The headquarters of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), right, and Etihad Towers, center, surrounded by residential and commercial properties in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, April 10, 2022. It is not just about the oil production that countries need to pay attention to, but also investments in renewables, Alhmeri affirmed.
Christopher Pike | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Global private-equity giant KKR has expanded its partnership with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, acquiring a minority stake in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets.
That ADNOC subsidiary operates 38 gas pipelines and two export terminals in the United Arab Emirates. KKR did not disclose the value of the deal to CNBC.
The partnership follows ADNOC’s 2019 oil pipelines deal with KKR and BlackRock, which opened the door to foreign direct investment across the region.
“This investment reflects KKR’s commitment to expand partnerships and investment across the Middle East,” said David Petraeus, partner at KKR and chairman of the KKR Global Institute and KKR Middle East. “The region’s strong fundamentals, bold vision, and focused leadership offer increasingly attractive opportunities for global investors.”
Earlier this year, the firm appointed former CIA Director Petraeus, who joined KKR in 2013, as chair of its Middle East operations and launched a dedicated investment team led by Julian Barratt-Due.
The transaction marks another milestone in KKR’s expansion in the region. It acquired a stake in Dubai-based Gulf Data Hub, with a combined commitment from the two firms of more than $5 billion to fund the expansion of GDH’s data center network.
The ADNOC gas pipeline network, which links the company’s upstream assets to domestic off-takers across the UAE, remains fully owned and operated by ADNOC. KKR has taken a minority stake, so ADNOC will retain control. KKR’s stake — acquired through its managed accounts — is structured to yield long-term revenue, the company said.
The move expands KKR’s over 16-year presence in the Middle East, with offices in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The firm now manages more than $90 billion in infrastructure assets globally since launching its infrastructure strategy in 2008, according to information on its website.