Established Freight Forwarder for Sale
OIEO £5Million
West of England
Asking Price includes:
NAV c£1 Million
Adj Avge EBITDA £1,203,000
HIGHLY PROFITABLE
RUN LARGELY UNDER MANAGEMENT
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL
LONG-STANDING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
SUPERBLY RUN BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Company is a well-established, independent freight forwarding and logistics business providing international shipping, customs clearance, and end-to-end supply chain solutions to a diverse client base across the UK and overseas. The business benefits from a strong reputation for reliability, personal service, and operational expertise in managing complex freight movements by air, sea, and road.
The Company operates with a streamlined and efficient cost base, supported by experienced staff and long-standing carrier and agent relationships. This enables it to deliver consistent service levels while maintaining healthy margins and strong customer retention.
This opportunity would suit a trade buyer seeking to expand geographic reach, enhance service capability, or acquire an established platform with immediate revenues and infrastructure in place. It would also appeal to an ambitious owner-manager or management buy-in candidate looking to acquire a respected brand in the freight and logistics sector.
THE BUSINESS
The Company is a full-service freight forwarding business offering tailored logistics solutions for commercial clients operating in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, automotive, industrial, and e-commerce.
The Company provides a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Time-critical European and UK road freight, including dedicated vehicles, express, and AOG movements
- Exhibition and events logistics, including timed deliveries, on-site coordination, and return movements
- International air freight (import and export), frequently integrated into time-critical and exhibition supply chains
- Customs clearance and documentation, often directly linked to automotive, exhibition, and urgent shipments
- Sea freight (FCL and LCL) where appropriate to specific customer requirements
- Specialist, project, and non-standard cargo handling on an ad-hoc basis
The Company operates as an independent forwarder, enabling it to work with a broad network of global partners and carriers to secure competitive rates and flexible routing options for its customers.
OPERATIONS
The day-to-day operation of the business is now largely managed by the operational team, with the two Owner-Directors providing senior oversight and input only on high-level or exceptional matters. This operating model has strengthened operational resilience, reduced key-person dependency, and maintained strong customer confidence.
STAFFING
The operations team consists of seven staff members, forming a stable and experienced core responsible for daily freight movements, customer service, and transport coordination. The senior management team lead on transport operations and team management, acting as the primary escalation point for operational issues.
FINANCIALS
The Company has demonstrated a consistent trading performance, underpinned by recurring revenues and a stable gross margin profile typical of a well-run independent freight forwarder.
Summary Financials (FY2023–FY2026)
(Year end: 31 March)
£’000 FY2023 FY2024 FY2025 FY2026**
Turnover 4,497,836 5,285,478 7,259,404 7,985,000
Gross Profit 970,885 804,726 1,638,079 1,796,600
Adj EBITDA 721,124 432,578* 1,144,893 1,261,504
* 2024 was a challenging year across the logistics sector, with widespread cost inflation and margin pressure. During that period, the directors made a deliberate decision to protect newly acquired customer relationships rather than impose aggressive price increases while still a relatively young business. In parallel, they temporarily outsourced additional operational support to manage rapid growth and service demand.
That phase is now behind them. Pricing discipline has improved, margins have recovered, and the business is demonstrating clear operating leverage, as reflected in the YTD performance.
**Projections taken from results up to 1st December 2025.
BALANCE SHEET
The March 2025 Balance Sheet showed:
Tangible Assets £57,783
Debtors £1,105,367
Cash @bank £756,558
Creditors (£883,464)
Deferred Tax (£2,5910
NAV £1,033,653
REASONS FOR SALE
The shareholders are seeking a sale of the business to allow them to realize the value they have built and to ensure the Company is well positioned for its next phase of growth under new ownership.
ASKING PRICE
The shareholders are seeking offers over £5m for 100% of the issued capital of the Company assuming a NAV of £1,033m. There will be a £ for £ adjustment to reflect any movement away from this benchmark NAV of £1.033m
