Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced a secondary offering of 880 million shares in its drilling subsidiary, ADNOC Drilling, on May 22, 2024. This offering, representing 5. 5% of ADNOC Drilling's total issued shares, aimed to increase liquidity and broaden the company's shareholder base. The shares were sold exclusively to institutional investors through a bookbuild process, a method where investors indicate their interest and acceptable price for a specific number of shares.
The offering garnered significant interest, with the final sale price set at AED 3. 90 per share, approximately 70% above ADNOC Drilling's initial public offering (IPO) price of AED 2. 30 per share. This pricing reflected ADNOC Drilling's strong performance since its IPO in 2023. The sale generated proceeds of AED 3. 43 billion (USD 935 million), bolstering ADNOC's financial resources.
ADNOC's decision to offload a portion of its stake in ADNOC Drilling was driven by several factors. Increased liquidity through a wider free float was a key objective. A free float refers to the portion of a company's shares that are readily tradable by public investors. A higher free float can make a company's stock more attractive to investors by increasing its tradability and visibility.
Another significant factor was ADNOC's intention to diversify its ADNOC Drilling shareholder base. The offering attracted investment from institutional investors, bringing in new capital and expertise. This diversification can contribute to a company's long-term financial stability and growth.
Furthermore, the share sale is expected to pave the way for ADNOC Drilling's inclusion in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Market Index. Inclusion in a prestigious index like the MSCI can significantly increase a company's visibility and attract investments from a wider pool of global institutional investors.
Analysts believe that ADNOC's strategic move will benefit both ADNOC and ADNOC Drilling. The increased liquidity and wider shareholder base will strengthen ADNOC Drilling's position in the market, potentially leading to further growth and value creation. The additional capital from the offering can be utilized by ADNOC to invest in other strategic areas of its business.
The ADNOC Drilling share offering has been hailed as a success, with analysts commending ADNOC's strategy to enhance the company's liquidity and marketability. The transaction is expected to have a positive long-term impact on both ADNOC and ADNOC Drilling, solidifying their positions within the regional and global oil and gas industry.