030 that aims to increase homeownership to 70 percent by 2030,” he said.
He added: “The mortgage market has quadrupled in size over the last five years, exceeding $150 billion and expected to further grow to nearly $200 billion. Prior year’s momentum slowed in 2022-2023 due to house price appreciation, rising mortgage rates, and a significant reduction in historical subsidy programs.”
Al-Mubarak further said that to support this growth and bank lending, SRC is looking to issue securitizations locally and internationally to provide additional funding capacity and contribute to the development of the Saudi debt capital markets.
Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, with Yazeed Al-Humied, deputy governor and head of MENA investments at PIF, in April at the launch of BlackRock Riyadh Investment Management. PIF
Commenting on how this collaboration aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and what role his firm sees itself playing in achieving these goals, the managing director pointed to BlackRock Riyadh Investment Management, or BRIM – launched in April with an initial investment mandate of up to $5 billion from PIF.
The company – dubbed the first-of-its-kind in the Kingdom by BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink when it was announced – will further develop Saudi Arabia’s asset management sector, including the housing capital markets, and provide a broad range of attractive backing strategies for Middle Eastern and global clients.
“BRIM will encompass investment strategies across a range of asset classes for the Saudi market, including both public and private markets, managed by a Riyadh-based investment team,” Al-Mubarak told Arab News.
He added that the guarantee offering provided by the Saudi Mortgage Guarantee Services Co., or Damanat, fully owned by the Saudi Real Estate Development Fund, will now act as an enabler for BRIM’s mortgage-focused fixed income strategies.
Speaking of the long-term goals of this partnership, Al-Mubarak said that these include the development of the Kingdom’s mortgage securitization framework, as well as related investment strategies to enable investors to access this market.
Al-Mubarak discussed his company’s initial partnership with SRC and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, stating that while there are no firm plans at this stage, his company is enthusiastic about working with both entities on future projects.
Aramco enhances cooperation with China’s Rongsheng, Hengli in new deals
Updated 11 September 2024
Miguel Hadchity
RIYADH: Saudi oil giant Aramco has unveiled new agreements with its Chinese partners, Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. and Hengli Group Co., during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to the Kingdom.
According to a press release, these agreements underscore Aramco’s ongoing dedication to bolstering China’s long-term energy security and development while enhancing its strategic relationship with key regional partners.
The agreements include preliminary documentation for a development framework agreement with Rongsheng and a strategic cooperation agreement with Hengli Group. These collaborations occur as Saudi Arabia and China deepen their engagement in the energy and petrochemical sectors, reinforcing Aramco’s role in advancing mutual objectives in these critical industries.
The development framework agreement with Rongsheng involves the potential joint expansion of the Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery Co. facilities. This follows an announcement in April 2024, when Aramco and Rongsheng signed a cooperation framework agreement that set the stage for a joint venture in SASREF and significant investments in the Saudi and Chinese petrochemical sectors.
The joint venture contemplates Rongsheng acquiring a 50 percent stake in SASREF, while Aramco would potentially acquire a 50 percent stake in Rongsheng’s affiliate, Ningbo Zhongjin Petrochemical Co. Additionally, the agreement includes participation in the expansion of ZJPC’s facilities and the development of a liquids-to-chemicals project at SASREF, representing a substantial enhancement in the petrochemical capabilities of both companies.
The strategic cooperation agreement advances discussions related to Aramco’s potential acquisition of a 10 percent stake in Hengli Petrochemical Co., contingent on due diligence and regulatory approvals.
This agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed in April this year, which outlined the proposed transaction and set the foundation for further collaboration between Aramco and Hengli in the petrochemical sector.
Aramco’s Downstream President Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani, emphasized the importance of these agreements, stating that they affirm the company’s belief in the long-term mutual benefits of close collaboration with Chinese partners.
“China is an important country in our global downstream growth strategy, and we look forward to building on a relationship that spans more than three decades to unlock new opportunities in this crucial market,” he said.
Al-Qahtani further said that these agreements reflect a shared intention to strengthen relationships in key sectors, advance Aramco’s downstream goals, and contribute to the vibrant energy and petrochemicals sectors in both China and Saudi Arabia.
These agreements are part of Aramco’s broader strategy to cement its position as a key player in the energy landscape while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic development. By fostering closer collaboration with Chinese partners and exploring innovative technological solutions, Aramco is positioning itself to meet the evolving energy needs of both nations.
The company’s relationship with China spans over three decades, and these latest agreements mark a continuation of this longstanding partnership, with a focus on future growth and innovation.