The listing of Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company could kick-start the kingdom’s initial public offering pipeline, according to our Bassel Khatoun and Salah Shamma. They discuss what the deal could mean for Saudi Arabia and the implications it has for global capital markets.
Q3 2019 hedge fund letters, conferences and more
Saudi Aramco’s initial public offering (IPO) is significant not just because of the company’s valuation at US$1.5-$2 trillion, but also for the opportunity it presents to kick-start the kingdom’s long-awaited privatization program. We believe this could reinvigorate the Saudi stock exchange IPO market.
Floating 5%–10% of Aramco should be a transformational deal for Saudi Arabia, in our view. A successful Aramco listing on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) would provide a much-needed shot of confidence for local investors. It could also be the nudge required to bring even more Saudi companies to market. The Saudi authorities have an ambitious target of increasing the number of listed companies on the Tadawul from 193 to 250 by 2022.
We believe Saudi Aramco’s IPO is a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision. In our view, the broader privatization of state assets will likely accelerate the flow of foreign capital into Saudi Arabia, improve liquidity and transparency as well as continue to help diversify its economy away from its dependency on oil. The Saudi government has said it wants to raise as much as US$200 billion through privatizations in the coming years. This includes the kingdom’s target of generating US$9 billion-$11 billion from the privatization of assets by 2020, spanning sectors including health, water, transportation, education, municipalities, energy, sports and communication.1
Only two IPOs were completed on the Tadawul in the second quarter of this year, compared with four in the same period in 2018.2 We feel a broader representation of different Saudi sectors on the Tadawul is needed to deepen the stock market and make it more “investable” in the eyes of international investors.
The “halo effect” of Aramco’s share sale on the country’s IPO market should not be underestimated. It’s not a stretch to imagine that with the international investor spotlight firmly on Saudi Arabia, and Aramco specifically, more local firms in the kingdom will likely look favorably on pursuing life as a publicly listed company.
It is worth noting too the significant impact that Aramco’s IPO will have on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s capital markets and the wider emerging market universe.
Assessing the Wider Impact
As of October 29, the MENA region accounts for 4.4% of the MSCI Emerging Market Index, with Saudi Arabia making up 2.4% of the index following its inclusion.3 This weighting should further increase to 5% when Kuwait is included in 2020. And, with Aramco likely to list 5% of the company over time, this would by our estimations add up to 1.8 percentage points to MENA’s MSCI emerging-market representation. The MENA region’s overall weighting would reach close to 7%, and consequently put it on par with the likes of Emerging Europe, Brazil, South Africa and India.4
By bringing more local companies to market, there’s an opportunity to bolster levels of corporate governance and transparency in the country as listed corporates come under the careful watch of market regulators and investors. Another upside of listing assets that were previously government-owned is that IPOs can attract large, strategic investors, often global in focus, who can bring fresh thinking and innovative ways of running a business.
What’s Next?
In general, we believe that as Saudi Arabia’s privatization program gains momentum, the flow of foreign capital into Saudi Arabia will likely accelerate, helping increase stock market liquidity and further improve levels of corporate governance and transparency.
Rules and regulations governing IPOs in Saudi Arabia are also evolving. Work on the ground in Saudi Arabia continues at an impressive pace to eradicate some of the hurdles companies face when contemplating an IPO. The country’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) should be applauded for the hard work it has undertaken over the previous few years in making the Tadawul more accessible and attractive to global investors, meaning investors in the kingdom should continue to benefit from a more institutionalized and liquid stock market.
Recently issued regulations aimed at allowing companies from other Gulf countries to cross-list on the Tadawul is further proof of the forward-thinking approach that the Saudi regulator is adopting to help grow and develop the stock market. This is exactly the type of innovative behavior that will, over time, encourage more companies to eye a listing on the Saudi stock market. But the momentum for change can’t stop here and there’s still plenty of scope for further reforms.
A successful Aramco listing, in our view, would highlight just how far the local market has come in such a short space of time. The IPO could also be the much-needed catalyst to carry out other future marquee privatizations laid out in the country’s Vision 2030 strategy. We believe this latest development bodes well for the development of Saudi Arabia’s stock market and reinforces the kingdom’s reputation as a rising star within the emerging market universe.
To get insights from Franklin Templeton delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the Investment Adventures in Emerging Markets blog.
For timely investing tidbits, follow us on Twitter @FTI_emerging and on LinkedIn.
Important Legal Information
The comments, opinions and analyses presented herein are for informational purposes only and should not be considered individual investment advice or recommendations to invest in any security or to adopt any investment strategy. Because market and economic conditions are subject to rapid change, comments, opinions and analyses are rendered as of the date of the posting and may change without notice. The material is not intended as a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any country, region, market, industry, investment or strategy.
The companies and case studies shown herein are used solely for illustrative purposes; any investment may or may not be currently held by any portfolio advised by Franklin Templeton Investments. The opinions are intended solely to provide insight into how securities are analyzed. The information provided is not a recommendation or individual investment advice for any particular security, strategy, or investment product and is not an indication of the trading intent of any Franklin Templeton managed portfolio. This is not a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any industry, security or investment and should not be viewed as an investment recommendation. This is intended to provide insight into the portfolio selection and research process. Factual statements are taken from sources considered reliable, but have not been independently verified for completeness or accuracy. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an offer for any particular security. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Data from third-party sources may have been used in the preparation of this material and Franklin Templeton (“FT”) has not independently verified, validated or audited such data. FT accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss arising from use of this information, and reliance upon the comments, opinions and analyses in the material is at the sole discretion of the user. Products, services and information may not be available in all jurisdictions and are offered by FT affiliates and/or their distributors as local laws and regulations permit. Please consult your own professional adviser for further information on availability of products and services in your jurisdiction.
What Are the Risks?
All investments involve risks, including the possible loss of principal. Investments in foreign securities involve special risks including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in emerging markets, of which frontier markets are a subset, involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. Because these frameworks are typically even less developed in frontier markets, as well as various factors including the increased potential for extreme price volatility, illiquidity, trade barriers and exchange controls, the risks associated with emerging markets are magnified in frontier markets. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular industries or sectors, or general market conditions.
______________________________________________________________________
- Source: Saudi Government, October 2018.
- Franklin Templeton estimate, based on calculation of index weighting.
- The MSCI Emerging Markets Index captures large- and mid-cap representation across 24 emerging-markets countries. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot directly invest in them. They do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. MSCI makes no warranties and shall have no liability with respect to any MSCI data reproduced herein. No further redistribution or use is permitted. This report is not prepared or endorsed by MSCI. Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com.
- PwC IPO Monitor Report, 2019.
Article by Bassel Khatoun and Salah Shamma, Franklin Templeton
