M&A WATCH-

Gulf General Cooperative Ins. signed a non-binding offer with BlueFive Investments Holding for to acquire new shares from a potential capital increase, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. BlueFive would buy all new shares in the company, with existing shareholders’ pre-emptive rights suspended. The offer is valid until definitive agreements are signed, two months from 24 November, with the door open for extension.

What’s next: The offer still needs regulatory approvals from the Ins. Authority, Capital Market Authority, and the company’s shareholders. Gulf General also needs to first reduce its capital to cover accumulated losses, then issue new shares at SAR 10 each to BlueFive.

REGULATION WATCH-

The Kingdom approved a new Geographical Indications Protection Law to safeguard locally produced goods linked to specific regions, such as Taif roses, Saudi dates, and Najran honey. The law — which will go into effect 180 days after its publication last Friday — law establishes a national registry under the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and empowers it to issue executive regulations. These regulations cover agricultural, food, artisanal, and industrial products to protect their authenticity and market value at home and abroad.

Strict penalties for violations: The law bans unauthorized or misleading use of geographical indications, with penalties ranging from one month to three years in jail, and fines of SAR 5k to SAR 1 mn. Offenses include counterfeiting, mislabeling, misleading advertising, and unfair competition. Courts can confiscate or destroy counterfeit goods and tools, publish judgments at the offender’s expense, and suspend or close businesses for repeat violations.

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