RIYADH – Saudi Arabia's Al-Hokair Group, one of the largest entertainment and hospitality firms in the Middle East, is planning to list on Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) early next year, two banking sources said. Based on a potential valuation of about 13 times to its net profit, family-owned Al-Hokair could be valued at about $680 million, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter is not public. Set up in 1965, Al-Hokair is backed by Saudi private equity and investment firm Jadwa Investment Co. It is not related to Saudi Arabian retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair. Al-Hokair and Jadwa were not immediately available for comment. Al-Hokair operates about 50 entertainment centers in Saudi Arabia such as Sparky's Chain, Digital Land Chain and Metropolis Entertainment City. The company also owns or operates 33 hotels across the region, including leading international brands such as Hilton, Novotel and Holiday Inn, it said on its website. “You are talking about a company that owns and operates leading hotel chains and has a leadership position in the entertainment business. Investors are looking for such names that helps them diversify their Saudi exposure,” one of the sources said. Al-Hokair posted revenues of about SR2 billion ($533.28 million) in 2012 and net profit of about SR200 million ($53.33 million), the sources said. The company has already filed an application with the Saudi market regulator, Capital Markets Authority (CMA), for the potential offering and expects to launch the IPO in February or March next year, the sources said. Jadwa bought a 35 percent stake in the company in 2012, it said in its latest annual report. The investment was made through one of the firm's funds. The Riyadh-based firm also owns stakes in companies such as United Matbouli Group, a distributor of Samsung products in the Kingdom and the Saudi Aramco Lubricating Oil Refining Co (Luberef). It has appointed Saudi Fransi Capital, the investment banking arm of Banque Saudi Fransi to arrange the IPO, the sources said. Saudi Fransi Capital could not be reached for comment. Companies in Saudi Arabia typically offer 30 percent of their share capital in an IPO which means the company, whose hotel operations include Hilton and Holiday Inn hotels in the Middle East, could raise about $200 million in the offering. Saudi Arabia, home to the largest stock market in the Gulf Arab region, is encouraging family-owned groups and diversified businesses in the kingdom to list on its stock market in a bid to reduce the bourse's reliance on construction, petrochemicals and banking companies. – Reuters
