Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
Strategic acquirers, private equity (buyout funds and growth funds) firms, and valuation benchmarks for Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services
1.1 - About Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
Companies in Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services orchestrate global, multimodal transportation—air, ocean, rail and road—by consolidating shipments, optimizing routes and managing cross‑border compliance. They provide digital rate management, instant quotes and end‑to‑end visibility, linking shippers to reliable capacity across lanes and the final mile. Value includes fewer handoffs, faster transit, lower total landed cost, and improved service levels through integrated technology and managed operations.
Typical offerings combine online rate marketplaces and one‑click booking with transportation management systems that deliver real‑time tracking, analytics and exception management. Providers run LTL consolidation networks, intermodal services with Class I rail connectivity, and dedicated truckload capacity, including temperature‑controlled fleets. Many add customs brokerage, trade compliance and documentation, alongside final‑mile and white‑glove home delivery. APIs, shipment portals and managed transportation programs integrate these capabilities into customer supply chains.
Primary customers include enterprise shippers in retail and eCommerce, industrial manufacturers, and importers/exporters with complex cross‑border flows. These companies deliver outcomes such as reduced freight spend through consolidation and optimized routing, higher on‑time performance via reliable capacity and proactive exception handling, stronger compliance and risk management, and end‑to‑end visibility that improves planning, inventory turns and customer experience.
2. Buyers in the Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
2.1 Top strategic acquirers of Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services companies
DSV
- Description: Provider of global automotive logistics and supply-chain solutions, delivering 3PL/4PL management, warehousing and value-added services, and specialized support for electrification and finished vehicles to OEMs and Tier suppliers in more than 70 countries.
- Key Products:
- Air Freight Solutions: Handles global air cargo using tailored Unit Load Devices that fit specific aircraft fuselages, accelerating loading/unloading, improving space utilisation and enabling precise shipment tracking
- Sea Freight Services: Offers full-load, part-load and groupage ocean transport across worldwide routes, optimising cost and reliability for diverse cargo types
- Contract Logistics & Warehousing: Operates automated facilities like the 55,000 m² RedLion2 hub with AutoStore, shuttle sorters and AMRs, providing sector-specific storage, solar-powered operations and innovation sandboxes
- End-to-End Supply Chain Management: Designs and manages complete supply-chain solutions, integrating green logistics and value-added services to ensure compliant, sustainable and efficient global trade for multiple industries.
- Rationale: Provider of Air Freight Solutions with tailored ULD tracking, Sea Freight Services for FCL/LCL, and end-to-end compliant global forwarding management.
- Company type: Private company
- Employees: ●●●●●
- Total funding raised: $●●●m
- Backers: ●●●●●●●●●●
- Acquisitions: ●●
2.2 - Strategic buyer groups for Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
M&A buyer group 1: Online Freight Forwarders
Flexport
- Type: N/A
- Employees: ●●●●●
- Description: Provider of supply chain management and logistics solutions delivering software that integrates ERP data to manage cargo and streamline freight processing, and offering services such as order management, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, delivery, trade financing and insurance.
- Key Products:
- Supply Chain Management Software: Integrates disparate ERP data across supply-chain partners, giving real-time cargo information and automating freight processing to accelerate shipments and reduce manual workload
- Freight Forwarding Service: Manages end-to-end international freight movements, coordinating multi-modal transport and logistics to move goods efficiently between global origins and destinations
- Customs Brokerage & Compliance: Handles customs documentation and regulatory processes, ensuring shipments clear borders smoothly while maintaining compliance with international trade regulations
- Trade Financing & Insurance Solutions: Provides capital to fund shipments and offers insurance coverage, protecting clients against financial and transit risks inherent in global commerce.
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●● companies3. Investors and private equity firms in Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
3.1 - Buyout funds in the Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
2.2 - Strategic buyer groups for Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
4 - Top valuation comps for Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services companies
4.2 - Public trading comparable groups for Enterprise Freight Forwarding Services sector
Valuation benchmark group 1: Third-Party Logistics and Freight Forwarding Companies
Kuehne + Nagel
- Enterprise value: $●●●m
- Market Cap: $●●●m
- EV/Revenue: ●.●x
- EV/EBITDA: ●●.●x
- Description: Provider of sea freight, air freight, contract logistics, road and rail logistics, and customs brokerage services, focusing on innovative and sustainable logistics solutions to connect people and goods globally.
- Key Products:
- Sea Logistics: Seamless sea freight services
- Air Logistics: Comprehensive air cargo solutions
- Road Logistics: Full truck load, less than truck load and Groupage services
- Warehousing and Distribution: Fulfillment and storage solutions
- Customs Brokerage: Efficient customs clearance services