UAE’s ADNOC plans to list at least 10% of fuel distribution business

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) aims to sell at least 10 per cent of its fuel distribution unit in an initial public offering (IPO) in Abu Dhabi, as Gulf states step up plans to privatise energy assets in an era of cheap crude.

The listing details come as Saudi Arabia and Oman are also looking to privatise energy assets as low oil prices squeeze revenues.

Saudi Arabia plans to list 5 per cent of its national oil company Aramco by next year, which Saudi officials say could raise $100bn, making it the world’s biggest IPO.

At the holding company level, ADNOC will continue to be owned by the Abu Dhabi government, said ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber at an energy conference.

“The IPO of ADNOC Distribution … is a natural evolution for the growth and expansion of this exciting retail-focused business,” al-Jaber said.

ADNOC was formed by the government of Abu Dhabi in 1971 to manage crude oil exploration, production and distribution.

Reuters reported in September that ADNOC could list more than 10 percent of its fuel retail business.

The transformation of ADNOC is also seen as part of an economic reform drive led by Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

ADNOC produces some 3 million barrels of oil per day, or around 3 per cent of global production. It also produces more than 9.8 billion cubic feet of raw gas per day, placing it among the largest energy producers in the world.

ADNOC Distribution is the leading fuel distributor in the United Arab Emirates with an approximately 67 per cent market share by number of retail fuel service stations, which stood at 360 at the end of September.

For the 2018 financial year, the distribution unit intends to pay at least $400m in dividends and its dividend in 2019 will similar to what it will pay in 2018, ADNOC said in a statement.

From 2020 onwards, ADNOC Distribution expects to pay a dividend of at least 60 per cent of distributable net income.

Five per cent of the offering will be reserved for the Emirates Investment Authority, the statement added.

Completion of the deal is expected in December, subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals, it said.

Citigroup, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are joint global coordinators for the offering and also bookrunners alongside EFG Hermes, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley

Rothschild & Co is the financial adviser.