Saudi carton firm UCIC sets price range for IPO on Tadawul
Saudi Arabia's United Carton Industries Company (UCIC) has set the price range of its Tadawul IPO between 47 and 50 Saudi riyals ($12.53 - $13.33) per share. The offering comprises 12 million shares, representing 30% of the company's total issued share capital.
The book building has commenced on Tuesday, April 22, and will end on Monday, April 28. The final offer price will be announced on May 5.
The retail offering will run for two days from May 12-13.
The corrugated carton manufacturer has appointed Al Rajhi Capital as its financial advisor, lead manager, bookrunner, and underwriter for the offering.
Established in 1988, UCIC has four owned subsidiaries, with eight manufacturing facilities across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The company reported a revenue of SAR 1,344 million in FY 2024.
CEO Mohnish Rikhy said the IPO will allow UCIC to scale operations and expand its product portfolio.
(Writing by Bindu Rai, editing by Seban Scaria)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Post
11 hours ago
- Arabian Post
From petrostate to deal state: Gulf IPO markets mature
Maein Khalid Since the pandemic, IPO activity across GCC capital markets has surged – offering a sharp contrast to the stop-start pace on New York's Nasdaq and the near standstill on London's LSE. Nearly 300 IPOs have raised around $50 billion across the Gulf since 2021. ADVERTISEMENT Below I outline six key macro themes shaping this post-Covid IPO boom in the GCC. First, contrary to expectations, the number, size and aftermarket performance of IPOs in the GCC have shown little correlation with oil prices. Since 2021 Brent crude has swung wildly, yet IPO momentum has remained resilient, even in hydrocarbons-heavy markets like Saudi Arabia. Second, the sheer variety of sectors that contributed to regional IPO deals demonstrates that non-oil growth, industry deregulation, private sector entrepreneurship and e-commerce are powerful macro themes in the Gulf. The two largest IPOs in the GCC last year were the $2 billion food delivery app Talabat's IPO, listed in Dubai's DFM, and the $1.8 billion Lulu hypermarket, a 50-year-old family-owned grocery chain listed on Abu Dhabi's ADX. ADVERTISEMENT Last year saw 48 IPOs from sectors as varied as grocery chains, software and IT services, e-commerce, education, healthcare, financial services, remittance solutions, leisure, transportation and real estate. Third, Saudi Arabian deal flow both dominated the IPO pipeline and dramatically outperformed its GCC peers in aftermarket trading. For instance, 38 out of the 48 deals in the GCC that raised $12.06 billion in 2024 originated from the kingdom, and the average aftermarket performance in the week following the IPO was a spectacular 45 percent. The kingdom's first three IPOs on the main market this year all went 'limit up', surging on their first day of trading by the maximum 30 percent allowed. It is no mistake that the first aviation IPO in the region in almost two decades – Flynas is seeking to raise $1.1 billion – is taking place in the kingdom. This is a testament to both the vast liquidity available in the Saudi new issue market and the magnetic power of the kingdom's junior exchange, Nomu, which saw 27 companies listed in 2024 alone. New listings on Nomu are typically domestic Saudi firms operating in high-growth sectors tied to the kingdom's digital transformation – highlighting a clear link between rising tech literacy among its youthful population and a growing appetite for high-risk, high-reward IPOs. Fourth, the GCC IPO constellation is dominated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Oman a distant third. Saudi Arabia's 38 IPOs in 2024 dwarfed seven from the UAE, two from Oman and a solitary flotation in Kuwait. This spectacular asymmetry in the national origin of IPOs reflects the vast differences in the capital markets milieu, investor ecosystems and liquidity preferences among the six GCC states. Fifth, the recent IPO boom has attracted global investor interest in the Gulf's emerging capital markets, as sovereign wealth funds from the region have become a significant force in Wall Street and Silicon Valley deal-making. This trend will both broaden and deepen the GCC capital markets, evidencing that they are no longer an illiquid sideshow in the emerging markets universe. Historically the GCC IPO landscape was dominated by state-led privatisations and secondary offerings, with governments selling minority stakes in national champions. The most iconic example remains the 2019 Saudi Aramco listing – still the largest IPO in history – which raised $25.6 billion by selling just 1.5 percent of the company on Riyadh's Tadawul exchange. But the market has since evolved, moving beyond oil giants and into broader, more diversified territory. Saudi Aramco subsequently raised $12 billion in a secondary offering last year. These mega deals played a crucial role in the development of the kingdom's capital markets infrastructure and set the stage for the current bullish IPO environment. The UAE's role as the most diversified, cosmopolitan and networked economy in the Arab world can be gauged by the fact that it contributed to the two largest IPOs of 2024 – both private sector businesses with no connection to oil and gas or the government. The 2025 IPO of Bahrain-based Investcorp Capital marked a milestone for the region – positioning Abu Dhabi where it listed not just as an oil-rich emirate, but as a rising power in global finance. By listing a world-class alternative investment manager on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, the UAE has shown it is no longer just deploying capital abroad – it's building the infrastructure to manage it at home. As a growing nexus for hedge funds and private capital, Abu Dhabi is fast becoming a noodle point in the global alternatives ecosystem. Mixed IPO outlook I predict the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF will midwife the next generation of privatisation IPOs in the kingdom, as it did with Saudi Aramco in 2019. But while the IPO market outperformance and the sheer scale of domestic liquidity flows make mega privatisation listings viable, the same cannot be said for smaller GCC states like Oman and Bahrain. Facing tighter fiscal constraints, their private investor base tends to favour quasi-debt, high-yield instruments issued by state-owned blue-chips over equity exposure. The sale of a 25 percent stake in OQ Gas Networks by Oman's state energy company suggests that it is problematic to engineer an IPO or even a state-owned energy colossus when oil prices are mired in a bearish downtrend. While the IPO marked a milestone for the Muscat bourse, it also revealed the limitations of investor appetite when crude prices are under pressure. Unlike Saudi Arabia's liquidity-fuelled listings, Oman's experience shows that timing – and broader market sentiment – can still make or break even the most strategic flotations. Also published on Medium. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Adrien Gagnon and ESDlife Survey Reveals: Nearly 60% Suffer from Both "Trouble Falling Asleep" and "Waking Easily"
Over 80% of Employees Take Sick Leave Due to Sleep Deprivation; Mondays Are the Most Popular 'Sickie' Days Economic downturn: 91% of respondents feel stressed from work and life 81% report frequent awakenings; 64% have trouble falling asleep – two distinct sleep problems, doctor explain 78% say stress impacts sleep quality 80% hope to resolve both types of sleep problems; 85% seek long-term sleep solutions Dual Action Release health supplements suggested by pharmacist to tackle both sleep problems HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 June 2025 - As the economic outlook remains gloomy, stress levels among Hongkongers continue to rise. A recent survey shows that many locals feel overwhelmed by stress, which disrupts their sleep and creates a vicious cycle that severely affects both their emotional well-being and physical health. In light of this, Adrien Gagnon commissioned ESDlife to conduct the "Hong Kong Sleep and Stress Survey" in May 2025. The online survey interviewed 540 respondents in Hong Kong to examine sleep challenges and stress triggers. The goal was to raise awareness about sleep health and stress management, and to guide the public toward natural, long-lasting solutions to improve both "difficulty falling asleep" and "waking easily." 81% of Workers Skip Work Due to Sleep Deprivation Mondays Most Common for Sick Leave as Employees Create Their Own Mini-Holidays Under mounting pressure, many employees admit to "calling in sick" just to take a breather. The survey reveals that 82% have considered taking sick leave simply to avoid work. Among them, 81% cited sleep deprivation, while 64% blamed overwhelming stress. Additionally, 64% of respondents reported having at least one "sickie" impulse per month, a sign that stress has deeply impacted their mental and physical health. When asked about their preferred sick days, the top choices were Mondays (43%), after long holidays (25%), Fridays (24%), the day after working overtime (24%), and rainy or cold days (18%). (See Table 1) 64% Struggle to Fall Asleep, 81% Wake Easily Nearly 60% Suffer from Both Sleep Problems; 80% Seek Dual-Solution Treatments Sleep problems top the list of modern-day work-life struggles. Among respondents, 64% reported trouble falling asleep, and a significant 81% said they wake up easily. Almost 60% experience both sleep problems simultaneously. However, 77% said they lack effective methods to address both sleep problems at once. A full 80% expressed a desire for dual action release solutions. Psychiatrist Dr. Ka Yau Wong, Raymond explained: "Difficulty falling asleep and waking easily are two different sleep disorders. Difficulty falling asleep is usually stress-related, while waking easily may be linked to melatonin levels. Melatonin is only released in the dark, its production decreases with daylight or screen exposure. Dual action release melatonin supplements can provide extended support by releasing melatonin in two phases, helping the body fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. To tackle both sleep problems effectively, one must manage stress and regulate melatonin to improve the sleep cycle and overall sleep quality." 91% of Hongkongers Suffer from Stress Due to Work and Life Pressures 87% Say Stress Affects Their Sleep Quality Beyond sleep problems, the primary reason workers want to skip work is stress. The survey found that 91% of respondents are currently dealing with stress from work and life, and 83% reported a sense of helplessness. This highlights the prevalence of stress among Hongkongers. Stress was shown to cause sleep problems (78%), irritability (58%), loss of motivation (40%), lower work efficiency (34%), and even social withdrawal (33%) (see Table 2). Alarmingly, 76% of respondents felt more stressed this year than last, yet 40% admitted they are not addressing it and simply hoping it will resolve itself. Meanwhile, 87% noted that stress has negatively impacted their sleep quality. Dr. Wong warned: "Stress-related sleep problems needs timely attention. Prolonged avoidance of stress without proper relief could worsen the condition, increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and further deterioration in sleep quality." 85% Seek Long-Lasting Sleep Solutions Pharmacist Recommend Dual Action Release Supplements for Dual Sleep Problems With nearly 60% experiencing both difficulty falling asleep and waking easily, 85% of respondents said they are looking for long-lasting sleep solutions. Registered pharmacist Mr. Ian Cheung advised: "Those dealing with dual insomnia problems may benefit from melatonin supplements with a 'dual action release' formula for comprehensive effect. These supplements provide an initial fast release to help you fall asleep, followed by a slow, sustained release that maintains melatonin levels overnight, tackling both early and mid-sleep disturbances. Some dual action release melatonin products combine Western herbal ingredients to address stress-related insomnia. If your sleep problems are caused by stress, consider formulas that include calming Western herbs." Nearly 60% Are Aware of Western Herbs for Stress Relief 72% Will Consider Herbal Supplements for Stress Reduction When it comes to stress and sleep improvement, most respondents prefer natural solutions. "Western herbs like Eschscholzia californica and Hops are scientifically proven to ease stress and anxiety," Cheung explained. "They can help improve sleep quality and are suitable for those who prefer natural remedies. Reducing stress naturally can prevent work avoidance and maintain daily function." The survey also revealed that 59% of respondents were aware that Western herbal supplements can aid in sleep and stress relief. When selecting health supplements, 63% prefer Western brands, and 72% are willing to try herbal ingredients for stress relief. Cheung added, "If symptoms persist despite using natural products, professional medical consultation should be considered." For more information, please visit: Appendix Table 1: Most Popular Days for Taking Sick Leave ("Sickies") Most Popular Days for Taking Sick Leave ("Sickies") Percentage Monday 43% After long holidays 25% Friday 24% Day after working overtime 24% Rainy/cold days 18% Wednesday 15% Meeting-heavy days 11% Thursday 9% Deadline days 8% Tuesday 7% * M ultiple answers allowed Table 2: Impact of Stress on Sleep and Daily Life Stress Symptoms Percentage Sleep problems / insomnia 78% Irritability 58% Wanting to skip work 47% Loss of motivation 40% Lower work efficiency 34% Social withdrawal 33% * M ultiple answers allowed Table 3: Key Factors in Choosing Western Herbal Supplements Consideration Percentage Product safety and certification 28% Ingredient transparency 22% Effectiveness & longevity (e.g., dual action release) 11% * M ultiple answers allowed Hashtag: #AdrienGagnon The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Adrien Gagnon Founded in 1946 by renowned naturopathy expert Mr. Adrien Gagnon, the ADRIEN GAGNON brand is one of the renowned and sizable natural health companies with long history in Quebec, Canada. With more than 160 products on the market, ADRIEN GAGNON brand is synonymous with high quality and has repeatedly set the bar for superior health products in terms of value, selection and brand recognition. ADRIEN GAGNON's plant in Canada is accredited with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). ADRIEN GAGNON has become one of the trusted health supplement brands About ESDlife ESD life, a joint venture of CK Hutchison (formerly Hutchison Whampoa) and Hewlett-Packard HK SAR, operates the award-winning website ( and establishes it as one of the most popular and trusted online lifestyle media in Hong Kong. The online platform of ESD life is furnished with a wide range of lifestyles information under the categories of Wedding, Family, Health and Anniversary. In addition to the prominent No. 1 position of its Wedding Channel in Hong Kong, an e-commerce platform is provided to consumers by offering medical check-up ordering services. ESD life also delivers integrated marketing and digital solutions to diversified corporate clients. Adrien Gagnon
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Arabian Post
Saudi Arabia Pushes for Larger OPEC+ Oil Output Increases
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia is advocating for accelerated increases in oil production within the OPEC+ coalition, aiming to reclaim market share lost during past output cuts. The kingdom is reportedly pressing the group to raise supplies by more than 400,000 barrels per day for August and possibly September, signalling a clear shift in strategy amid evolving global energy demands. The decision underscores Saudi Arabia's intent to capitalise on high seasonal demand in the northern hemisphere summer months. By scaling back production curbs more aggressively, Riyadh seeks to boost revenue and solidify its influence over global oil markets as supply dynamics shift. This approach reflects broader geopolitical and economic calculations, especially as global economies adjust to fluctuating energy needs and the ongoing transition to cleaner energy sources. ADVERTISEMENT OPEC+ has been managing oil supply carefully since 2020, following the severe demand shock caused by the pandemic and ensuing market volatility. Initial drastic cuts helped stabilise prices, but the alliance has gradually increased output to balance rising demand. Saudi Arabia, as the largest producer within OPEC+, holds substantial sway in determining the group's production policies and has been central to managing these supply adjustments. This move to hasten production hikes also coincides with concerns over emerging market demand and the possible impact of economic slowdowns in key economies such as China and Europe. Saudi officials appear confident that increased output will prevent rivals, including the US shale sector and other non-OPEC producers, from expanding their share amid tightening market conditions. Industry experts highlight that Saudi Arabia's push for faster supply growth may be aimed at pre-empting market share erosion by ensuring that OPEC+ remains the dominant supplier globally. Since mid-2022, the kingdom has carefully recalibrated its production to respond to volatile price trends and geopolitical uncertainties, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions caused by sanctions on Russia. The timing of the proposed output rise is critical. Summer months traditionally bring peak consumption due to higher energy needs for cooling in developed markets, which can drive up prices. Saudi Arabia's intention to increase supply during this window suggests an effort to maximise returns while stabilising prices to avoid sharp fluctuations that could undermine consumer confidence and economic recovery. Global oil markets remain sensitive to a variety of factors including inflationary pressures, currency fluctuations, and shifting consumer behaviour. While demand for fossil fuels is under pressure from environmental policies and the accelerating transition to renewables, oil remains a crucial commodity in the global energy mix. Saudi Arabia's strategy to secure market share through supply management is thus seen as a pragmatic response to balancing short-term profitability with long-term market relevance. ADVERTISEMENT OPEC+ member countries have historically struggled to reach consensus on output levels, with diverse national interests shaping negotiations. Saudi Arabia's dominant position, reinforced by its vast production capacity and financial reserves, often allows it to influence group decisions. However, some members have expressed concerns about aggressive supply increases potentially undermining prices and fiscal stability. The broader geopolitical landscape also plays a role in shaping OPEC+ policies. Tensions involving key players such as Russia, which holds a significant share in the alliance, and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East add layers of complexity to supply decisions. Riyadh's leadership in pushing for larger hikes indicates confidence in managing these risks while maintaining its strategic goals. Market analysts note that US shale producers have responded to higher prices by increasing output, albeit with some operational constraints. Saudi Arabia's efforts to accelerate OPEC+ production are seen as a counterbalance to this trend, aiming to keep global supply within manageable limits and avoid price spikes that could trigger demand destruction or accelerate the shift to alternatives. Saudi Aramco, the kingdom's state-owned oil giant, plays a pivotal role in implementing the supply strategy. Its vast infrastructure, including refineries and export terminals, supports the planned output increases. Aramco's ability to ramp up production rapidly without incurring excessive costs provides Saudi Arabia with a competitive edge in the global energy market. Environmental considerations also influence production decisions. While the global push for net-zero emissions is intensifying, OPEC+ nations, led by Saudi Arabia, continue to argue for the essential role of oil in energy security and economic development. The kingdom is simultaneously investing in cleaner technologies and diversifying its economy to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons in the long term. The interaction between Saudi Arabia's production policy and global economic indicators remains closely monitored by investors and policymakers alike. Oil prices affect inflation rates, trade balances, and geopolitical stability, making OPEC+ decisions crucial beyond the energy sector. The kingdom's assertive stance on output could signal a more proactive approach to managing these broader economic impacts. Analysts emphasize that while Saudi Arabia seeks to regain market share, the volatility of global markets and uncertainties surrounding demand growth require cautious optimism. Supply increases must be balanced against potential oversupply risks, which could trigger price declines detrimental to all producers within OPEC+.
