DIANA WEST: ALAWEED WATCH….THANK YOUS….MURDOCH AND SCHMIDT

http://www.dianawest.net/Home/tabid/36/EntryId/2434/Alwaleed-Watch-Thank-yous-Murdoch-Schmidt.aspx

So what’s Rupert Murdoch’s Saudi Prince Moneybags up to lately?

March 13, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed Receives Lebanese Deputy Head of Mission to Discuss Economic Issues”:

The meeting began as Mr. Anouti thanked Prince Alwaleed for giving him the opportunity to meet with him.

February 26, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed Receives Outgoing Head of European Commission”:

The meeting began as Mr. Narbone thanked Prince Alwaleed for giving him the opportunity to meet him …

February 24, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed Receives Former German Federal Chancellor”:

The meeting began as Mr. Schröder thanked Prince Alwaleed for giving him and the delegation the opportunity to meet with him.

February 19, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed Receives NIgerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia”:

The meeting began as Mr. Bunu thanked Prince Alwaleed for giving him the opportunity to meet with him …

Fenbruary 12, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed Receives Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia”:

The meeting began as Mr. Kodera thanked Prince Alwaleed for giving him the opportunity to meet with him …

Bleh. Now, to business:

February 5, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed, Murdoch Discuss Strategic Alliance”:

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) and Rotana Group, met with James Murdoch, deputy chief operating officer, chairman and CEO of News Corporation International at The Savoy Hotel, during the prince’s visit to London.
The meeting was also attended by Fahad Alsukait, CEO of Rotana Group and CEO of Alarab Channel that is owned by Prince Alwaleed, and Nahla Nasser Alanbar, private executive assistant to the prince, and top executives of News Corp.
Prince Alwaleed and James Murdoch discussed various issues related to Rotana, News Corp. and KHC. Also during the meeting, they discussed their strategic alliance and reaffirmed their support for Rotana. Prince Alwaleed has 7 percent (voting shares) through KHC in News Corp. and KHC, which is 95 percent owned by Prince Alwaleed, is the second largest shareholder in News Corp. after the Murdoch family. Moreover, News Corp. owns a 19 percent stake in Rotana.

February 3, 2013, “Prince Alwaleed and Google’s Eric Schmidt Hold Working Lunch at the Savoy, London”:

HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) met with Mr. Eric Schmidt Executive Chairman of Google at The Savoy hotel, London. Also, Prince Alwaleed and Google’s Schmidt held a lunch meeting in the presence of, HRH Prince Khalid Bin Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud and Mr. Shadi Sanbar, KHC’s Executive Director and CFO and Member of the Investment Committee.

HRH Prince Khalid bin Alwaleed, 35 (above left), is A’s only son. Khalid is married to daughter of Saudi Arabia’s finance minister.

During their meeting HRH and Mr. Schmidt discussed business and economic issues. The two also discussed Prince Alwaleed’s investments in the US in light of being the largest individual foreign investor there. Also, on the agenda of discussions was future potential business cooperation between KHC and Google in the technology field.

HRH has significant investments in the US in the financial sector via Citigroup, in the media and entertainment sector through News Corporation, Time Warner and in the hotel sector through the Fairmont New York Plaza one of New York’s most distinctive landmarks, Four Seasons hotel via the management of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in which KHC hold a 47.5% interest, and in the Social Media and Technology sector via Twitter.

His Highness first invested in Citigroup in 1991, and is the largest single shareholder in the company. In January 2008, Prince Alwaleed participated in a $12.5bn private offering of convertible preferred securities of Citigroup. The new direct investment was made alongside an exclusive group of leading international investors. The Prince converted the preferred shares in 2009 into common shares (voting shares).

Prince Alwaleed has 7% (voting shares) through KHC in News Corp. and KHC that is 95% owned by Prince Alwaleed, is the second largest shareholder in News Corp after the Murdoch family.

The New York Plaza that is owned 50% by HRH through KHC underwent a $400m renovation and reopened a few years ago. The hotel is managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI) in which KHC holds a substantial interest.

 

Comments are closed.