Adnoc Distribution, the UAE’s largest fuel and convenience retailer, posted a more than 16 per cent annual rise in its first-quarter profit, boosted by its growth in Saudi Arabia.
Net profit attributable to equity holders in the three months ended March 31 hit Dh638.7 million ($174 million), driven by "strong underlying business profitability and lower finance costs", the company said on Tuesday in a regulatory filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares trade.
Revenue for the quarter edged down 3.2 per cent annually to Dh8.47 billion, partially offset by reduced fuel prices as a result of lower global oil prices in the quarter on an annual basis, but lifted by a growth in fuel volumes and higher non-fuel retail segment contribution, the company said.
Oil prices have been volatile in recent months, with Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil, and West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, down by about 18 per cent so far this year.
"From an oil price perspective, we believe our business is sound and resilient across all our markets and, at the same time, our convenience business is not directly linked," Ali Siddiqi, the company's chief financial officer, told The National on Tuesday.
"In fact, lower fuel prices help our consumers ... it's linked to people coming into our stations, but it's not directly connected with the low oil price."
Meanwhile, the US-induced tariff war and weaker dollar has had a limited effect on the company, owing to its largely locally sourced supply chain, Mr Siddiqi said.
"Construction and equipment costs may see some upward pressure, but we don't see [tariffs] as a significant impact or a major threat to our operational costs at this stage," he added.
Adnoc Distribution said it achieved its "highest-ever first-quarter" fuel volume of 3.7 billion litres, "driven by market share growth, increasing demand and network expansion in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt".
The company opened 20 new service stations in the first quarter, bringing its network to 915 and keeping it on track to meet the target of between 40 and 50 new stations by the end of 2025, it said. In Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil-exporting country, Adnoc Distribution added 15 stations, growing its network to 115.
Non-fuel retail transactions also increased with gross profit rising 14 per cent annually in the period from January to March to reach Dh228 million.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation – a measure of profitability – rose 11 per cent compared with last year to reach Dh1.01 billion, a record for the first quarter and the highest since Adnoc Distribution's initial public offering in 2017.
"As we continue to expand our network and capabilities, adding new service stations and enhancing our customer experiences, we remain focused on capturing new opportunities and setting new benchmarks," said Bader Al Lamki, chief executive of Adnoc Distribution.
The company has been incorporating more technology into operations as part of efforts to improve its offering.
Mr Al Lamki told The National at last year's Gitex Global technology summit that the company was developing more than 20 tools powered by artificial intelligence to further optimise operations and enhance operational efficiencies.
Adnoc Distribution has also demonstrated its concept robotic arm for electric vehicle charging. But there are no plans to use the technology in the near future and the concept is aimed at future-proofing the company, Mr Al Lamki said at the time.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
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