Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) announced on Wednesday its intention to offer approximately 880 million ordinary shares, corresponding to approximately 5.5 per cent of the issued and outstanding share capital of Adnoc Drilling, through a bookbuild offering.
The offering is open only to professional investors as defined by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority.
The bookbuilding period will begin immediately and is expected to close on Thursday, subject to acceleration. The final number of shares to be placed and the offering price will be determined at the close of the bookbuild process. Final terms of the offering are expected to be announced after the completion of the bookbuilding process.
The offering will consist exclusively of shares held by Adnoc and allows Adnoc to sell a further stake in Adnoc Drilling to enhance liquidity and trading in the company’s ordinary shares and diversify its shareholder base. A higher free float is also expected to provide a pathway towards inclusion in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Market Index, which may take place at the next quarterly review subject to Adnoc Drilling meeting all the relevant inclusion criteria. MSCI inclusion of Adnoc Drilling would contribute to the diversification of the company’s investor base and significantly broaden awareness of its unique value proposition.
Khaled Al Zaabi, group chief financial officer at Adnoc, said: “Since its IPO in October 2021, Adnoc Drilling has delivered exceptional growth and superior shareholder returns including a recent dividend policy upgrade. It is poised for further growth as it unlocks the UAE’s world-class unconventional energy resources and utilizes innovative technologies through its OFS technology joint venture platform Enersol. As a committed, long-term majority shareholder, this offering aligns with Adnoc’s strategic objectives to enhance the liquidity and free float of Adnoc Drilling, diversify its shareholder base and supports value creation. Securing MSCI emerging market index inclusion also underscores Adnoc’s role as a key catalyst and critical enabler of the Abu Dhabi financial market.”
The sale supports Adnoc’s commitment to further strengthen the Abu Dhabi equity capital market while creating sustainable value for shareholders across its listed portfolio. Shares in Adnoc Drilling held by Adnoc which are not sold in the offering will be subject to a lock-up period of six months from the settlement date.
EFG Hermes UAE Limited (acting in conjunction with EFG Hermes UAE LLC), First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan Securities PLC are acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the offering.