In this whitepaper, Hilton Smythe explores the key market drivers behind the recent spate of M&A activity in the haulage industry, analyses some of the landmark haulage deals that took place in 2023 and early 2024, and makes some predictions for the year ahead.
While global M&A deal numbers fell to 10-year lows in 2023, the UK haulage and wider logistics and supply chain management industry remained a hive of activity: 81 deals were completed in 2023 (9 more than the record in 2021), of which 27 were completed in the fourth quarter.
Inflationary pressures, declining freight rates, and geopolitical instability do not appear to have deterred investors, as a trend of consolidation took hold of the M&A market. In an industry with squeezed margins, M&A is allowing haulage companies to achieve economies of scale, unlock synergies, and generate cost savings.
One particularly acquisitive player over the 15-month period analysed was Burnley-based EFS Global, who snapped up YDL, Leeds Parcel Company and Pass the Parcel, adding more than £30m turnover to the group and consolidating their presence within the pallet and parcel distribution segment.
Our free, downloadable whitepaper draws on proprietary research to look at deal volumes in the UK’s haulage and logistics industry between January 2023 and March 2024, prolific acquirers, and key value drivers.
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