Barwa, Alaqaria agree to merger

Qatar Real Estate Investments (Alaqaria) has agreed to a takeover by Barwa Real Estate in a deal creating Qatar's ninth-largest company with a market value of $3bn. Each Alaqaria share will be exchanged for 1.1 shares in Barwa, it said, adding that the deal values Alaqaria shares at 36.30 riyals per share and implies a 30.6% premium. After the merger, Alaqaria will become a subsidiary of Barwa and the market capitalization of the combined firms will reach 11.1 billion Qatari riyals ($3.05bn), it said.