ABP News Release 5 February 2017

Associated British Ports announces acquisition of

W.E. Dowds (Shipping) Ltd

Associated British Ports (ABP) announces today that it has completed the acquisition of W.E. Dowds (Shipping) Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Established in 1960, Dowds is among the UK’s leading family-owned port operations businesses. The company operates a total of 10 separate warehouses with a combined area of over 50,000 sq m based at ABP Newport, South Wales.

James Cooper, Chief Executive of ABP, said: “ABP's acquisition of W.E. Dowds follows our long-established partnership with the Company at the Port of Newport.

"The deal builds on Dowds' excellent track record serving the UK steel market, enabling the

Image caption: W.E. Dowds Terminal at the Port of Newport

business to continue to grow by providing first class customer service.

"As such, the transaction will also help secure further growth and success for the Port of Newport for many years to come."

Matthew Kennerley, ABP Director, South Wales, said: “We’ve been working closely with W.E. Dowds for many years and the business is an important part of the Port of Newport’s success. We’re looking forward to welcoming our new colleagues and achieving even greater success in the future."

Charles Dowds, Managing Director of W.E. Dowds, said: "We have been pleased to work with ABP and its predecessor for over 50 years. Throughout that time ABP has demonstrated a strong commitment to the success of Dowds and the Port of Newport. The £4 million investment in the reconstruction of the Shed 5 facility is the most recent example.

“ABP's acquisition of Dowds demonstrates that their commitment to investment continues. We look forward to our future within the ABP family, which gives us an even more powerful platform to drive further growth."

-ENDS-

About ABP

ABP is the UK’s leading ports operator with 21 ports and other transport related businesses creating a unique national network capable of handling a vast array of cargo.

ABP contributes £7.5 billion to the UK economy every year and supports 119,000 jobs. Its current investment programme promises to deliver an extra £1.75 billion for the economy every year.

ABP’s Port of Southampton is the UK’s largest export port, handling more than £40 billion of goods each year, with £36 billion of that destined for markets outside the EU.

ABP…

• Handles over 1.5 million vehicles every year• Generates around one quarter of the UK’s rail freight• Handles around 90m tonnes of cargo each year• Owns 5,000 hectares of port estate• Has 87km of quay

ABP’s five-year investment programme is worth £1 billion. Its investment is designed to respond to the needs of its customers whose business relies on its ports for access to international and, in some cases, domestic markets.

Contact:

Pressiana NaydenovaCorporate Communications AdvisorTel: 020 7406 7825Mob: 07702 900 830Email: pressiana.naydenova@abports.co.uk

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