ADFG-Shuaa merger to create AED2.8bn entity

Bloomberg

Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG) agreed to a reverse merger with Shuaa Capital PSC that will create an investment bank managing $12.8 billion of assets.
The deal values the Abu Dhabi firm’s equity at AED1.5 billion ($408 million) to AED1.6 billion, ADFG Chief Executive Officer Jassim Alseddiqi said in an interview on Wednesday. It also gives the combined entity a valuation of AED2.8 billion and values Shuaa at AED1.12 a share, a 21 percent premium to Tuesday’s closing price.
“If you look at the UAE markets today, it is all about consolidation,” said Alseddiqi, who will become the new entity’s CEO. “Now we will be having a public currency that we can use for further acquisitions opportunistically.”
The Middle East’s financial-services industry is witnessing a wave of consolidation as banks seek ways to improve competitiveness and boost capital. Some of the biggest lenders in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are in the process of combining their operations.
Shuaa’s shares jumped as much as 6.7 percent in Dubai. They have risen 20 percent this year compared with a 4 percent gain for main benchmark Dubai index.
Shuaa will issue 1.47 billion new shares to Abu Dhabi Financial Group’s parent company Abu Dhabi Capital Management in return for the entire issued share capital of ADFG, according to a statement. Shuaa’s agreed valuation is based on the issuance price of AED1 per share, and the undisturbed share price of 0.622 fils per share on March 21.

DUBAI LISTING
The new entity, rebranded as ADFG, will remain listed on the Dubai Financial Market and 58 percent owned by Abu Dhabi Capital Management. The new share issuance is expected to be completed in October.
The firm, with a presence across the Middle East and the UK, hopes to win more investment banking mandates and will focus on areas such as corporate restructurings, Alseddiqi said. It also plans to expand in private equity and fixed-income by offering private debt placements and debt funds, he said.
The combined entity would have had a profit of AED135 million last year on revenue of AED568 million, according to an investor presentation. Shuaa repor-ted a profit of AED27.2 million on revenue of AED206 million in 2018.