A consortium comprising Singapore’s PSA International, the Polish Development Fund (PFR) and the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund (GIF) managed by IFM Investors, has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Gdańsk Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT Gdańsk), Poland’s largest container terminal.
The Gdańsk terminal is the fastest growing container port in Europe and is ranked amongst the 15 largest container ports by volume on the continent. The terminal was built in 2005 and, following a significant capital expenditure programme, its capacity doubled in 2016 with the completion of a second quay. Container volumes have grown steadily to reach 1.9 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2018. The port is also the only terminal in the Baltic Sea that can serve Ultra Large Container Vessels, the world’s largest container ships with a capacity of up to 23,000 TEUs.
“DCT Gdańsk is PSA’s first investment in Eastern Europe, and we look forward to working closely with our partners PFR and IFM to further develop its facilities and to strengthen its position as the preferred port of call for Poland and the Baltic Sea. Through leveraging our global network and our expertise in creating value for the port and shipping communities, PSA will partner with shipping lines, logistics operators and cargo owners to deliver more efficient, flexible and robust supply chain solutions for the region,” said Tan Chong Meng, CEO of PSA International.
“We are pleased that we managed to successfully complete the acquisition of a special asset – the only deep-water container terminal in Poland and the entire Baltic Sea basin. I believe that the unique combination of local and international content, as well as PSA’s operational know-how will reinforce DCT Gdańsk for further growth. The new owners support DCT’s ambitious expansion plans, including construction of a new terminal in the coming years to utilise and leverage economic growth of Poland and the CEE,” added Paweł Borys, CEO of PFR.
“We are delighted to further consolidate our existing partnership with global leader in port operations, PSA, and join leading Polish fund PFR, whose insight into the Polish market has been invaluable to the consortium,” IFM Investors global head of infrastructure Kyle Mangini said. “The transaction also marks another investment for IFM in a core infrastructure asset in Poland, expanding upon our long-standing presence in the country.”
PSA is a leading global port group and partner to cargo stakeholders around the world. With flagship operations in Singapore and Antwerp, PSA’s portfolio comprises a network of more than 50 coastal, rail and inland terminals in 17 countries.
The Polish Development Fund (PFR) is a financial group that offers instruments supporting the development of companies, local governments and individuals, and invests in sustainable social development and national economic growth. IFM Investors is a global institutional funds manager with $US82 billion under management as of December 31, 2018.
The transaction is subject to approval from Poland’s competition authority.