Industry Focus · Logistics, Import & Export
Selling a logistics or trade business?
We help owners of Australian logistics, freight and trade businesses prepare for a sale and run it. Contracts, fleet and your workforce all shape what the business is worth to the right buyer.
01 · Coverage
Sectors we serve.
Each sub-sector has its own buyers and its own sensitivities.
- Freight forwarding and customs brokerage
- Third-party logistics (3PL)
- Warehousing and distribution
- Road freight and specialised freight
- Last-mile delivery
- Cold-chain logistics
- Cross-border trade and import-export
- Port services and e-commerce fulfilment
By the numbers · Indicative
12 – 24mo
Earn-out tied to customer retention
Cold chain
Plus 3PL and last-mile: sub-sectors priced at the top end
TMS · WMS
Transport and warehouse systems buyers pay for
02 · Market dynamics
What's driving M&A right now.
- Supply chain restructuring. Resilient, multi-modal operators have pulled ahead since the pandemic.
- E-commerce growth. Online retail is driving consolidation in 3PL and fulfilment.
- Cold chain. Food and pharma demand is lifting prices for cold-chain operators.
03 · Value drivers
What buyers pay for.
Vehicles and warehouses are the visible assets. The real value sits in contracts, coverage and the systems that tie you to customers.
- Customer contracts: length, renewal, exclusivity
- Transport and warehouse systems
- Drivers and warehouse staff who stay
- Specialist capability: cold chain, dangerous goods
Contracted, tech-enabled operators attract the strongest prices.”
04 · Mechanics
How deals are structured, and what catches owners out.
Property, fleet and customer retention all shape what completes and what doesn't.
- Property is often a separate deal. It is sold and leased back, or left out of the sale.
- Vehicle finance moves with the deal. The buyer takes it on, or it is refinanced.
- Earn-outs follow customer retention. They typically run 12 to 24 months.
Whether drivers are contractors or employees is the biggest employment risk in this sector right now.
- Driver classification. Buyers will test whether your contractors are really employees.
- One big customer. A single major retailer or e-commerce platform drives the revenue.
- Ageing fleet. Vehicles due for replacement come off the price.
Other industries we focus on
Selling in logistics or trade?
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