Lenovo, the renowned Chinese computer manufacturer, unveiled its new strategic alliance with Alat, an entity under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund dedicated to pioneering tech investments and eco-friendly manufacturing. Alat has proposed investing $2 billion in zero coupon convertible bonds in Lenovo.
The collaboration will establish Lenovo’s Middle East and Africa (MEA) regional headquarters in Riyadh, which will feature a customer and R&D center for the area. Additionally, the company will construct a new facility in Saudi Arabia for the production of personal computers and servers.
Significance of the Partnership: Alat, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PIF, intends to utilize this partnership to foster industrial innovation in Saudi Arabia and position the nation as a leading hub for sustainable tech manufacturing. Through this alliance, Lenovo aims to enhance its influence in the MEA region.
Partnership Details: Lenovo plans to issue $2 billion in convertible bonds to Alat. The capital raised will be used to settle existing debts and for general corporate purposes. The bonds, maturing in three years, can be converted into equity at HK$10.42 ($1.33) per share, reflecting a 10% premium on the 30-day average VWAP. The bond issuance is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Lenovo has also approved the issuance of 1,150,000,000 warrants at HK$1.43 ($0.18) each.
- PIF, a sovereign wealth fund, oversees more than $700 billion in assets. According to the terms of the agreement, Alat has the right to nominate a non-executive director for Lenovo Group’s board, subject to customary appointment processes in Hong Kong.
- Lenovo’s CEO, Yuanqing Yang, expressed that the strategic collaboration would offer substantial resources and financial leeway, enabling the company to accelerate its transformation and capitalize on the growing momentum in the MEA region.
- Amit Midha, CEO of Alat, anticipates that Lenovo’s establishment of a regional headquarters and a clean energy manufacturing base in Riyadh will spur the company’s expansion in the MEA area.
Market Outlook: Counterpoint Research reported a 3% increase in global PC shipments in the first quarter, reaching 57.1 million units and marking a break from eight straight quarters of downturn. Lenovo led the global market with a 24% share, selling 13.7 million units, an 8% increase over the previous year.
- Market intelligence firm IDC forecasts that the IT and business services market in the MEA region will be valued at nearly $38 billion by 2027, propelled by a surge in large-scale projects and rapid economic growth.
