DUBAI: Logistics firm Tristar has dropped plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in Dubai, with sources saying the deal did not attract enough investor demand.
The move, which confirms what the sources had earlier told Reuters, is a setback for Dubai’s bourse, the Dubai Financial Market, which has not seen a big ticket listing since 2017.
The company said “its board and existing shareholders have decided to withdraw its planned initial public offering on the Dubai Financial Market as existing shareholders’ expectations were not met.”
“The board and existing shareholders believe that greater returns can be realized executing Tristar’s current growth strategy under the established shareholder structure,” it said.
Tristar began its public share sale on April 4, setting a price range that implied a market capitalization of 2.64-3.24 billion dirhams ($719-$882 million).
The company saw weak demand for its shares, said two sources familiar with the matter. The offering was planned to close on April 15.
Part-owned by Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility, Tristar had previously intended to list in London, but plans were scrapped after turmoil at London-listed health care firm NMC shook investor confidence in Gulf companies.
Tristar said earlier this month it expected to raise between 438 million and 537 million dirhams as part of its primary offering, and another 90 to 240 million from a secondary offering.
BofA Securities and Citigroup were global coordinators and joint bookrunners on the deal.
Dubai logistics firm Tristar drops IPO plans
https://arab.news/ydgrj
Dubai logistics firm Tristar drops IPO plans
- Tristar began its public share sale on April 4, setting a price range that implied a market capitalization of 2.64-3.24 billion dirhams
- The company saw weak demand for its shares, said two sources familiar with the matter
Manufacturing and trade drive 5% rise in Saudi operating revenue
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Operating Revenue Index rose 5 percent year on year in November, supported by growth in manufacturing, trade and construction, official data showed.
In its latest report, the General Authority for Statistics noted that the rise was “supported by an increase in manufacturing activities by 6.5 percent,” while wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles, increased by 9.5 percent.
Construction activity expanded 7.4 percent, while financial activities grew 14.4 percent and insurance activities rose 8.6 percent.
The data underline the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification drive under Vision 2030, with non-oil activities such as manufacturing, construction, finance and trade continuing to expand and contribute a larger share to overall economic activity.
On a monthly basis, the index fell 1.2 percent from October, according to the preliminary figures released by GASTAT, pointing to uneven momentum across sectors at the end of the year.
The fall was attributed to weaker performance in some sectors, including a 3.8 percent decrease in mining and quarrying activities and a 25.8 percent drop in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply activities.
In the labor market, the Employees Compensation Index recorded strong annual growth, rising 13.6 percent compared to November 2024. The increase was supported by an 18.8 percent rise in manufacturing activities and a 10.5 percent increase in wholesale and retail trade activities.
On a monthly basis, employee compensation edged up 0.1 percent, reflecting modest gains across several sectors.
Indicators linked to construction activity also strengthened. The number of issued building permits increased 28.4 percent year on year in November 2025, reaching 8,034, compared to 6,258 in the same month a year earlier.
The surge in building permits indicates robust investment in physical infrastructure, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, while rising wages support its aim of improving citizen prosperity.
The report stated this was “a result of the increase in the number of issued building permits during November.” Furthermore, permits showed strong momentum from the previous month, increasing by 7.7 percent compared to October 2025.
