Featured
Abu Dhabi, Tech Giants Said to Vie for $3 Billion Watson Stake
(Bloomberg) — Mubadala Development Co., the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund, and Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. are weighing bids for part of Temasek Holdings Pte’s stake in global retailer A.S. Watson Group, people with knowledge of the matter said.
The Singapore state investment company is considering selling around a 10 percent stake in A.S. Watson for about $3 billion, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Tencent may team up with some investment funds for an offer for the stake in A.S. Watson, which is a unit of Hong Kong tycoon Victor Li’s CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd., the people said.
The holding has also drawn interest from Chinese tech billionaire Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., according to the people. Potential buyers are being invited to management presentations this month, one of the people said.
Shares of CK Hutchison rose 2.5 percent at the close Wednesday in Hong Kong, the biggest gain in more than two months, after earlier rising as much as 3.5 percent. The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 0.5 percent.
Temasek is working with an adviser to explore options for its 25 percent holding in A.S. Watson after receiving some preliminary interest, Bloomberg News reported in January. It bought the stake in A.S. Watson for HK$44 billion ($5.6 billion) in 2014.
No final decisions have been made, and there’s no certainty the suitors will proceed with firm offers, the people said. Differences in valuation expectations could make reaching a deal difficult, and Temasek may still decide to keep the stake, according to the people.
Representatives for Mubadala, Tencent and Alibaba declined to comment. Temasek said in an emailed statement that it doesn’t comment on speculation.
-
Banking & Finance1 month agoOman Oil Marketing Company Concludes Its Annual Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Week, Reaffirming People and Safety as a Top Priority
-
News2 months agoOIG Appoints New CEO to Lead Its Next Chapter of Excellence
-
News2 months agoReport: How India & The Middle East Are Exploiting Immense Economic Synergies
-
Uncategorized2 months agoOman’s ISWK Cambridge Learners Achieve ‘Top in the World’ and National Honours in June 2025 Cambridge Series
-
Trade2 months agoConsulate Office of the Republic of South Africa opens in Muscat, enhancing bilateral relations
-
Economy1 month agoPrime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Visit the Sultanate of Oman on 17-18 December
-
News1 month agoJamal Ahmed Al Harthy Honoured as ‘Pioneer in Youth Empowerment through Education and Sport’ at CSR Summit & Awards 2025
-
News1 month agoIHE Launches Eicher Pro League of Trucks & Buses in Oman

You must be logged in to post a comment Login