NatWest Markets Plc, Banco Santander S.A. to sell 5.6% of SABB

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Updated 01 December 2020
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NatWest Markets Plc, Banco Santander S.A. to sell 5.6% of SABB

  • Citigroup Saudi Arabia and Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia are acting as joint bookrunners and joint brokers for the deal

DUBAI: Citigroup Saudi Arabia and Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia announced receiving a notification from NatWest Markets Plc and Banco Santander S.A. about the proposed secondary sale of up to nearly 116 million ordinary shares, or 5.6 percent of The Saudi British Bank (SABB).

Citigroup Saudi Arabia and Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia are acting as joint bookrunners and joint brokers for the deal.

HSBC Holdings B.V. and Olayan Saudi Investment Company Limited have showed interest in participating in the placing at a price of SAR 22.10 ($5.89) per share through purchasing 36.99 million and 42.37 million shares, respectively; highlighting the long-term strategic nature of their shareholdings in SABB.

The respective affiliates of the joint bookrunners, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Goldman Sachs International, have agreed where applicable, following pricing of the sale, to acquire the shares from NatWest Markets Plc and Banco Santander S.A., by way of negotiated deals following which the shares will be sold at the offer price by Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Goldman Sachs International to end-investors through negotiated deals.

The initial sale of the shares to Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Goldman Sachs International and the onward sale of the shares to end-investors will each be recorded as separate trades on Tadawul.

The placing will launch immediately following this announcement.

The placing shares may be sold to institutional investors inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including to institutional investors outside the US in accordance with Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933 and to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Under the terms of the placing, Natwest Markets Plc and Banco Santander S.A. have agreed not to dispose of any remaining shares that they own in SABB for a period of at least 90 days.

The foregoing shall not apply to the sale of shares pursuant to the Placing, or a sale or transfer by Natwest Markets Plc and Banco Santander S.A. of equity securities of SABB, other than a sale or transfer involving a general or public offer or distribution of equity securities, provided that the buyer or transferee shall give a written undertaking to Citigroup Global Markets and Goldman Sachs International to comply with the above restrictions applicable to NatWest Markets Plc and Banco Santander S.A. for the remainder of the above lock-up period.

SABB will not receive any proceeds from the placing.

The transfer of shares remains subject to the results of the accelerated bookbuild process, the execution of the negotiated deals with the potential end-investors and the successful settlement of such transactions.

Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia and Citigroup Saudi Arabia will announce any further material developments, including the amount of shares, if any, being sold and the sale price thereof, the statement added.

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Oman special zones investment rises 6.8% to $3.6bn

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Oman special zones investment rises 6.8% to $3.6bn

JEDDAH: Investment in Oman’s special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities rose 6.8 percent in 2025, reaching 1.4 billion Omani rials ($3.64 billion), official data showed. 

The figure raises the total committed investment under the supervision of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, known as OPAZ, to 22.4 billion rials, the Oman News Agency reported. 

This increase underscores the central role of the zones in Oman’s Vision 2040 strategy to diversify the economy, drive growth, create jobs and expand the private sector. 

The authority said 325 investment agreements were signed across sectors during the year, with additional land allocated for industrial projects in several zones. 

“Development is ongoing in the Al-Dhahira Special Economic Zone, the Al-Rawdah Economic Zone, and the Muscat International Airport Free Zone, alongside four new industrial cities in Al-Mudhaibi, Al Suwaiq, Thumrait and Madha to accommodate diverse industrial activities, enhance local manufacturing, and create additional job opportunities for Omani youth,” the ONA report stated. 

Qais bin Mohammed Al-Yousuf, chairman of OPAZ, emphasized the authority’s commitment to fostering a competitive and attractive investment environment that supports economic diversification and financial sustainability. 

He said the authority’s strategy focuses on positioning special economic zones, free zones and industrial cities as preferred investment destinations through business-friendly regulations, targeted incentives and maximizing value added by projects. 

Al Yousuf added that these zones have established themselves as integrated economic platforms that support diversification, enhance investment attractiveness and maximize the benefits of free trade agreements and comprehensive economic partnerships. 

OPAZ expanded its international outreach in 2025 by joining the World Free Zones Organization, a move aimed at aligning local zones with global standards and attracting cross-border investment. 

The authority is developing specialized clusters including an integrated cold chain hub in Duqm, an aluminum cluster in Sohar Industrial City and a mining cluster in Shaleem, as well as a proposed silica and mining complex in the Duqm Special Economic Zone. 

Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Theeb, deputy chairman of OPAZ, said that 2025 witnessed numerous achievements across the authority’s key focus areas, including planning and development; regulation and supervision; facilitation and aftercare services; marketing and investment attraction; operations and business acceleration; and institutional excellence. 

He further said that the authority increased foreign investment outreach, contacting over 500 companies in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, and sustainable construction, as well as services, logistics, storage, and renewable energy technologies. 

A new digital project-tracking system registered 294 investments across sectors including renewables, petrochemicals, fisheries and minerals by year-end, he added. 

The zones created 4,467 jobs for Omanis in 2025, exceeding the 2,500 target and raising total national employment in the network to 30,780 out of about 85,000 workers. Omanization reached 36 percent, with 4,774 small and medium enterprises operating across the zones.