UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi Islamic insurance firms announce merger

The merger of Dar Al Takaful and Watania to create country's largest takaful firm by market share

By A Staff Reporter

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health insurance, uae, dubai

Published: Tue 26 Apr 2022, 1:27 PM

The shareholders of two of the UAE’s largest Islamic insurance companies, Dubai-based Dar Al Takaful (DAT) and Abu Dhabi-based Watania, on Tuesday announced a merger that will create the UAE’s largest Takaful provider by market share.

Based on the proposed structure, the merger will involve a share swap, whereby shareholders of Watania, now listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, will receive shares in DAT, which would be the remaining entity that will continue to be listed on Dubai Financial Market.


Under the terms of the merger, Watania shareholders would receive 0.734375 DAT shares for every Watania share that they own, valuing the merged company at Dh260.15 million.

All DAT and Watania policies would be held by two DAT subsidiaries: Noor Takaful Family and Noor Takaful General, with DAT being the holding company that owns the two entities.


“The transaction would enable DAT to expand not only within the UAE but potentially across the region, fulfilling a core objective of takaful by broadening its base of policyholders and supporting profitability in the pool. The merger would also support the UAE’s expanding role as a global leader in Islamic finance,” said Matar Hamdan Sultan Hamad Al Ameri, Chairman of DAT.

Dr Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Aldhaheri, Chairman of Watania, said: “This compelling strategic transaction would allow DAT to leverage its scale as a takaful champion to further develop new and innovative insurance offerings, meeting the ever-changing needs of the market and the public’s requirements for flexible and imaginative Takaful solutions.

"Our enhanced financial base and the substantial revenue and cost synergies expected to arise from the merger would enable us to offer reliable and more comprehensive coverage with terms that are highly favourable for policyholders and to create substantial long-term value to our shareholders.”

The new entity would benefit from many cross-selling opportunities through the increased geographic reach, as well as through capitalizing on larger underwriting capacity, to negotiate improved terms with reinsurers.

The integration process is currently being rigorously managed by a Merger Committee, comprising Board members of both DAT and Watania, which continues to collaborate with independent valuation and financial advisors to arrive at beneficial and equitable terms for all parties.

The process would include the seamless transfer of policies to the Noor subsidiaries, whilst efficiently integrating the functions, systems, processes, policies and procedures, in order to establish an optimal operating model for the combined entity.

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The proposed Chairman of DAT after the completion of the merger would be Dr Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Aldhaheri and the Vice Chairman would be Matar Hamdan Sultan Hamad Al Ameri.

Gautam Datta would remain the Chief Executive Officer of DAT.

The merger proposal has received approval from 100 per cent of DAT shareholders and 99.9 per cent of Watania shareholders at the Annual General Meetings of both companies.

Following shareholders’ approval, the creditor will have a 30-day objection period and policyholders will have a 45-day notice period

Preliminary regulatory approvals have already been obtained and following the shareholders’ approval, the merger will be subject to final approvals from the Central Bank, the UAE insurance regulator, and SCA, the regulator of listed companies. DAT and Watania are well-positioned to meet all regulatory requirements.

The merger is expected to be complete by end-June 2022.

-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com


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