CHANNELFRET acquired by GALIA
Context
Channelfret International has finalized a Management Buy-Out (MBO) designed to structure the smooth leadership succession of its founder. This shareholder transition allows the company's key executive team to assume operational control and acquire a majority equity stake, ensuring strict corporate continuity. Specializing in international freight forwarding and cross-border logistics management, the entity leverages this leveraged buyout framework to preserve its operational model and safeguard its deeply entrenched B2B customer relationships. The long-term growth thesis underlying this MBO centers on consolidating its core freight corridors, accelerating the digital transformation of its chartering workflows, and rolling out new value-added supply chain solutions to drive scalable growth.
CHANNELFRET, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2024, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Business Services sector (11.1x).
Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.
-> Deep-dive in Business Services market trends
Target
A French freight forwarding and customs brokerage company strategically located near the Channel Tunnel. It specializes in cross-channel logistics between the EU and the UK. Since Brexit, it has developed strong expertise in customs clearance and regulatory management for Corporate flows.
Ent. Value
LOGIN
Equity Value
LOGIN
Multiples
EV / Revenue
LOGIN
EV / EBITDA
LOGIN
EV / EBIT
LOGIN
Historical Financials (EUR)
Similar deals in Business Services
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/2025 | INFRACAPITAL | SAF AEROGROUP | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | SAF Aerogroup, part of the Oaktree and Bpifrance portfolio since 2017, is set to be acquired by Italy's Vesper Infrastructure and the UK's Infracapital. The group, with revenues of EUR110 million, is valued at nearly EUR300 million. |
| 04/2025 | TRANSARC | PLACE MOBILITE | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | Transarc acquired 100% of Place Mobilite, marking a significant strategic step in its national expansion. The transaction was driven by the retirement of the historic owner-manager, ensuring the continuity of the family business founded in 1957. This deal exemplifies the ongoing consolidation in the French passenger transport sector. |
| 01/2025 | MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY (MSC) | CLASQUIN | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | MSC acquired a 97.5% controlling stake in Clasquin through a public tender offer (OPA). The transaction includes the 42% stake held by founder Yves Revol and shares held by employees. By exceeding the 90% ownership threshold, MSC has initiated the squeeze-out process to delist Clasquin from the Paris stock exchange. The company will be integrated into MSC's service-engineering branch, Shipping Agencies Services (SAS), based in Luxembourg. |
| 01/2025 | SAFESTORE HOLDINGS / NUVEEN REAL ESTATE | EASYBOX | ITALY | Transport & Logistics | Safestore Holdings PLC and Nuveen Real Estate have established an evenly split joint venture to acquire 100% of Easybox. This strategic partnership marks the formal entry for both entities into the Italian self-storage sector, which is currently identified as one of the most under-penetrated markets in Western Europe. The transaction includes ten income-producing facilities with strong trading track records and two specialized turn-key development projects located in Milan, which are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2025 |
| 12/2024 | FIRSTGROUP | RATP DEV TRANSIT LONDON | UNITED KINGDOM | Transport & Logistics | FirstGroup plc has completed the acquisition of 100% of RATP London from RATP Développement. The transaction represents FirstGroup's strategic re-entry into the London bus market at scale, following its exit in 2013. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is to diversify FirstGroup's portfolio and secure a significant foothold in the UK's largest bus market, which accounts for 46% of the national industry. RATP London brings a high-quality fleet (34% electric) and c. 90 TfL contracts with a weighted average remaining life of 3 |
| 11/2024 | BCR-I HOLDING | COFELY ALS | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | Engie continues its divestment strategy by selling Cofely ALS to BCR-i Holding. For BCR-i, this is a strategic external growth operation following the acquisition of ESEIS. It integrates a recognized specialist in airport systems maintenance (180 employees) into its portfolio, strengthening its position as a multi-specialist Facility Management player in critical environments. |
| 10/2024 | FRANCE EUROPE TRANSPORTS RAPIDES (FETR) | DUCAMIN | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | The Toulouse-based Groupe Jardel continues its national expansion by acquiring Transports Ducamin in Normandy. This acquisition allows Jardel to diversify its activity portfolio by integrating niche expertise in hazardous materials (fuel transport) and to strengthen its geographical footprint in the North-West of France, a region where it previously had less density. |
| 10/2024 | GROUPE TOP CHRONO | KLEDYS | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | Top Chrono, which specializes in last-mile delivery in the Ile-de-France region, has just acquired Kledys. This acquisition will enable Top Chrono to strengthen its healthcare division. |
| 06/2024 | AMDG PE | LA COMPAGNIE DU GOLFE ET DE LA NAVIGATION | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | The maritime group La Compagnie du Golfe et de la Navigation (CGN), which owns the iconic brands Les Bateaux Verts and Vedettes Iles d'Or, completes a new LBO ("LBO Bis"). The founder and CEO, Denis Robert, reorganizes the capital structure by bringing in AMDG Private Equity as a strategic partner, alongside Smalt Capital. This operation allows the exit of previous financial backers and provides the group with resources to accelerate its energy transition (hybridization of the fleet) and consolidate its leadership in the Var tourism market |
| 04/2024 | GROUPE SIFA | HESNAULT | FRANCE | Transport & Logistics | The Groupe SIFA has completed the acquisition of its competitor Groupe Hesnault. This consolidation brings together two major family-owned players in the French freight forwarding market. The deal allows SIFA to significantly strengthen its network, particularly in the Pacific and Oceania regions where Hesnault had a strong foothold, and to reach a critical size to compete with global giants. The combined entity creates a robust group with expanded "Door to Door" capabilities. |
REFERENCES
Revenue range: 10M - 30M EUR
Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of CHANNELFRET by GALIA are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.
Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Press release: view release
Target: channelfret
Acquirer: galia