Transport

EmergeVest Explores Acquisition Targets For EV Cargo

EV Cargo's expansion plans come as the global supply chain tries to recover from pandemic disruption, including measures still applied in China, while also facing high fuel costs and inflation. Photo: EV Cargo.

Hong Kong-based investment firm EmergeVest is exploring potential acquisition targets for portfolio firm EV Cargo, founder and chief executive Heath Zarin said.

EmergeVest tapped investment banks last year to explore strategic options for EV Cargo, according to people familiar with the situation and media reports at the time.

The possibilities included a sale or initial public offering of shares, either of which were expected to value it at $1.5 billion to $2 billion, they said.

“We continue to evaluate and consider all strategic options to drive ongoing delivery of EV Cargo’s corporate growth strategy,” Zarin said in an emailed note.

While declining to comment on EV Cargo’s valuation, he said the company had generated more than $1.5 billion in revenue in 2021, yielding over $100 million in earnings. In that year it had transported $32 billion worth of merchandise between 700 country pairs.

EV Cargo Looks To Enter US Market

EmergeVest created EV Cargo in 2018 after consolidating ownership of six of Britain’s leading logistics companies.

In March, EV Cargo acquired Netherlands-headquartered Fast Forward Freight. This major expansion into Europe added more than $170 million of revenue.

EV Cargo is targeting one or two more acquisitions this year and planning to enter the US market by merger or acquisition in the next 12 months, with an aim to surpass $3 billion of revenue, an EmergeVest spokesperson said separately.

EV Cargo’s expansion plans come as the global supply chain tries to recover from pandemic disruption, including measures still applied in China, while also facing high fuel costs and inflation.

Since its formation in 2013, EmergeVest, which specialises in the logistics and supply chain sector, has raised more than $500 million and has made 26 investments.

At the end of 2021, it had $860 million of assets under management.

Reuters with additional editing by Jim Pollard

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Jim Pollard

Jim Pollard is an Australian journalist based in Thailand since 1999. He worked for News Ltd papers in Sydney, Perth, London and Melbourne before travelling through SE Asia in the late 90s. He was a senior editor at The Nation for 17+ years and has a family in Bangkok.