UAE’s Aldar at record low on delist talk

UAE’s Aldar at record low on delist talk

Abu Dhabi's Aldar Properties slumped to a record low on Tuesday, on talk that a major government stakeholder could delist the developer, and Egyptian stocks fell as continued clashes between police and protesters unnerved investors.

December 21, 2011 8:47 by Reuters

Shares in Aldar fell 2.3 percent to 0.84 dirham, their lowest price since the stock began trading in 2005. Its year-to-date losses extended to 63 percent, underperforming the Abu Dhabi market, which is down 12.7 percent this year.

Aldar’s share price was diluted on Thursday after it converted a portion of bonds held by the government’s Mubadala Development Co into shares. It could eventually take Mubadala’s stake in the developer to nearly 60 percent.

Abu Dhabi’s government bailed out Aldar in early 2011, with a $5.2 billion rescue package in exchange for 2.8 billion dirhams ($762 million) in convertible bonds to Mubadala and sale of assets including Ferrari World theme park.

“There are rumors that Mubadala has the intention of increasing its ownership in Aldar even more and then trying to delist it like what happened to Aabar,” said Joseph Kawkabani from Franklin Templeton Investments Middle East.

Abu Dhabi-listed Aabar Investment was taken private by parent International Petroleum Investment Co in 2010.

“There’s already less excitement towards Aldar because people have a hard time understanding its commercial proposition,” Kawkabani added.

Abu Dhabi’s index fell 0.8 percent to its lowest finish since March 2009. Sorouh Real Estate also declined, down 1.2 percent.