The Unifeeder Group (‘Unifeeder’), the largest Pan-European feeder and shortsea operator, announces the signing of the agreed acquisition of Unifeeder by DP World, an enabler of global trade and an integrated supplier to numerous supply chains, who operate multiple yet related businesses – from marine and inland terminals, maritime services, logistics, and ancillary services to technology-driven trade solutions.
Under its new ownership, Unifeeder will benefit from DP World’s global scope, size, and presence which in turn will enable Unifeeder’s brands to expand further and beyond present geographies and products.
Sustainable shareholder value
Unifeeder will continue to operate on a fully independent, multi-user basis under its current existing management, and expects to see additional growth as a consequence of the transaction. The well-known Unifeeder attributes of agility, flexibility, and development of customer-centric products will continue to be the center of gravity for all of the brands.
We have enjoyed great success over the last five years under Nordic Capital’s ownership"
Commenting on the acquisition, Jesper Kristensen, CEO, says: “We are excited to join the DP World Group. Not only is there commonality with our business models but we also share the vision of serving our customers through removing inefficiencies and delivering sustainable shareholder value. We have enjoyed great success over the last five years under Nordic Capital’s ownership, and we believe that the Unifeeder brand within the DP World Group has the opportunity to accelerate growth, expand further and take the business to the next level.”
Global supply chain
He continues: “By having an owner as dedicated to customer-centric, multi-user solutions as the ones Unifeeder provides, we will continue to build ‘best in class’ services, coverage, and connectivities. Our increased outreach and international scope, will facilitate that we can serve our clients even more broadly and with even more scale and competitiveness. Hence, together with our new owner, we will strive to further improve our offering and further optimise the transshipment markets and the supply chains in Europe and beyond - to the benefit of our clients in particular and the cargo in general.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, says: “We are delighted to add the Unifeeder brand under the DP World umbrella, which supports our strategy to grow in complementary sectors, strengthen our product offering and play a wider role in the global supply chain as a trade enabler.”
Ultra-large container vessels
Unifeeder is a best-in-class logistics provider in this space with a strong reputation in Europe"
He continues: “The ever-growing deployment of ultra-large container vessels has made high-quality connectivity from hub terminals crucial for our customers and Unifeeder is a best-in-class logistics provider in this space with a strong reputation in Europe.”
“Our aim is to leverage on the in-house expertise of Unifeeder and to accelerate growth in this scalable platform to deliver value for all stakeholders. Unifeeder operates on the same common-user principle as DP World and adds to the Group’s strong value proposition to international shipping lines and end cargo owners in making the global supply chain more efficient and cost-effective.”
Operational improvement initiatives
Under its present ownership, led by leading private equity investor, Nordic Capital, Unifeeder has since 2013 grown to become the largest independent Pan-European feeder and shortsea operator with the industry’s best-connected network, spanning more than 100 ports in Northern and Western Europe, the Mediterranean (incl. North Africa and the Middle East) as well as the Black Sea.
This development has been supported by acquisitions and investments in new shared services centres, regional restructuring, various operational improvement initiatives as well as a focus on organic revenue growth, not least in the shortsea business.