Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, at his office in DIFC, Dubai. Leslie Pableo / The National
Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, at his office in DIFC, Dubai. Leslie Pableo / The National
Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, at his office in DIFC, Dubai. Leslie Pableo / The National
Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, at his office in DIFC, Dubai. Leslie Pableo / The National

DAE is 'well positioned' to manage Covid-19 impact despite nine-month profit slide


Deena Kamel
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Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), one of the world's biggest plane lessors, posted a lower nine-month profit this year but said it is well positioned to manage the impact of Covid-19 due to its strong balance sheet.

Profit for the period fell to $90.5 million in the first nine months of 2021, from $167.3m in the same period last year, DAE said. Adjusted profit for the period stood at $128.8m, after adding back one-off debt redemption costs.

Total revenue for the first nine months dropped to $925.3m, from $984.1m in the same period in 2020, as net lease revenue fell 8.7 per cent year-on-year.

"Our financial results for the first nine months of 2021 demonstrate our continued focus in the leasing division on investing in new technology, fuel-efficient narrow body aircraft, sales of portfolio aircraft in the secondary market and extending further relief to our airline customers," Firoz Tarapore, chief executive of DAE, said.

The outlook for plane lessors has been brightening as confidence to travel returns gradually. The global commercial aircraft leasing market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.9 per cent between 2020 and 2027 despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by ResearchandMarkets.com.

DAE said the gradual start of airlines' recovery helped to improve its collection rate, or the sum of all cash collected from lease rentals as a percentage of the total contracted receivables due for the period after factoring in any lease amendment or deferral agreements, to 89 per cent as of September 30.

"Many airlines are beginning to return to normal operations which has helped to improve our collection rate to 89 per cent for the period and increase our operating cashflow by 33 per cent to $800m in the first nine months of 2021," Mr Tarapore said. "Approximately seven billion vaccine doses have been administered globally, but the deployment is uneven across jurisdictions, impacting recovery of long-haul air traffic."

DAE offered relief packages to 40 airline customers as of September 30, up from 33 customer as of December 31, 2020. This was in the form of rent deferrals, loans to airlines or other leases amendments, DAE said.

The total value of rent deferrals and loans to airlines is $216.6m or 18.7 per cent of Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) lease revenue, it said. Of the total, $213.4m has been incurred and $3.2m relates to future rental.

In addition, DAE have entered into various lease amendments mainly involving near-term relief in exchange for lease extensions and other lease value enhancements, with the total value of these amendments at $172.6m.

"If the impact of Covid-19 is prolonged, the amounts due from our airline customers and associated loss allowance may increase in future periods," DAE said in its financial statement. "However, we expect the global travel industry to recover, and we are well positioned to manage the impact of Covid-19 on our business due to the strength of our balance sheet and liquidity position."

It holds approximately $484m in the form of cash or letters of credit. It also holds maintenance reserves of $1,147.1m. In addition, it has access to $3.4 billion of available liquidity to support the on-going operation of the group as needed.

"We continue to monitor air traffic recovery trends and maintain a strong and healthy balance sheet and exceptional liquidity to assist our clients and grow our franchise," Mr Tarapore said.

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US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Scoreline

UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia

UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’

Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’

Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Date of launch: 2014

Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer

Based: Media City, Dubai 

Sector: Financial services

Size: 120 employees

Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
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  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
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Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

Manchester United v Liverpool

Premier League, kick off 7.30pm (UAE)

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Getting there

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.

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Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.

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Available: Now

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Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

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Updated: November 03, 2021, 12:39 PM