APM Terminals is now entering the attractive Russian market in a strategic partnership with the leading Russian transportation group, N-Trans.
By acquiring 37.5 pct. of the public company Global Ports, APM Terminals becomes an equal controlling partner in the leading operator of container terminals in Russia. Up until now, N-Trans has been the sole controlling shareholder of Global Ports with 75 pct. ownership.
The new partnership was made public today in London. The transaction values Global Ports approximately at USD 2.3 billion, making APM Terminals’ share acquisition the largest foreign direct investment in Russia’s transportation industry to date.
With this new partnership APM Terminals adds three container terminals in Russia, two container terminals in Finland, one inland container depot in the vicinity of St. Petersburg and a major oil and oil products terminal to its global network. With this new partnership, APM Terminals will also be able to play a major role in expanding terminal capacity for future demand in Russia and neighboring countries when the right opportunities present themselves.
APM Terminals’ CEO Kim Fejfer believes that this strategic investment will offer value to APM Terminals’ shipping customers today and create further opportunities to accommodate their growth in the future. The Russian market showed impressive growth rates in the past with an average growth over 15 pct. a year in the past five years. The rapidly developing middle class, Russia’s integration with the global economy as evidenced by the recent WTO membership and the country’s wealth of natural resources will continue to fuel the growth in exports and imports in the long run.
“ Russia will need world-class port infrastructure and operational excellence to serve global shipping lines and its own ambition of economic development. Today we are proud to announce that we found an excellent partner to expand our network to Russia. Global Ports has a well-diversified port network, a very experienced management team, a sound customer-focus, and a good eye to grow the business, ” commented Kim Fejfer.
“ This investment underpins our long term business development strategy of increasing presence in high-growth markets. The scale of entry in a market like Russia will further strengthen our diversified global portfolio. The partnership will also serve as our platform for future business development activities in this attractive part of the world,” added Francois-Xavier Delenclos, APM Terminals’ Vice President of Strategy and Business Development.
Nikita Mishin, Chairman of the Board of Directors in Global Ports , states “ I am confident that by drawing on the expertise of a leading international player like APM Terminals and N-Trans’s significant experience in developing infrastructure in Russia, we will further strengthen Global Ports’ leadership in our markets. With the support of these shareholders we can look forward to the successful development and efficient deployment of new capacity and will be able to respond even more quickly to the opportunities for growth in our underlying markets to the benefit of all of our stakeholders.”
Global Ports reported revenues of USD 501m and an adjusted EBITDA of USD 282m for 2011. It has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2011.
Both APM Terminals and Global Ports have been nominated for the “Port Operator of The Year” award at the prestigious Lloyd’s List Global Awards event in London in September.
Completion of the transaction is expected to occur by the end of the year once all the relevant approvals have been obtained.
A media presentation, featuring Kim Fejfer, CEO of APM Terminals and Nikita Mishin, Chairman of Global Ports will be held at 10.30 London time / 11.30 CET / 13.30 Moscow time.
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Press Release, September 10, 2012