UAE: ADNOC Distribution delivers strong operating performance and growth

Abu Dhabi [UAE], August 5 (ANI/WAM): ADNOC Distribution today announced its first half 2023 results, reporting a 9 per cent year-on-year increase in underlying EBITDA to AED 1.57 billion, and a 2 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit excluding inventory movements to AED 1.03 billion, driven by higher fuel volumes and company-wide efficiency improvement initiatives.

The Company continued to maintain a strong balance sheet, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.13x at the end of the first half of the year. Its financial position remained strong with liquidity of AED 4.7 billion at the end of the period.

Strong Operating Performance

ADNOC Distribution experienced a notable year-on-year growth in total fuel volumes in the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, witnessing a 9% increase in H1 2023 compared to H1 2022. Retail fuel volumes, which account for about 70% of the total volumes, increased by 8% year-on-year. The Company’s corporate fuel volumes recorded sustained growth, achieving a substantial 12% year-on-year increase, underpinned by the management’s efforts to strengthen the commercial business portfolio.

Eng. Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO of ADNOC Distribution, said: “ADNOC Distribution has delivered robust results in the first half of the year, driven by strong operating performance and efficiency improvement initiatives across the Company. As a future-focused business, we remain on track to meet targets for the year in OPEX savings and network expansion locally and internationally and expect this growth momentum to continue into the second half of the year. Supported by our firm belief in our smart growth strategy while embarking on our transformational plans that focus on innovation and upgrading the customer experience, we remain committed to achieving sustainable growth and rewarding returns for shareholders in the long term.”

”We continue to actively support and contribute to the UAE’s strategic vision by reducing carbon emissions from our operations and supporting sustainable mobility objectives. This approach aligns with our future-proofing strategy and capitalizes on the opportunities offered by the energy transition.”

Robust non-fuel business

The Company’s non-fuel retail business continued to demonstrate a consistent and solid performance, with gross profit increasing by more than 12 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the year, primarily driven by a 14 per cent increase in transactions and achieving a record-high conversion rate in convenience stores. Key drivers of this growth were management initiatives to boost food and beverage sales, customer-centric offerings in line with the Company’s non-fuel strategy, and innovative products and services.

ADNOC Distribution achieved substantial growth by leveraging AI and data analysis to enhance the customer experience, leading to personalized offers through the ADNOC Rewards program. The program now boasts over 1.7 million members. Additionally, the company revitalized ADNOC Oasis convenience stores, refurbishing five stores in the first half of the year.

The Company also launched a new rewards campaign that allows customers to earn rewards points at an accelerated rate, improving the customer value proposition and attracting new customers. The campaign aims to boost transaction volume and store conversion rate.

The payment standardization initiative further enhances customer experience and operational efficiency across the business.

Additionally, ADNOC Rewards are now linked to service station purchases, enabling customers to earn and redeem rewards points for offerings in fuel, lube change services, convenience stores and car washes, contributing to the company’s continued growth.

Delivering growth

ADNOC Distribution accelerated the execution of its growth strategy by opening 13 new service stations in the UAE in the first half of the year, including three in Dubai. As of 30 June 2023, The Company’s domestic network expanded to 511 service stations (with 42 in Dubai) reinforcing its leading position in the UAE’s fuel retail sector. ADNOC Distribution remains well-positioned to achieve its full-year target of expanding the network with 25 to 35 new service stations.

The Company made significant progress in its international expansion in February 2023 by completing the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in TotalEnergies Marketing Egypt, one of the top four fuel retail operators in Egypt. The joint venture has successfully expanded its aviation fuels business by securing the right to supply aviation fuel to Etihad Airways for flights fuelled in Cairo. In the fuel retail segment, the joint venture opened a new station in the second quarter of 2023. ADNOC Distribution plans to open its first three branded ADNOC flagship service stations in Cairo during the third quarter of 2023.

In the first half of 2023, ADNOC Distribution’s VOYAGER lubricants portfolio expanded to 32 export markets worldwide. The Company is actively exploring opportunities to enter new and growing lubricant markets through strategic collaborations with leading partners worldwide. The Company recently signed an agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), one of the largest players in India’s lubricant and fuel retailing sector. This agreement marks another significant milestone in ADNOC Distribution’s international expansion strategy, aimed at enhancing its presence in key lubricant markets worldwide.

Operational excellence and future-proofing the business

ADNOC Distribution is focusing on network expansion and delivering a higher non-fuel retail contribution. Through the implementation of management initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, prudent cost controls, and cost optimization measures, the Company achieved OPEX savings of AED55 million during H1 2023, demonstrating significant progress towards its full-year OPEX savings target of more than AED 92 million in 2023 (on a like-for-like basis).

ADNOC Distribution remains committed to exploring growth opportunities and new revenue streams arising from energy transition. The Company is keen on developing new mobility solutions such as Electric Vehicle (EV) charging while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability-driven initiatives. To bolster its efforts in this area, the Company has partnered with TAQA to establish E2GO. Once formed, this joint venture will build and operate EV services infrastructure in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. In addition, ADNOC Distribution already operates 38 EV charging points at its service stations.

The Company recently entered into a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) to explore and establish sustainability opportunities for Abu Dhabi’s light and heavy-duty transportation sector. The Company will collaborate with the DMT-affiliated Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) in Abu Dhabi to develop critical sustainable mobility solutions, focusing on core mobility areas such as low-emission and zero-emission vehicles.

In January 2023, ADNOC Distribution announced its plan to reduce carbon intensity by 25 per cent by 2030, by putting sustainability at the core of its day-to-day operations to future-proof its business and deliver sustainable long-term shareholder value. Since then, the Company has embarked on a number of tangible initiatives to fulfil this commitment and address the energy transition. A significant step in this direction was the partnership with Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF. As part of the Company’s phased approach to UAE-wide solar rollout to generate clean energy, the partnership will develop on-site solar power across the Company’s service stations network in Dubai.

Serving ADNOC Distribution’s broader sustainability objectives, the Company collaborated with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) to jointly launch a state-of-the-art Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) initiative. The innovative recycling program is set to roll out across 25 ADNOC retail service stations.

The Company is set to operate the region’s first high-speed hydrogen refueling station, which will create clean hydrogen using an electrolyzer powered by zero-carbon grid electricity.

Attractive shareholder proposition

ADNOC Distribution remains committed to delivering sustainable, profitable growth and attractive shareholder returns. The Company’s new dividend policy approved at the General Assembly meeting in March 2023 sets a minimum dividend of AED2.57 billion (equivalent to 20.57 fils per share) for 2023, offering higher payback visibility for shareholders and yielding at 5.3 per cent (based on the share price of AED 3.90 as of 4 August 2023).

Consistent with its dividend policy, ADNOC Distribution expects to pay a minimum of AED1.285 billion as the first six-month dividend for 2023 (equivalent to 10.285 fils per share) in October of this year. This will be followed by the second six-month dividend of 2023 (10.285 fils per share) in April 2024, subject to the discretion of the board and shareholders’ approval.

The Company’s dividend policy for the subsequent years sets a dividend equal to at least 75 per cent of distributable profits. The policy recognizes the Company’s strong financial position, and confidence in its growth prospects as well as its ability to generate substantial cash flow in the future. This will enable the Company to pursue growth opportunities while maintaining attractive shareholder returns.