$8bn IPO for KFC and Pizza Hut operator across MENA hots up – Arabian Business

$8bn IPO for KFC and Pizza Hut operator across MENA hots up – Arabian Business

The operator of KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants across the Middle East and North Africa has added Morgan Stanley to work on a planned initial public offering that could value the firm at around $8 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

The New York-based bank will work alongside First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and SNB Capital for the IPO of Americana Group, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Rothschild & Co. is the financial adviser on the IPO.

Americana, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and an investment vehicle led by Dubai’s Mohamed Alabbar, started preparations for a dual listing in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi that could raise about $1 billion, Bloomberg News reported. Details on size and timing of the offering are still preliminary and subject to change.