ACFS acquires IPS Logistics Group’s Port of Brisbane operation

CONTAINER logistics operator ACFS Port Logistics has acquired IPS Logistics Group’s Port of Brisbane operation.

The acquisition includes 54,000 square metres of warehousing, 16,000 square metres of container storage and a transport fleet primarily consisting of higher productivity vehicles. IPS site is adjacent to ACFS’ existing Port of Brisbane operations.

IPS provides logistical services to a host of national and state-based importers and exporters.

There has been a long-standing relationship between ACFS and IPS, resulting in the progression of a binding transaction. The respective parties expect to complete the transition, subject to regulatory processes and approvals by mid-July.

ACFS said the acquisition further cements its service offering within the Port of Brisbane and to the broader import and export market in Queensland. It said the step would support growing demand for 3PL, e-commerce and FAK services.

ACFS CEO and managing director Arthur Tzaneros said demand within warehousing is outgrowing supply in the market, and hence securing long-term assets in high volume import and export hubs is imperative to enable ACFS’ continued growth.

“We will continue to expand our capability in all facets of the containerised logistics supply chain by creating scale and efficiency supported by strong technology and blue-chip infrastructure assets, to achieve best in class supply chain models,” he said.

“We look forward to on-boarding and building long term relationships with IPS’ current customers and staff and commit to providing a reliable solution that has constantly enabled us to differentiate ourselves in the market.”

ACFS chairman Terry Tzaneros said, “I can comfortably say that our focus on growth, being organic and or via mergers and acquisitions has continued through the pandemic and we are aggressively investing to ensure we are ahead of the market, with the provision of solutions and services. Securing the IPS business and property footprint on the port is core to ACFS’ growth strategy, and we will continue to target additional strategic assets to our business portfolio”.

ACFS is also growing in the Sydney region. Its St Mary’s Intermodal hub 44 hectares in size, with the first 10 hectares to be complete and ready for operations in August. It will have the capacity for 110,000 TEU per year via rail, in conjunction with Pacific National.