(MENAFN- Gulf Times) hree of the Gulf's biggest private equity firms are battling it out for a majority stake in Saudi supermarket chain Al Raya for Foodstuff Co, three sources with knowledge of the matter said yesterday, with a deal likely worth as much as $300mn.
Abraaj Group, Fajr Capital and Gulf Capital are in the running to acquire the stake in the grocer being sold by Dubai-based Levant Capital and The Rohatyn Group (TRG).
These three lodged initial bids in late July and are now due to file more comprehensive proposals before the deadline for second-round bids in the next two weeks, the sources added.
Abraaj and Fajr declined to comment, as did Levant Capital and TRG. Gulf Capital didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the information isn't public.
Should the final price tag be $300mn, the stakeholders would have tripled their investment in around three years. Levant Capital and Citi Venture Capital International, an emerging market-focused investment firm which was acquired by TRG in December 2013, originally bought the stake in Al Raya in 2012 for $100mn.
The sale is expected to go ahead despite disruption in the kingdom's economy from falling oil prices and subsequent lower government spending, the sources said.
So-called defensive sectors like food and beverage remain in high demand from investors drawn by the long-term potential stemming from Saudi Arabia's predominantly young population.
Already in 2015, Saudi gourmet date firm Bateel sold a stake to L Capital Asia, a luxury goods-focused private equity firm backed by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, while Abraaj and TPG Capital bought a majority stake in fast-food chain Kudu. Al Raya had 30 stores across the kingdom, mainly in the southern and western regions, before more were added in 2012.
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