The Perkins Group provides shipping, freight services, land-haul services and general freight services. Perkins Shipping's services include international shipping between Darwin and Singapore via East Timor, and coastal shipping throughout northern Australia.

Toll said Perkins' international shipping services would benefit from the growing importance of South-East Asian trade to northern Australia.

Toll managing director Paul Little said, ''With its potential for future regional growth, we are confident our customers will find Perkins Shipping a valuable addition to the Toll Group.''

Toll said the acquisition was expected to be earnings per share accretive in year one.

The acquisition will be funded from existing debt facilities.

Toll has been pushing its strategy of expanding in Asia over the past couple of months.

Last week, Toll signed an agreement with the Cambodian Government to operate the country's railways through a joint venture under a 30-year concession.

Toll said Cambodian railways were likely to become a vital part of a planned rail link between Singapore and China, which would include Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Toll will hold 55 per cent of the joint venture and the Royal Group a Cambodian conglomerate with operations in banking, telecommunications and the media will own 45 per cent.

Toll also made two small acquisitions last month.

Toll bought the remaining 49per cent of Shenzhen's ST-Anda Logistics that it did not already own in a move to expand its logistics operation in China.

ST-Anda has a network across mainland China, with warehouses and depots in more than 30 cities.

Toll also expanded its presence in India by acquiring a 40 per cent interest in BIC Logistics in New Delhi, with the option of upgrading to a majority holding over the next two years.

Shares in Toll Holdings fell 18c, or 2.64 per cent, to close at $6.65 yesterday. AAP