Norway and Saudi Sovereign Investors Make Tactical Bets During Coronavirus Crisis
05/05/2020
Some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds are eager to pile into new opportunities, seizing stakes in listed companies.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company
are said to be looking into
- entertainment,
- healthcare,
- logistics, and
- technology.
Norway Government Pension Fund Global
bargained for some
- consumer and
- energy stocks.
PIF
has already jumped into
Carnival Cruise Line,which sold
- US$ 4 billion in senior secured notes due in 2023 at 11.5% interest.
- Convertible notes of US$ 1.75 billion also due in 2023 went for 5.75%.
A share dilution brought in another US$ 625 million.
Florida.Carnival Cruise Line
has plans to resume cruises August 1, 2020.
However, there is a “No Sail Order” issued by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
that was extended to July 24, 2020, or when the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services declares that the Wuhan coronavirus is no longer a public health emergency.
PIF also purchased stakes in oil companies
- Shell,
- Equinor,
- Total S.A., and
- Eni Spa.
Another US$ 500 million went to ticket-seller Live Nation Entertainment.
Mubadala,
with US$ 230 billion, expects to unleash capital when the timing is favorable.
Mubadala has recently placed a small amount in medical biller WellPay.
Mubadala’s investment in Virgin Galactic also appears to be paying off,
with the most recent successful test flight of the VSS Unity reported on May 4, 2020.Test flights have been ongoing since 2016.
Mubadala also invested in listed company
Inseego Corporation, which is a provider of software-as-a-service
and solutions for the Internet of Things – attempting to benefit from a possible 5-G future.
Norway Government Pension Fund
some heavy bets in companies such as
- Fitbit,
- Royal Dutch Shell,
- BHP Billiton, and
- Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte S.A.B. de C.V.
SWFI
Saudi Wealth Fund Builds $200 Million Stake in Norway’s State Oil Company
PIF bought shares in Norway’s Equinor via the market last week
Fund has also built an 8.2% stake in cruise operator Carnival
Saudi Arabia buys stakes in four big European oil firms -source