[020417.EN.BIZ] INTTRA Acquires Container Repositioning Platform - Avantida

NEW JERSEY's ocean shipping electronic marketplace, INTTRA, has acquired Avantida, the European market leader in empty container management for ocean carriers, for an undisclosed sum.

Belgium-based Avantida currently conducts business in seven European countries. The company's core business - digitised, automated container reuse and repositioning - addresses a major challenge for ocean carriers, transport companies, terminals, depots, and other stakeholders.

Industry experts estimate that empty container positioning costs the ocean shipping industry up to US$20 billion a year, 40 per cent of handling costs.

Enhanced coordination of land and ocean container movements generates efficiencies and reduces costs, and INTTRA's entry into landside container logistics will provide additional value for existing and new customers, a company statement said.

Avantida, an industry leader in digitised container logistics, has products and customer bases that are complementary to those of INTTRA.

"Acquiring Avantida advances our strategy of extending our reach into the intermodal value chain, enabling INTTRA to better serve our customers. With cutting-edge, cloud-based technology and a unique business model, Avantida enhances efficiency and delivers substantial value to carriers, shippers, and other landside transport companies," said INTTRA's chief executive John Fay.

Said Avantida's CEO Luc De Clerck: "Our combined offering will further benefit numerous stakeholders within and beyond ocean shipping and container logistics, including reducing CO2 emissions and congestion at ports and surrounding communities."

Avantida will operate as an INTTRA-owned company and customers should continue to use the same sales and service contacts.

Source : HKSG.