Image of Amro

Amro Bakhaidar

Corporate Partner, Riyadh

“I advise local, international and government entities on equity capital markets and public M&A transactions, focusing on achieving the best outcome for our clients. I adopt a commercially driven approach, drawing on my knowledge of the local and regional markets and international best practices, to ensure that our client’s strategic objectives are being achieved in an efficient manner.”

Overview

Education and qualifications

Overview

Amro is a leading specialist in equity capital markets and public M&A transactions in Saudi Arabia. He has experience across a wide range of corporate and capital markets transactions including IPOs, rights issues, public M&A, accelerated bookbuild offerings, securities issuances, private placements, investment funds and general corporate regulatory and advisory work.  

Amro has led on some of the largest and most complex ECM and public M&A transactions in Saudi Arabia. His experience spans many industry sectors, having advised local, international and government entities on transactions in the energy, shipping, banking, insurance, real estate, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Work highlights

Amro has led on many market-leading equity capital markets and public M&A transactions, including:

ECM

  • Americana Restaurants PLC: advising the financial advisors, bookrunners, underwriters and lead manager on the US$1.8bn dual and concurrent IPO of Americana Restaurants PLC on ADX and the Saudi Exchange.*
  • Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company (Luberef): advising on its US$1.3bn IPO.*
  • Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh): advising on its SAR 7.95bn (approximately US$2.12bn) rights issue.*
  • The Saudi Real Estate Company (Al-Akaria): advising on its SAR 1.59bn (approximately US$420m) rights issue.*
  • Almunajem Foods Company: advising HSBC Saudi Arabia as financial advisor, lead manager, bookrunner and underwriter on the SAR 1bn (approximately US$375m) IPO of Almunajem Foods Company.*

Public M&A

  • Samba Financial Group: advising on its SAR 55.5bn (approximately US$14.8bn) statutory merger with the National Commercial Bank, including the subsequent statutory merger between Samba Capital and NCB Capital – the first statutory merger between two capital market institutions in in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.*
  • The Saudi British Bank (SABB): advising on its SAR 5.54bn (approximately US$1.47bn) statutory merger with Alawwal bank.*
  • The Saudi Industrial Investment Group: advising on its SAR 3.048bn (approximately US$812.8m) acquisition of the National Petrochemical Company.*
  • Sahara Petrochemical: advising on its business combination of equals with Sipchem, valued at SAR 3.66bn (approximately US$977m).*
  • NatWest Markets plc and Banco Santander: advising on their SAR 3.31bn (approximately US$883m) disposal of all their stake, representing 7.1%, in the Saudi British Bank (SABB) by way of an accelerated bookbuild offering.*

*denotes experience from previous firms

Education and qualifications

Amro holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from The University of Essex and a Master of Laws in International Commercial Law (Hons) from The University of Nottingham.