DP WORLD ACQUIRES LEADING PORT RELATED LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS PROVIDER IN EUROPE
DP World acquires 100% of Unifeeder, the largest container feeder and growing shortsea network operator in Europe
Global trade enabler, DP World today announces the signing of the acquisition of 100% of the Unifeeder Group (“Unifeeder”)[1] for €660 million[2] from Nordic Capital Fund VIII and certain minority shareholders. Based in Aarhus (Denmark), Unifeeder operates the largest and most densely connected common user container feeder and an important and growing shortsea network in Europe, serving both deep-sea container hubs and the intra-Europe container freight market. The Group reported revenue of €510 million in 2017 and EBIT margins in line with other asset-light logistics operators. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to be earnings accretive in the first full year after completion. It will be financed from existing balance sheet resources and is expected to close in 4Q 2018.
The acquisition of Unifeeder will further enhance DP World’s presence in the global supply chain and broaden our product offering to our customers – the shipping lines and cargo owners – with a view to ultimately reduce inefficiencies and improve the competitiveness of global trade. The current operations of Unifeeder are complementary to DP World’s existing business and provides future growth opportunities.
Unifeeder, founded in 1977, is an integrated logistics company with the largest and best-connected feeder and growing shortsea network in Northern Europe with connectivity to approximately 100 ports. The company provides efficient and sustainable transport solutions for international container shipping lines between international and regional ports and shortsea services to cargo owners with fully multimodal door-to-door solutions, combining seaborne transportation with road and/or rail. The business is cash generative and operates on a highly flexible cost base.
[1] The acquisition of the Unifeeder Group is through the acquisition of its holding company, Holdingselskabet af 10. januar 2013 II A/S, which is a Nordic Capital Fund VIII indirectly majority controlled holding company.
[2] This is the enterprise value (equity plus net debt), which equals US$762.8 million based on FX rate EUR/USD of 1.1557.
