Saudi CMA issues new M&A rules

Saudi Arabia’s market regulator, the Capital Market Authority (CMA), approved on Thursday updated regulations for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) among Saudi-listed companies, effective upon publication.

“The updated merger and acquisition regulations – which took into consideration the comments and observations received from concerned and interested parties – aim to regulate the mergers and acquisitions, which include the regulation of the acquisition through the general assembly, the controls over the relevant sales or purchases, the approach, the mandatory offers and disclosure requirements,” the CMA said.

The new rules also set a timetable for completing such processes and the types of mergers.

A full list of the updated regulations can be found on the CMA’s website.

Last month it was reported Saudi Arabia was planning to ease M&A rules in order to encourage mergers and acquisitions among Tadawul-listed companies.