e& recorded a net profit of Dh2.19 billion in the first quarter of 2023 as its subscriber base grew. Photo: E-Vision
e& recorded a net profit of Dh2.19 billion in the first quarter of 2023 as its subscriber base grew. Photo: E-Vision
e& recorded a net profit of Dh2.19 billion in the first quarter of 2023 as its subscriber base grew. Photo: E-Vision
e& recorded a net profit of Dh2.19 billion in the first quarter of 2023 as its subscriber base grew. Photo: E-Vision

UAE's e& acquires 10% stake in South Korea's Bespin Global for $60m


Alkesh Sharma
  • English
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The UAE’s biggest telecoms operator e& — formerly known as Etisalat — has invested $60 million in South Korea’s cloud management company Bespin Global for a 10 per cent stake and also formed a joint venture company that will provide public cloud services in the region.

Originally announced in December, the new company is known as Bespin Global MEA. It will be 65 per cent owned by e& enterprise, a part of e&, and 35 per cent owned by Bespin Global.

It will offer “public cloud managed and professional services in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Pakistan”, e& said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.

“In addition, e& invested $60 million in Bespin Global in exchange for a stake of circa 10 per cent … the JV will be accounted for as a subsidiary of e&, effective from May 2023,” it added.

In the cloud industry, businesses pay only for those selective services or resources they use over a period of time.

The adoption of cloud technology is expected to add $181 billion in economic value to the UAE over the next decade, according to a report commissioned by Amazon Web Services. That is equal to 2.5 per cent of the Emirates’ economy.

Nearly 1 per cent increase in cloud adoption by UAE organisations will result in a 0.21 per cent or $854.7 million average gross domestic product growth, which is three times the Middle East and North Africa average and the highest in the region, the report added.

Abu Dhabi-based e& was founded in 1976 and is the UAE's oldest telecoms company. It has operations in about 16 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

It recorded a net profit of Dh2.19 billion ($599 million) in the first quarter of 2023 as its subscriber base grew.

The company is expanding its presence and has been on an acquisition spree.

Last month, it signed a $400 million deal to acquire a majority stake in Careem’s Super App spin-off from Uber as part of efforts to expand its consumer digital offerings.

This year, e& increased its stake in Vodafone Group to 14 per cent as it continues to consolidate its shareholding in the British company as part of its international expansion plans.

The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

On sale: now

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Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

The Indoor Cricket World Cup

When: September 16-23

Where: Insportz, Dubai

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Brief scores:

Day 1

Toss: South Africa, field first

Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48

South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

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The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

THE SPECS

Engine: 4.4-litre V8

Transmission: Automatic

Power: 530bhp 

Torque: 750Nm 

Price: Dh535,000

On sale: Now

match info

Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')

Liverpool 0

Updated: May 26, 2023, 12:45 PM`