by AIRLINKFREIGHTSDirect Couriers sale: private equity owners seek new investor
The sale comes after Anacacia invested to help consolidate Direct Courier’s six state-based branches across Australia and New Zealand to roll into one over-arching company, and set up the regional platform.
Now that the corporate restructure’s done, and the businesses has bolted on a few extra limbs, it’s expected to be pitched to larger buyout funds and industry players.
Australia’s courier pick up and delivery services market is estimated to be worth $10.6 billion a year, according to IBISWorld data, having grown at 8 per cent a year in the past five years thanks to the rising use of online shopping.
The only substantial players are DHL Express (9.8 per cent of the market) and Allegro’s Toll Global Express (6.8 per cent), which means there’s plenty of room for a new name to try to consolidate smaller players.
The talks are understood to be at an early stage. Anacacia investment director Martin Kaplan is one of the firm’s representatives on Direct Courier’s board.
Anthony Macdonald co-edits Street Talk, specialising in private equity, investment banking, M&A and equity capital markets. He has 10 years’ experience as a business journalist and worked at PwC, auditing and advising financial services companies. Connect with Anthony on Twitter. Email Anthony at a.macdonald@afr.com
Sarah Thompson has co-edited Street Talk since 2009, specialising in private equity, investment banking, M&A and equity capital markets stories. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in London as a markets and M&A reporter at Bloomberg and Dow Jones. Email Sarah at sarah.thompson@afr.com
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