PARIS: Two of France’s richest businessmen are close to a deal over media and publishing company Lagardere that would hit pause on their attempts to cherry-pick its assets for several years, three sources close to the discussions said on Sunday.
Vincent Bollore, the top shareholder in Lagardere via his Vivendi group, and luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault, also a Lagardere investor, have been at the center of a tussle over the firm and its influential media outlets for months.
The saga has transfixed top political circles in France a year ahead of a presidential election, with some in President Emmanuel Macron’s camp fearing that Bollore could seize assets like Lagardere’s Europe 1 radio and build up a powerful ring-wing outlet that would go against his campaign.
The three sources familiar with the talks said that Bollore, LVMH boss Arnault and Lagardere’s CEO Arnaud Lagardere are finalizing a deal that would include a five-year pact not to dismantle the company.
The details of the agreement and shareholder alliances as well as what would happen to some Lagardere assets, such as Europe 1 and the Journal du Dimanche (JDD) newspaper, have not yet been finalized, the people added.
They cautioned that the deal had not yet been signed and that the talks could come off the boil at the last minute.
Lagardere is due to hold a board meeting on Monday, the sources said.
Arnaud Lagardere, who runs the indebted company founded by his late father, would be ready to let go of an arcane “commandite” structure as part of the deal, the three sources added.
That set-up gave him the power of veto over many key decisions despite holding only 7 percent of the shares, and had been a major obstacle to any takeover attempts of the company.
The “commandite” has been the target of criticism from hedge fund Amber Capital, which has waged an activist campaign against Lagardere’s management over its governance.
Vivendi holds 27 percent of Lagardere, ahead of Amber with 20 percent and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund with 13 percent, while Bernard Arnault has just under 8 percent and has also invested in Arnaud Lagardere’s personal holding company.
“This deal would help clarify the governance problem. There were two layers before, now there would only be one,” one of the people close to the talks said.
It is not yet clear, however, how the pact can be cemented to avoid takeover bids on Lagardere, including by Vivendi, and whether there will be get-out clauses. Sources have previously said that Amber and the Qataris are keen to eventually sell out.
Under the deal being discussed, Bollore could be a big winner. Vivendi could get three Lagardere board seats, one of the sources said.
Arnaud Lagardere would get to run the company for five years, the three source said. Les Echos newspaper reported on Saturday that his stake could also be increased to 14%.
Bernard Arnault had been keen to snap up the JDD newspaper or Paris Match magazine, sources previously told Reuters.
The truce would at least meet one of the billionaire’s goals, which had been to help Arnaud Lagardere keep his job at the top and avoid a full break-up of the group, another of the sources familiar with the talks said.
Arnault’s investment has so far been profitable, this second source said.
French billionaires said to eye truce in battle for Qatar-backed Lagardere
https://arab.news/bymm6
French billionaires said to eye truce in battle for Qatar-backed Lagardere
- Qatar's sovereign fund holds 13 percent of media group
- Saga transfixes top political circles in France
Saudia unveils beta version of new Travel Companion platform
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s flagship airline Saudia has launched a beta version of its digital platform, the Travel Companion, powered by advanced artificial intelligence, aiming to transform the industry.
The new initiative, unveiled during a special event, is part of a two-year plan developed in partnership with global professional services firm Accenture.
“This platform, resulting from our ongoing collaboration with Accenture, signifies our forward-looking approach to providing guests with unparalleled convenience and flexibility,” the Director General of Saudia Group, Ibrahim Al-Omar, said.
The main objective of this launch is to transform how travelers engage with the airline and establish new benchmarks for digital travel.
TC, initially named, offers personalized and tailored solutions to meet individual preferences and needs, providing search results from trusted and authenticated sources and incorporating visual aids in its responses.
The interface is designed as a comprehensive, one-stop solution that enables users to book concierge services, including hotels, transportation, and restaurants, as well as activities and attractions, without the need to switch between multiple platforms.
“This is a beta version. This is not the product. We will keep enhancing and developing it,” Al-Omar stressed.
Moreover, it establishes seamless connections with transportation platforms and various train companies, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted journey.
Commenting on the new announcement, Chief Data and Technology Officer at Saudia, Abdulgader Attiah, told Arab News: “It’s like having the VVVIP concierge service at your hand. For public, it’s not any anymore VIP service. It’s not a paid service. You have it for free, and it will give you all what all kind of services that VVIP service would provide to you, so it’s your private concierge.”
He added: “We will be the anchor for the travel industry. We are not anymore, an operator for an airline, but with this app, you will be an anchor for all tourism ecosystem in a single app, so everyone can collaborate in this app, and having the links, so you don’t need to communicate with any other party, so through this app, you can communicate to all travel ecosystem.”
In future phases, Saudia plans to add more features, including voice command and digital payment solutions.
“Once we add the complete solution we will add the more services, which is we call it the concierge services; booking for hotels and transportation and the restaurants, all of these ones is done during the, next two years, and this is the complete life cycle of the, vision we have today,” Attiah told Arab News.
He added: “If you want to develop this app, five years back, it would take three, four years. Today, we have developed only in seven, eight months. To that from the inspirational part to having an actual booking, we started back in June and now we are live.”
Attiah also underlined that Saudia is the first airline in the world to implement a GenAI-based chatbot that can perform end-to-end actions, meaning it can not only engage in conversation but also execute tasks or actions based on user requests.
With an always-on Travel Companion available through a telecom e-SIM card provided by Saudia, users can stay connected globally without relying on additional internet providers.
Furthermore, users can purchase data packages for extended use, guaranteeing continuous access to the platform’s services.
Saudi economy witnessing a fundamental shift, says minister
RIYADH: Since the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a fundamental shift in its economy and the business environment is transforming with the creation of new sectors, said the Kingdom’s economy minister.
Faisal Al-Ibrahim was speaking at a conference in Riyadh on Wednesday during which he highlighted the fast-evolving business landscape of the Kingdom focused on diversifying its income sources away from oil.
Speaking at the event titled “Industrial policies to promote economic diversification,” the top official said there have been fundamental changes in the legislative and economic regulations to promote sustainable development since the launching of the Vision 2030 plan.
He said the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy have led to the creation of new sectors due to the initiation of several megaprojects such as NEOM, the Red Sea, and others.
“We stand at a crossroads to change the global economy,” Al-Ibrahim said.
He stressed the need for strategies to ensure a flexible and sustainable economy.
“The presence of foreign investments will develop competitiveness in the long term,” the minister affirmed.
The minister also highlighted how the Kingdom was working in the medium term to focus on transforming sectors that represent a technological shift.
Saudi Arabia is keen on achieving development in the medium term by balancing short-term profits and promoting long-term success, Al-Ibrahim highlighted.
Since the launch of the vision, the Ministry of Economy and Planning has conducted several economic studies aimed at diversifying the economy by developing objectives for all sectors, raising complexity levels, and studying emerging economies to enhance the Kingdom’s capabilities.
Saudi Arabia closes April sukuk issuance at $1.97bn
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has completed its riyal-denominated sukuk issuance for April at SR7.39 billion ($1.97 billion), representing a rise of 66.44 percent compared to the previous month.
The National Debt Management Center revealed that the Shariah-compliant debt product was divided into three tranches.
The first tranche, valued at SR2.35 billion, is set to mature in 2029, while the second one amounting to SR1.64 billion is due in 2031.
The third tranche totaled SR3.51 billion and will mature in 2036.
“The Kingdom also plans to expand funding activities during the year 2024, reaching up to a total of SR138 billion from what has been stated previously in the Annual Borrowing Plan, with a portion of this amount already covered up to date,” said NDMC in a press statement.
It added: “This step comes with the aim of capitalizing on market opportunities to achieve proactive financing for the coming year and utilizing it to bolster the state’s general reserves or seize additional opportunities to enhance transformative spending during this year, thereby accelerating strategic projects and programs of Saudi Vision 2030.”
In March, NDMC concluded its second government sukuk savings round for March, with a total volume of requests reaching SR959 million, allocated to 37,000 applicants.
The center added that the financial product, also known as Sah, offers a return of 5.64 percent, with a maturity date in March 2025.
Earlier this month, Fitch Ratings, in a report, said that global sukuk issuance is expected to continue growing in the coming months of this year, driven by funding and refinancing demands.
The credit rating agency noted that various other factors like economic diversification efforts by countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and development of the debt capital market will also propel the growth of the market in the future.
In January, another report released by S&P Global revealed that sukuk issuance worldwide is expected to total between $160 billion and $170 billion in 2024, driven by higher financing needs in Islamic nations.
The report noted that higher financing needs in some core Islamic finance countries and easing liquidity conditions across the world are two crucial factors which will drive the growth of the market this year.
Closing Bell: TASI edges down to close at 12,355 points
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Wednesday, losing 128.72 points, or 1.03 percent, to close at 12,355.69.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR8.45 billion ($2.25 billion) as 41 of the listed stocks advanced, while 187 retreated.
Similarly, the MSCI Tadawul Index decreased by 14.78 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 1,548.62.
Also, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu dipped, losing 365.84 points, or 1.37 percent, to close at 26,326.12. This comes as 17 of the listed stocks advanced, while 45 retreated.
The best-performing stock of the day was Al-Rajhi Co. for Cooperative Insurance as its share price surged by 9.87 percent to SR138.
Other top performers include Al Sagr Cooperative Insurance Co. and First Milling Co., whose share prices soared by 6.38 percent and 5.63 percent, to stand at SR35.85 and SR78.80, respectively.
In addition to this, other top performers included Batic Investments and Logistics Co. and Saudi Research and Media Group.
The worst performer was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., whose share price dropped by 7.14 percent to SR0.13.
Other weak performers were National Co. for Learning and Education as well as Arriyadh Development Co., whose share prices dropped by 5.95 percent and 5.91 percent to stand at SR148.60 and SR22.60, respectively.
Moreover, other subdued performers also include Red Sea International Co. and AYYAN Investment Co.
On the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu, the best-performing stock of the day was Osool and Bakheet Investment Co., as its share price surged by 12.05 percent to SR40.90.
Other top performers on Nomu include Arabian Plastic Industrial Co. and Lana Medical Co., with their share prices soaring by 7.42 percent and 3.59 percent, respectively, reaching SR37.65 and SR41.85.
The worst performer was Jahez International Co. for Information System Technology, whose share price dropped by 5.88 percent to SR32.
Other weak performers were Alhasoob Co. as well as Aqaseem Factory for Chemicals and Plastics Co., whose share prices dropped by 3.61 percent and 3.38 percent to stand at SR64.10 and SR62.80, respectively.
On the announcements front, HSBC Saudi Arabia, serving as sole financial advisor, joint bookrunner, underwriter, and lead manager, has announced the intention of Dr. Soliman Abdel Kader Fakeeh Hospital Co., known as Fakeeh Care Group, to proceed with its initial public offering on the main market of Saudi Exchange.
According to a statement, the offering will include 49.8 million ordinary shares, with 19.8 million existing shares and 30 million new shares upon completion.
This offering is set to represent 21.47 percent of the company's share capital post-capital increase.
Saudi Exchange and the Capital Market Authority approved the listing and IPO, respectively, with the pricing of shares to be determined after the book-building period.
Ministry tenders contract for expansion of Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ministry has tendered a contract to boost the capacity of Riyadh’s Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium to 45,000 seats up from its current 22,188.
The expansion project comes as the Kingdom prepares to host the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in 2027, reported MEED.
This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s plan to build sports stadiums under its SR10.1 billion ($2.7 billion) capital projects program.
The ministry requested proposals on April 8 and expects to receive bids on June 14.
In April, the ministry also tendered an early works contract for the expansion and development of the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
At the time, the scope of the contract included the stadium’s decommissioning, demolition, and bulk excavation, as well as the relocation and setting up of related facilities.
In July 2023, the ministry invited firms to submit pre-qualification documents for the main construction contracts for the schemes in the capital projects program.
The undertakings, which are set for completion before the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, entail increasing the capacity of King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh to 92,000 seats and boosting the seating capacity of Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium to 30,000 seats.
It also includes increasing the seating capacity of the Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Kahir to 45,000 and building a sustainable New Riyadh Stadium north of the city with 45,000 seats.
Another main element of the ministry’s projects program is the construction of as many as 30 new training grounds and facilities in proximity to the stadiums that will be used for the 2027 competition.
Construction on the projects is expected to start in July 2024 and scheduled to be completed by December 2025.
A total of 18 facilities will be ready in time for the 2026 AFC Women’s Cup.
