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In a billion-dollar blaze of financial frost, CVC Capital Partners and Abu Dhabi-based Tabreed have struck a landmark deal to acquire PAL Cooling from Multiply Group for 3.8 billion UAE dirhams (roughly $1 billion), both companies announced Monday. The acquisition reflects a high-stakes bet on the Middle East’s surging real estate expansion and an urgent push for sustainable, energy-efficient infrastructure.

The deal brings together CVC DIF — the infrastructure investment arm of private equity titan CVC — and Tabreed (National Central Cooling Co. PJSC), a heavyweight in regional cooling systems, for a strategic acquisition that marks another step in redefining how urban centers chill under the Gulf sun.

"PAL Cooling is a high-quality asset that promises strong returns and sustainable value creation," said Gijs Voskuyl, managing partner at CVC DIF.

PAL Cooling: The Icy Core of UAE Real Estate

Founded in 2006, PAL Cooling Holding has become a pivotal player in the UAE’s district cooling ecosystem, operating five major plants and supplying sustainable, centralized chilled water systems to multiple commercial and residential buildings. It maintains ties with some of the country's most prominent real estate developers.

The technology it deploys is crucial in cutting carbon emissions and energy costs, especially in a region where traditional air conditioning is energy-intensive and environmentally taxing.

Multiply Group, which acquired PAL Cooling in 2021, said the divestment drew significant investor interest — a testament to the UAE’s meteoric urban growth and corresponding demand for green cooling solutions.

"This sale reflects strategic investor confidence in cooling infrastructure amid Abu Dhabi’s real estate boom," Multiply Group noted.

A Strategic Fit for Tabreed’s Vision

Tabreed, best known for chilling some of the Gulf’s most iconic landmarks — including the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world — sees the acquisition as a natural extension of its strategic trajectory.

“This aligns perfectly with our readiness to support Abu Dhabi’s ambitious development plans,” said Tabreed Chair Bakheet Al Katheeri. “It positions us to meet the UAE’s rising demand for sustainable cooling, fueled by population growth and aggressive decarbonization targets.”

Legal Teams Behind the Ice-Cold Deal

• Clifford Chance LLP represented Multiply Group PJSC, listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange.

• White & Case LLP served as legal adviser to both CVC DIF and Tabreed, the latter of which trades on the Dubai Financial Market.

The transaction timeline remains under wraps, pending regulatory approvals not yet specified by the companies. However, all parties express strong confidence in its ultimate success.

Cooling the Future with Capital and Innovation

This acquisition is more than a financial move — it's a thermodynamic statement. As the Middle East’s urban centers rise ever higher, the need for smart, scalable, and sustainable cooling becomes existential. By taking the helm of PAL Cooling, CVC and Tabreed are turning up the pressure — not the temperature — on what infrastructure investment looks like in the age of climate urgency.

In the sweltering climate of the Gulf, this is more than business — it's a blueprint for surviving and thriving.