Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Eyes Trade Routes, Acquisitions

Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group (ADPORTS.AD) plans to develop extensive trade corridors connecting the United Arab Emirates, with the Middle East, the subcontinent, Africa and elsewhere, executives said on Tuesday, following its share listing.

AD Ports Group, controlled by state investor ADQ, made its debut on the Abu Dhabi bourse on Tuesday after it had raised proceeds of 4 billion dirhams from the primary issue.

“Our main driver of strategy is to develop extensive trade corridors that’s particularly important for Abu Dhabi,” said Ross Thompson, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, AD Ports Group, Reuters reported.

“We have a very strong balance sheet. We have an ambition to grow,” Chief Financial Officer Martin Aarup said in an interview, adding though that the group was not in a rush.

“We want to make good deals. We have a strong pipeline and we are constantly screening (for targets).”

The group was interested in investing in ports, logistics, maritime and digital, Aarup said.

With the equity injection, AD Ports had a strong balance sheet and low leverage, he said. The company raised $1 billion in 10-year bonds last year and had an un-utilized revolving credit facility of almost $1 billion, the company said in an email.

“As part of growth and our growth strategy, we will have to raise additional funding, also on the debt side,” Aarup said.

“When we issued our inaugural bond last year we did it as a program and therefore also indicating that we would come back to the market. Timing of which will depend on when growth opportunities will materialize.”

AD Ports said its ports business accounted for about 30% of annual revenues while industrial and logistics parks accounted for around 33%. It has an expected compound growth rate of around 13%, it said.