AD Ports Group has recently announced the acquisition of an additional 30% equity stake in Global Feeder Shipping for approximately $300 million, raising its shareholding in this strategic asset from 51% to 81% .

This transaction was executed under a call option agreed at the time of the Group's initial acquisition of a 51% stake in GFS in February 2024, which allowed the Group to increase its stake before December 2026 at the enterprise value established in 2024 of approximately US$1 billion. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of debt financing and asset divestments.

By capacity, GFS is the world's fourth-largest container feeder shipping operator, primarily deploying small and medium-sized vessels to transport cargo between major transshipment hubs and smaller ports. AD Ports Group's feeder shipping operations have grown rapidly since their launch in 2020. GFS is regarded as one of the Group's most strategically significant assets. Amid sustained volatility in the maritime market and the withdrawal of several operators from certain trade lanes, GFS has maintained and expanded trade connectivity, safeguarding the flow of goods for customers in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Its service coverage spans the Indian Subcontinent, the Red Sea, the Far East, the Mediterranean, and Africa, significantly enhancing the Group's regional footprint in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.

Raising the stake to 81% not only strengthens AD Ports Group's cash flow generation capacity, but also grants the Group greater strategic and operational autonomy over this core asset. This facilitates deeper integration with the Group's ports, economic cities, and logistics businesses, enabling it to offer more comprehensive end-to-end trade and logistics solutions to its global customer base.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, stated that increasing the equity stake in GFS underscores the Group's continued commitment to this high-performing strategic asset. GFS has helped the Group penetrate new markets, brought it closer to its customers, and connected its ports more closely with more economies in the Red Sea and the Gulf at a time when trade connectivity matters most. This increased stake will embed GFS more deeply within the Group's ecosystem and further drive the growth of its shipping operations.

Amir Maghami, CEO of GFS, commented that the deepening integration with AD Ports Group testifies to the strength of the partnership. Supported by the Group, GFS has steadily expanded its service network and grown its fleet in the face of a changing market environment. The company will continue to maintain a customer-centric approach and operational agility to create greater value for the regions covered by its network.

Financial data shows that for the full year 2025, GFS transported a total of 2.8 million TEU , completing over 700 voyages and operating across 89 ports in 54 countries. Since AD Ports Group acquired its controlling stake in February 2024, GFS has cumulatively generated EBITDA exceeding US$500 million.