CCI approves Unifeeder's purchase of Avana, TFPL, Transworld Feeders

Published: Jun 04, 2021

By TIOLCORPLAWS News Service

NEW DELHI, JUN 04, 2021: THE Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday said it has cleared Unifeeder ISC FZCO acquisition of India-based logistics company Avana Logistek, and shipping companies Transworld Feeders Private Limited (TFPL) and Transworld Feeders FZCO.

The feeder and short sea services operator, Unifeeder is held by global ports operator DP World, and is present in India through its subsidiaries, Feedertech (providing EXIM feeder service) and Perma Shipping Line. (providing EXIM Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCC) services).

The group had announced a series of acquisition in August last year of feeders and regional trade operators as part of their expansion into the Indian subcontinent through Unifeeder ISC (Indian Subcontinent).

The deal involves 100 per cent acquisition of Avana and TFPL, and indirect acquisition of Transworld Shipping Agencies via Unifeeder’s takeover of Transworld Feeders. TFPL will also acquire the containerised Indian coastal and Export-Import (EXIM) feeder shipping operations of Shreyas Shipping and Logistics.

"Our Unifeeder ISC platform will continue to operate an asset-light, independent common-user platform, as we continue to build the Unifeeder brand, which is best known for efficient connectivity, flexibility, and reliability," said Mr Ahmed Bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World.

Avana Logistek and Avana Global cover 60 ports, whereas Transworld Feeders and Shreyas Shipping cover 53 ports.

Transworld Feeders and Avana Global are independent feeder and NVOCC covering ports in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Asia, including a hub in Jebel Ali. Founded in 1982 the two companies handle approximately a combined 1.2 million TEU a year.

Shreyas Shipping and Logistics operates in the markets for both domestic coastal feeder services along the coast of India and EXIM feeder services in and out of Indian ports to the Gulf region. It is also engaged in coastal transhipment services covering most major ports and container terminals on the Indian coast.