Abu Dhabi-based Multiply Group has announced that it will be investing around AED367 million ($100 million) in the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) landmark initial public offering as a cornerstone investor.
A technology-enabled Emirati holding company, Multiply has a global presence across five industries, including media and communications, utilities, ventures, wellness and beauty, and digital economy.
The group’s diversified portfolio strikes a balance between steady companies that generate recurring income and high-growth businesses.
Its latest investment follows a series of strategic acquisitions, which looks to create a unique technology-enabled ecosystem to pursue growth across five vertical segments: media and communications, utilities, ventures, wellness and beauty, and digital economy.
The past year saw Multiply Group acquire stakes in UAE-based assets with substantial earning potential and international high growth firms, including US vehicle-focused digital media platform Firefly, global visual content firm Getty Images, Rihanna's direct-to-consumer e-commerce fashion firm Savage X Fenty, PAL Cooling Holding, Emirates Driving Company, and Viola Communications.
Multiply Group benefits from a strong leverage-free liquidity position, having raised AED3.1 billion in a pre-listing private placement that was 16 times oversubscribed.
Its strategy is to pursue profitable growth through a diversified portfolio striking a balance between steady companies that generate recurring income and high-growth businesses.
Samia Bouazza, CEO and Managing Director at Multiply Group, said: "Our interest in the Dubai utility's public offering is driven by our confidence in the UAE’s economy. Dewa has successfully cemented its position as one of the region’s leading fully integrated utilities companies by capitalizing on its strong market fundamentals and state-of-the-art infrastructure."
"The company’s unique positioning, attractive financial profile and clear strategic objectives make it an attractive investment for Multiply Group. Furthermore, as regional capital markets continue to perform favorably, we believe that our investment into Dewa will generate substantial value for our shareholders," she added.-TradeArabia News Service