RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Public Investment Fund has signed a binding agreement to sell its 10.92 percent stake in National Gas and Industrialization Co. to Jadwa Investment Co. for SR491.19 million ($131 million), according to a bourse filing.  Â
The transaction is set to be executed as a negotiated deal, following the Saudi Stock Exchange’s trading and membership procedures on Sept. 3, with completion expected by Sept. 5, subject to various conditions and steps. Â
The sale involved 8.18 million shares, with GIB Capital serving as the financial advisor to the sovereign wealth fund. Â
Earlier in August, ADES Holding Co., with the backing of PIF, announced its plan to go public on the Kingdom’s main stock exchange.Â
In a statement, the oil and gas drilling firm revealed its plans to issue 339 million ordinary shares during the public offering, resulting in a 30 percent free float after a combination of existing and newly issued shares are sold.Â
PIF, recognized as one of the world’s wealthiest sovereign wealth funds, continues to drive º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s economic diversification endeavors as part of Vision 2030.Â
The fund, over the course of years, has made several strategic investments, as º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s economy moves away from its dependence on oil.Â
Furthermore, in August, PIF-owned AviLease, an aviation financing and leasing firm, inked a definitive agreement to acquire Standard Chartered’s aircraft leasing business, which includes Dublin-based Pembroke Group. Â
Valued at $3.6 billion, this deal encompassed a portfolio of 100 narrow-body aircraft and granted AviLease servicing rights for an additional 22 aircraft, according to a press statement.Â