Latest news with #MansourAlMulla
Arabian Post
7 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
ADQ Stakes Ambition on Climate-Smart Vegetable Seeds
Abu Dhabi sovereign investor ADQ is negotiating the acquisition of a 35 percent stake in Limagrain's vegetable seeds unit, forging a strategic partnership focused on developing hard‑climate‑resilient crops. The envisioned alliance includes joint research and development initiatives in the UAE, designed to accelerate innovation in seeds tailored to extreme conditions. The proposed investment centres on Limagrain Vegetable Seeds, the vegetable‑seed division of France‑based cooperative Limagrain, a global market leader boasting €796 million in sales for the 2023–24 financial year. ADQ's entry through its agritech subsidiary Silal would create a joint venture operating from Al Ain's Innovation Oasis. The hub features facilities for controlled‑environment testing—greenhouses, growth chambers and seed‑testing labs. Under the agreement, the research partnership will focus on non‑GMO approaches such as gene editing and selective breeding to enhance vegetable species—tomatoes, cucumbers, melons—against heat, drought and salinity. ADQ has emphasised its role aligns with the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051, which aims to raise domestic food output to 50 percent of consumption. Currently, as much as 90 percent of the UAE's food is imported. ADVERTISEMENT Limagrain's CEO, Sébastien Chauffaut, described ADQ as 'a likeminded partner' sharing a long‑term commitment to sustainable investment and innovation. He noted the venture would both strengthen LVS's global leadership and increase access to Middle East and North Africa markets. For ADQ, the move represents a strategic expansion deeper into the food‑agriculture sector. Its track record includes a 45 percent stake in Louis Dreyfus Company, one of the world's largest crop merchants. Mansour Al Mulla, ADQ's Deputy CEO, emphasised that entering the seed space was a logical extension of its existing food‑chain investments, aligning with national economic resilience goals. Experts highlight seed innovation as a key lever in addressing climate volatility. Antonios Vouloudis of NYU Abu Dhabi notes that desert‑adapted seed development is crucial for expanding agriculture in arid zones, complementing controlled‑environment farming. Gene‑editing tools like CRISPR are identified as enablers of targeted improvements without introducing foreign genes—thus sidestepping GMO regulatory hurdles. The global market for climate‑smart seeds is expected to surpass US $15 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand in regions vulnerable to extreme climates. ADQ and Limagrain aim for the collaboration's scope to extend beyond the UAE, positioning their desert‑resilient seed offerings to agriculture sectors in Africa, southern Europe and Central America. Should the investment close—subject to regulatory clearance and employee consultations—ADQ would secure representation on LVS's board with a 35 percent equity share. Limagrain would retain management control while ADQ gains significant influence over strategic direction and R&D policy. Timeline projections from ADQ suggest a deal completion by year‑end, followed by breeding trials in controlled environments and field tests. Promising varieties are expected to reach commercial agriculture within one to two years. Initial testing will occur in Silal's Al Ain infrastructure, with farmer integration following proof‑of‑concept success. Limagrain brings to the table its extensive genetic‑improvement capabilities, spanning 56 research centres globally and support of 43 major vegetable crops. Brands under its umbrella include Vilmorin, Mikado, Harris Moran, Clause and Hazera, serving growers across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. Water management poses another strategic focus. Agriculture uses about 60 percent of the UAE's water, with groundwater levels falling by around one metre yearly in some regions. Improved seed efficiency could reduce irrigation demand, increasing per‑hectare yields and lowering costs for consumers. However, success hinges on navigating regulatory environments, scaling technologies, and competing with global seed firms such as Bayer and Syngenta. Gene‑editing remains controversial in some regions, despite being distinct from GMO interventions. For ADQ, linking cutting‑edge agricultural tech with national food‑security objectives represents both economic foresight and a blueprint for global scalability. By combining genetic science from Limagrain with infrastructure and funding from the UAE, the partnership aspires to transform desert agriculture and reinforce food resilience in the face of climate pressures.
Zawya
15-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Wio Bank PJSC announces new Chairman and Board appointments
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Wio Bank PJSC, the UAE's leading digital bank, is pleased to announce the appointment of H.E. Mansour AlMulla as Chairman of the Board, alongside the addition of four new board members. These appointments will help to further accelerate Wio Bank's growth trajectory, whilst ensuring the bank continues to drive long-term value for its stakeholders, and contribute meaningfully to the UAE's digital economy. H.E. AlMulla is the Deputy Group CEO of ADQ, a sovereign investor with a focus on critical infrastructure and global supply chains. He brings over 23 years of experience across several sectors, including financial services. Joining H.E. AlMulla on the Board are Eng. Hamad Al Ameri, Dr. Jaap Kalkman, Jawad Shafique, and Samy Ben-Jaafar leaders who bring extensive expertise across finance, banking, technology and investments. H.E. Mansour AlMulla, Chairman of Wio Bank, said: 'At Wio, our mission is to redefine how individuals and businesses engage with financial services through innovation and a digital-first mindset. Joining the Board at this important stage is a meaningful step toward advancing the bank's aspirations for growth, impact, and industry leadership. Wio is well positioned to support the UAE's vision of becoming a global hub for financial innovation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Board members for their contributions and I look forward to building on their achievements.' Commenting on the new appointments Jayesh Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Wio Bank PJSC said: ' We are delighted to welcome the new Board to help us guide and drive the next chapter of growth for Wio. I would also like to thank the outgoing Board and Chairman H.E. Salem Al Nuaimi for setting a strong foundation and leading Wio from a startup to growth stage bank.' They join continuing board members Fadel Abdulbaqi Al Ali, Khalifa Al Forah AlShamsi, Masood M. Sherif Mahmood, and Futoon Al Mazrouei. Since its launch in 2022, Wio Bank has operated with a single purpose: to simplify and improve how individuals and businesses engage with their finances. Backed by strategic shareholders including ADQ, Alpha Dhabi, e&, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Wio continues to evolve as a platform built for the real economy. About Wio Bank PJSC: Wio Bank PJSC, the Middle East's first digital financial platform, is reimagining banking for individuals and businesses. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and backed by strategic investors including ADQ, Alpha Dhabi, e&, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Wio combines cutting-edge technology with a human-centric approach to deliver seamless, personalised financial solutions. For personal banking, Wio offers smart tools and insights to help users take control of their finances, enabling them to save, spend, and grow with ease. For businesses, Wio goes beyond traditional banking by providing entrepreneurs and SMEs with a comprehensive digital platform designed to streamline operations, unlock growth opportunities, and simplify financial management. Wio is redefining the banking landscape as a market leader in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and embedded finance, delivering innovative solutions that empower people, businesses, and communities with the infrastructure they need to access long-term wealth creation. By offering an end-to-end, frictionless digital platform for both retail and business customers, Wio is disrupting traditional banking models, creating operational efficiencies, and unlocking value-added services through a transparent, personalized customer experience. Wio Bank's commitment to innovation has been widely recognized, being named '#1 Fintech in MENA' by Forbes Middle East and 'Digital Bank of the Year' at both the E-Business Awards 2024 and Tech Innovation Awards 2024. The bank has also received 'Best Retail Banking Digital App Experience' award, 'SME Bank of the Year' award, and 'Intelligent Banking and Finance Implementation' award. Additionally, Wio's leadership excellence was acknowledged with inclusion in the Top 34 GCC Banking CEO Power List 2024 by Finance Middle East. For more information, visit
Al Etihad
31-03-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
ADQ acquires 63.26% shares in Aramex in takeover bid
31 Mar 2025 09:47 REDDY (ABU DHABI)ADQ, an active sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, has acquired a 63.26% stake in a stock market disclosure, Mansour AlMulla, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, stated that Q Logistics Holding, a subsidiary of ADQ, had received acceptances from shareholders representing 40.57% of shares. Combined with the 22.69% ownership held by AD Ports Group, another ADQ subsidiary, this brings ADQ's total stake to 63.26%. The Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor has expressed its intention to secure full ownership of the statement confirmed that ADQ's ownership has now surpassed the minimum acceptance threshold required under the Mergers and Acquisitions Rules issued by the Securities and Commodities Authority. With this latest milestone, ADQ has cleared the legal path for the mandatory acquisition of the remaining shares. However, the stock market disclosure noted that Q Logistics Holding would continue to accept shares from shareholders even after the offer period expired on March shares are being acquired at Dh3 per share, a premium compared to the closing price of Dh2.82 at the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) on a recent press release, AlMulla stated that Aramex would become an integral part of ADQ's Transport & Logistics cluster, which already includes major entities such as AD Ports Group, Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Airways, and Etihad Rail. 'As the majority shareholder in Aramex, we plan to leverage our extensive track record of growing local companies into globally competitive market leaders for the benefit of Aramex and all its stakeholders,' he added. ADQ anticipates that the proposed transformation of Aramex will be complex and capital-intensive, requiring time to materialise, which may limit short- to medium-term returns for shareholders, according to its previous stock market disclosure.
Al Etihad
13-03-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
ADQ acquires additional 35.31% of Aramex shares in voluntary tender offer
11 Mar 2025 15:39 REDDY (ABU DHABI)ADQ, an active sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, has acquired an additional 35.31% stake in Aramex through a voluntary tender offer. The offer, made by ADQ's wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Q Logistics Holding, closed on March 10. With this latest acquisition, ADQ's cumulative ownership in Aramex has now reached 58%, including the 22.69% stake already held by AD Ports Group, in which ADQ maintains a majority stake. The Abu Dhabi-based sovereign investor has expressed its intention to secure full ownership of the a stock market filing, Mansour AlMulla, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer at ADQ, stated: 'The aggregate acceptances, together with the shareholding of AD Ports Group, amount to 58% of the shares in Aramex, exceeding the minimum acceptance conditions for the offer specified in Article 9(2) of the SCA's Board of Directors Decision No. (18 / R.M) of 2017 concerning the Mergers and Acquisition Rules for Public Joint Stock Companies (Acquisition Regulations).'In a separate press release, AlMulla said that Aramex will become an integral component of ADQ's Transport & Logistics cluster, which already includes leading entities such as AD Ports Group, Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Airways, and Etihad Rail. 'As the majority shareholder in Aramex, we plan to leverage our extensive track record of growing local companies into globally competitive market leaders for the benefit of Aramex and all its stakeholders,' he anticipates that the proposed transformation of Aramex will be complex and capital-intensive, requiring time to materialise, which may limit short- to medium-term returns for shareholders, according to its stock market per SCA regulations, ADQ has the discretion to accept shares from shareholders who did not tender during the offer period until 3pm on March 24, 2025, at the offer price of Dh3.00 per share. The final total number of tendered shares will be announced on March 28, 2025.
The National
11-03-2025
- Business
- The National
Abu Dhabi's ADQ to become majority shareholder in Aramex
Abu Dhabi's ADQ will become the majority shareholder in Aramex following a successful voluntary tender offer, submitted by Q Logistics Holding, an ADQ subsidiary. ADQ will hold a 58 per cent majority stake in the Middle East's largest courier company, subject to the successful completion of the deal. This includes shares owned by Abu Dhabi Ports, which is also majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, ADQ said on Tuesday. AD Ports Group currently owns a 22.69 per cent stake in Aramex. 'As the majority shareholder in Aramex, we have plans to leverage our extensive track record of growing local companies into globally competitive market leaders for the benefit of Aramex and all its stakeholders,' said Mansour AlMulla, deputy group chief executive at ADQ. In January, ADQ offered to fully acquire Aramex in a deal valuing the company at about Dh4.39 billion ($1.2 billion). At the time of the announcement, ADQ's offer price of Dh3 per share represented a 33 per cent premium over Aramex's stock price of Dh2.31 on the Dubai Financial Market. Aramex's shares were trading 0.73 per cent higher at Dh2.78 at 10.26am UAE time on Tuesday. ADQ said that under Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) regulations, it can still accept shares from shareholders who did not participate in the initial offer period. Shareholders must sell shares to ADQ at Dh3 per share by March 24, and that the final share acquisition numbers will be disclosed on March 28, ADQ said. The offer to gain control of Aramex is the latest in a string of deals for ADQ, which is pushing to expand its local and international portfolio of assets. With total assets worth $225 billion as of June 30, ADQ has shareholdings in more than 25 companies across sectors including energy, utilities, food and agriculture, health care, pharmaceuticals, mobility and logistics. Companies in its portfolio include Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, better known as Taqa, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. ADQ also has a significant asset base in transport and logistics, including Abu Dhabi Ports, Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Rail, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Aviation. Last month, ADQ and Vietnam's State Capital Investment Corporation, a sovereign wealth fund, signed an initial agreement to explore investment opportunities in the South-East Asian country. The organisations will partner to assess potential co-investment opportunities that support Vietnam's economic ambitions and align with its strategic development objectives, state news agency Wam reported at the time.
