More Stories

By Sunil Raghu and Astha Oriel

--Adani Ports on buzz over buying UK port: Will not comment on speculation

--CONTEXT: Adani Ports mgmt's comments in post-earnings call with analysts 

--Adani Ports: To buy global assets if financed locally, returns above avg

--Adani Ports: FY27 capex in line with the guidance or slightly ahead

AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI – Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. management refused to confirm or deny the market buzz about it buying the UK's top port operator Associated British Ports.

"We do not comment on speculation," Ashwini Gupta, whole-time director and chief executive officer, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, told analysts in post-June quarter earnings on Wednesday. Several global media outlets have reported that Adani Group was considering an offer for Associated British Ports as two Canadian pension funds prepare to sell stakes.

Gupta said they follow certain conditions for international acquisitions. "...the first priority is the existing business, because it will start getting the return on the first day and this is not India, this is overseas...the second rule is the country we want to go in, we want to have the local financing in their currency," Gupta said. "The third is return from that asset should be at least or more than the average of APSEZ."

Adani Ports CEO also said their focus overseas is primarily on acquiring assets that are already operational and not organic. "Greenfield is a second priority for us, because it is very difficult to predict 10 years from now, but here, existing business, it will be easier for us, because we can have more grip on the business," he added. 

The Adani Ports management also said the company was not putting in substantial capex in the international ports in the next five years, because they want to maximize the utilisation of the existing assets, "whether it's Tanzania or Haifa or Australia or Colombo. So we have a very disciplined and strict capital allocation plan."

On being asked why the company has desisted from sharing information on capital expenditure along with June quarter earnings, the management said they would include it from the second quarter (Jul-Sept). Adani Ports has already announced an annual capex target of INR 120 billion-INR 140 billion for 2026-27 (Apr-Mar).

The company has also guided for a consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation of INR 520 billion for FY31, up from INR 228.51 billion in FY26. It has also guided for a revenue of INR 915 billion for FY31, up from INR 387.36 billion in FY26. For FY27, the company guided for an EBITDA of INR 250 billion-INR 260 billion, and recorded INR 65.41 billion in June quarter. Its revenue guidance for FY27 was of INR 430 billion-450 billion, of which it achieved INR 108.21 billion in first quarter of financial year 2026-27 (Apr-Mar). As of Jun 30, the company's gross debt stood at INR 567.76 billion and had a cash balance of INR 124.28 billion. 
 
For the June quarter, Adani Ports reported a consolidated net profit of INR 36.20 billion on revenues of INR 108.21 billion. Wednesday, its shares closed 3% lower at INR 1,719.70 on the National Stock Exchange. End

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000 /+91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.