Global Ports to acquire Russian terminal operator

   Global Ports Investments said Monday it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100 percent of the Moscow-based terminal operator NCC Group Ltd.
   NCC Group’s container terminal operations are located on the Baltic Sea, the principal gateway for Russian containerized cargo. Its key assets include full ownership of First Container Terminal in St. Petersburg, 80 percent ownership of the recently launched Ust-Luga Container Terminal in the port of Ust-Luga and 100 percent ownership of Logistika-Terminal, an inland container terminal located close to St. Petersburg which serves primarily as an inland container yard for First Container Terminal.
   “The agreement will strengthen Global Ports’ leading position in the growing Russian container market by providing more capacity, greater operating efficiency and simplified port calls, creating a national champion in Russian infrastructure to the benefit of all stakeholders in the transportation value chain of the region,” GPI said in a statement.
   APM Terminals, the terminal operating arm of the A.P. Moller Maersk Group, is a co-controlling shareholder of Global Ports.
   In 2012, NCC Group’s marine terminals’ annual container handling capacity was nearly 1.7 million TEUs. The company generated revenues of $253 million.
   Global Ports said intended acquisition, subject to approval by regulators, will be financed through a combination of a cash, new shares representing approximately 18 percent of the share capital of Global Ports and assumption of debt of NCC. – Eric Johnson