DUBAI – UAE state energy company ADNOC’s recently formed gas unit will launch on the Abu Dhabi stock market today in a US$2.5 billion (RM11.2 billion) initial public offering (IPO) aimed at tapping high demand for the fuel.
Shares in ADNOC Gas, which only became operational at the start of this year, were heavily oversubscribed even after the offering was expanded from 4.0% to 5.0% of issued share capital in response to strong interest.
The final price was set at 2.37 dirhams (RM2.89) per share, towards the top of its range, raising about US$2.5 billion and implying a market capitalisation of around US$50 billion.
ADNOC Gas is the biggest flotation yet on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange, which opens at 9.30am local time (1.30pm Malaysia time).
At more than 50 times oversubscribed, it is the biggest demand ever seen for an initial public offering in the Middle East and North Africa, outstripping oil firm Saudi Aramco’s world-record US$29.4 billion listing just over three years ago.
The rapidly organised IPO from ADNOC, one of the world’s biggest oil firms, follows last year’s scramble for alternative gas resources after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and comes as countries search for cleaner fuels to mitigate global warming.
Energy consultant Roudi Baroudi, who heads the Qatar-based Energy and Environment Holding firm, said he expected brisk demand when the shares start trading.
“There is every reason to expect that the massive oversubscription we saw will carry over into strong interest when the shares are floated publicly,” said Baroudi.
‘Transition fuel’
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, the United Arab Emirates’ key revenue-earner, retains a 90% stake in the subsidiary formed from its former gas processing, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and industrial gas units.
Gas is being touted as cleaner than other fossil fuels as countries around the world strive to reduce their emissions.
Baroudi said LNG was “the most important transition fuel in the move away from hydrocarbons”.
In 2021, the UAE produced 57 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas, or about 1.4% of global output, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.
That same year, the Emirates exported 8.8 bcm of LNG, 1.7% of world LNG exports, the Statistical Review said.
“As global efforts to battle climate change gain pace, the role of natural gas in general... is widely expected to grow,” Baroudi said.
“ADNOC enjoys a solid reputation, so it was to be expected that the ADNOC Gas IPO would attract strong interest.”
ADNOC Gas could be the first in a series of share offerings in Abu Dhabi this year.
At least eight companies are expected to follow in fields ranging from technology to asset management and regenerative medicine, Bloomberg said, citing Sameh Al Qubaisi, director general of economic affairs at Abu Dhabi’s Economic Development Department. – AFP, March 13, 2023
