L’imad plans full buyout of AD Ports Group

L’imad has announced its intention to make a voluntary conditional cash offer to acquire up to 100% of the issued and paid‑up share capital of AD Ports Group. The bid will be executed through ADQ, a wholly owned subsidiary of L’imad, and is directed at shareholders who do not already fall under the existing majority stake. The structure of the deal positions it as a potential take‑private transaction for the Abu Dhabi‑listed port operator.

The offer targets all remaining shares not already held by ADQ, with the objective of bringing AD Ports Group fully under the control of L’imad’s investment platform. By framing the proposal as voluntary and conditional, the transaction will depend on various regulatory approvals and on the level of acceptance from minority shareholders.

ADQ currently owns approximately 75.42% of AD Ports Group’s issued share capital. This existing majority position means the offer is primarily aimed at the free float and other minority investors who collectively hold the remaining shares. If these investors tender their shares into the offer, L’imad, through ADQ, could move from majority to full ownership.

Consolidating ownership under one investment entity would significantly reduce the free float of AD Ports Group and create the conditions for a possible delisting from the public market. The current plan focuses on offering an exit route to public shareholders while strengthening the sponsor’s control over the company’s capital structure.

The proposal has been described as a voluntary conditional cash offer that could lead to AD Ports Group becoming a privately held company. A successful transaction would remove the company’s shares from public trading, subject to satisfying exchange rules and formal delisting procedures. The intended end‑state is a fully owned subsidiary within L’imad’s broader investment portfolio.

For the offer to proceed to completion, detailed documentation and regulatory filings will still be required. These steps typically include formal offer documents, disclosures to shareholders, and approval processes with market authorities. Until these processes are completed and the offer conditions are met, AD Ports Group will remain listed and its existing free‑float shareholders will continue to hold their stakes.

The planned transaction gives current minority shareholders a defined opportunity to sell their holdings into a cash offer made by the existing majority owner. Shareholders will be able to evaluate the terms of the offer once the full documentation is published and decide whether to tender their shares. Those who choose not to participate could see their position move into an entity with a much smaller free float if the offer is largely accepted.

From a market structure perspective, the move underscores the dominant role of L’imad and ADQ in the company’s ownership and governance. The outcome of the offer will determine whether AD Ports Group continues as a publicly traded company with a minority shareholder base or transitions into full private ownership under its current majority investor.