Nov
29

Latin American Agtech Deals from 2010 to 2020

Latin American Agtech Deals from 2010 to 2020

The agriculture technology (agtech) industry encompasses all companies that apply technology to farming activities. Technology-assisted farming, from complex water management solutions to modern genomics, has been around since the early ages of civilization. Advancements in agtech drove the food industry, and the management systems developed for farms and crops can be applied to other industries, like resource management and big data. The agtech industry can be segmented into inputs, production, selection, processing, distribution, and marketing. The inputs segment accounts for over 80% of the capital invested in Latin American companies.

With agriculture pivoting toward relying more on technological advancements and their applications, venture capitalists and investors have increased cross-border operations with Latin American companies in agtech.

This report outlines the announced investments made in Latin American agtech companies between 2010 and 2020. The focus is placed on deal count, volume, and industry with spotlights on the most active investors, such as SP Ventures, NXTP Ventures, and The Yield Lab, as well as the deals closed by Produquimica Industria e Comercio.

Segments Overview

A Closer Look into the Agtech Value Chain

 

Inputs

Inputs is the sector’s largest and broadest segment. Companies that deal in agtech inputs work with seeds, agrochemicals, and equipment for farming and irrigation. Working with seeds includes genomics and biotechnology; agrochemicals deal with pesticides, fertilizers, and foliar feeding.

Production

Production and cultivation are arguably the most crowded agtech segments, yet they receive a small share of the total investments. Cultivation companies that include data analysis systems or incorporate machinery into their process have a better chance of securing investments, since traditional farming has not seen a notable growth rate over the last decade. Vertical farming, indoor farming, and hydroponics follow a rising trend in agricultural regions, such as Latin America, rural China, and Egypt.

Selection and Processing

If the raw material management allows for it, the selection and processing segment is usually integrated within the same firm in the value chain This segment includes the storage, manufacturing, or exportation of secondary or end products ready for the consumer. Exportation is the end goal for most producers and processing plants within Latin America, and capital invested into such companies is used for operational expenses. There are many advancements in raw food ingredients processing, yet minimal research and development expenditure occurs in Central and South American agriculture companies.

Distribution and Marketing

Logistics companies in the food and beverage business require cold storage units for most agricultural products. Latin American logistics companies deal with rot, odors, and pests. Distribution companies with an international presence partner with agrochemical companies for food preservation and transportation. Capital sources invested in 150 B2B firms, as opposed to less than 50% of B2C companies.

Marketing companies brand products for different sources. Most Latin American marketing firms promote local produce, while the international community advertises foreign, imported ingredients.

Latin American Market Overview

Agtech Deals from 2010 to 2020

  • Vale (metals and mining) acquired Vale Fertilizantes for $1.2 billion in 2011, making 2011 the year with the largest amount of capital raised for agtech companies in Latin America.
  • Drought issues prevented the closure of agriculture deals between 2010 and 2012, and besides Vale, few other firms were active in financing. The growing trend continued between 2013 and 2018 and is expected to resume in 2021.
  • 2018 was the most active year in the period with over $1.4 billion deployed across 57 deals.

Value Chain Spotlight

Agrochemicals in Inputs

Foreign capital sources actively invest in chemical production companies and research and development activities in Latin America. These investments made agrochemicals the largest segment for Latin American agtech companies in the last decade. Companies researching or implementing agrochemicals in the Latin American region do so with fertilizers, such as early-crop supplements, pesticides, and foliar feeding.

  • A total of 29 agrochemical companies in Latin America were actively involved in a private placement between 2010 and 2020. In 2015, several companies from Argentina, Brazil, and nearby countries were sanctioned for their use of chemicals in their crops. Several cancer cases in these countries were attributed to chemical exposure. This led to a notable drop in the companies actively looking for capital to acquire or produce similar chemicals.
  • Companies that could not withstand this period were forced to declare bankruptcy or sell their assets. This increased the M&A activity over the next four years, with similar companies acquiring businesses like Produquimica Industria e Comercio and Rizoflora Biotechnology due to their strategic value. During this period, eight Brazilian companies and two Argentinean agrochemical companies were purchased.
  • Venture capitalists and private equity firms invested $5 billion in agricultural chemical deals in Latin America, or over 85% of the total capital deployed for agtech deals in the region.
  • Deals with agrochemical companies in Latin America accounted for 64% of the total capital raised. In spite of the 2015 decrease in the number of deals, agrochemicals had more deals than all other verticals combined. Only 38 deals were completed for agrochemical firms, or 11% of the total deal count.

Value Chain Spotlight

Cultivation in Production

Agtech cultivation is a rather broad segment that encompasses early- to late-stage crop management, data analytics, chemical implementation, genomics, and care services. Cultivation is the foundational sector in Latin American agtech, yet it is second to agrochemicals. This is due to the number of companies in the region that do not have enough R&D expenditures to attract external private placements. Cultivation companies in the region tend to grow vertically toward logistics and distribution as opposed to technology and data. As a direct result, cultivation receives a consistent amount of capital and predictable trends in deal count for the Latin American region.

  • Cultivation deals raised 19% of the total capital for Latin American companies between 2010 and 2020. Thirty-nine cultivation companies in this region participated in 55 deals. This showcases the importance of cultivation in Latin American countries, as more than half of them were active in more than one round of investments.
  • Most investment activities halted in 2015 due to the rising health concerns of chemicals and pesticides used on crops. Companies that dealt with cultivation followed the same trend.
  • Agro Amazônia Produtos Agropecuários, a Brazilian company, was forced to sell to Sumitomo Corporation in 2015 with a 0.35 revenue multiple. Another company was marketed in 2016. After 2015, venture capital investment trends normalized until the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced a 50% decrease in investment activities.

Agtech Deal Investment Forecasts Moving Forward

Latin American agtech startups set a new record for the decade in the first quarter of 2020.

Since the entire sector benefited from the concerns around food security due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new records are expected for this new decade. Jahani and Associates expects financial activities to grow gradually through 2021 and reach record numbers by the first quarters of 2022. Chemicals and early crop care are developing industries in Latin America. Trends show that manufacturing and chemical research and development will have the highest deal counts in the next coming years.

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Nov
29

ASEAN Overview & Highlights

ASEAN Overview & Highlights

ASEAN: Size, Growth, and Relevance (1 of 4)

This is the first part of J&A’s ASEAN series. In it, we will investigate the ASEAN market and economy, its importance, its capital markets, its position in global trade, and finally its integration with other major players like the USA and China.

ASEAN Background

The Southeast Asian region has grown to global prominence over the last 20 years. Economies in Southeast Asia have been growing rapidly due to trade openness and their position in the global economic trade balances. The region is strategically positioned close to the emerging superpowers of China and India. Businesses should be aware of the growth potential and opportunities present in the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an economic and political union, has empowered the region and facilitated the conditions necessary for rapid development. The ASEAN union includes Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, and Myanmar.

The Importance of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has demonstrated a remarkable model for economic growth and development that sets the region apart from other developing markets. The region is strategically positioned as a gateway to both China and India and boosts openness to trade and business that is no longer guaranteed in Hong Kong. J&A forecasts a continued expansion of the region’s economic and strategic importance as a link between the rising superpowers of India and China and the companies and consumers of the United States of America.

ASEAN was formed in 1967 to prevent a power vacuum caused by rapid decolonization and foster cooperation in the region. The official ASEAN declaration states that the objectives of the organization are to accelerate economic growth and social progress, and preserve cultural traditions in the region through cooperation and partnership. Regional peace, the rule of law, increased education, and cooperation in agriculture and industry are additional goals.

  • ASEAN has been successful in promoting peace in the region throughout the transition from colonialism and communism towards free-market economies.
  • Trade within the region has grown remarkably from $790 billion in 2000 to $2.8 trillion in 2019.
  • GDP growth in ASEAN has regularly exceeded the global average, resulting in a regional economic growth of 10,116% between 1970 and 2020.

 

 GDP Growth in ASEAN

  • The combined economy of ASEAN economies has grown at an average rate of 9.3% annually between 1970 and 2020.
  • In 1970 combined ASEAN gross domestic product (GDP) stood at approximately $29 billion, making the region one of the poorest in the world. In comparison, the GDP of South Africa and Brazil in 1970 were $48 billion and $42 billion respectively.
  • The member states of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand’s economies are among a handful of emerging markets whose GDP per capita has grown at a rate of at least 3.5% annually over the last 50 years.
  • Additionally Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam have experienced at least 5% GDP per capita growth over the last 20 years, making the region home to eight of the top-performing emerging economies globally.

ASEAN Forecast Economic Performance in 2021

  • ASEAN markets are expected to rebound strongly in the second half of 2021 as the region and the world emerges from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are forecasted to experience GDP growth in excess of 6% for 2021.
  • The economies of Singapore and Indonesia are expected to expand at a rate of between 4% and 5%, which remains significant given the size of these markets.
  • Countries that rely heavily on tourism, such as Brunei and Thailand, are expected to recover more slowly than their other regional counterparts.
  • Myanmar is the regional outlier, with political turmoil resulting in negative growth forecasts.

ASEAN Countries are High Performers

  • ASEAN economies led the emerging markets in regional GDP growth between 2011 and 2019. The region was able to maintain consistent growth rates of between 4.6% and 6% over the period.
  • Economic diversification in Southeast Asia resulted in more consistent GDP growth in comparison to other regions that may be dependent on specific industries such as oil and gas, or heavily linked to the performance of neighboring developed markets.
  • In 2020, ASEAN economies contracted by 6% due to the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the region’s openness to trade. Southeast Asia is expected to recover at a significantly faster rate than regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean due to effective vaccine rollouts and growth from trade partners like the USA and China.

ASEAN Governments’ Debt-to-GDP Ratio Matches Similar Markets

  • Lower debt-to-GDP ratios give governments more margin for investment into infrastructure and public spending, lower interest payments on public debt, and better sovereign debt ratings.
  • Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia have maintained low debt-to-GDP ratios of under 50% despite the size of their economies and populations.
  • Singapore has the highest debt-to-GDP ratio in Southeast Asia. Singapore, however, has the most developed infrastructure in the region, and so would not require large public spending.

We hope that you enjoyed this introduction to ASEAN. We reviewed the organization’s history and economic performance, which provide the basis for the region’s rise to global prominence. The region’s economic growth has been spurred by strong capital markets and high openness to trade. Southeast Asia is a critical market to link the rising superpowers of the East with the spending power of the West. The economic and geopolitical integration of the region will enhance Southeast Asia’s global prominence and economic growth.

ASEAN: Capital Markets and Investment Banking (2 of 4)

This part of J&A’s ASEAN series focuses on the capital markets of the region, their maturity, and their activity. Capital market activity has increased steadily in the ASEAN region over the last 20 years. The number of capital market transactions has more than doubled between 2018 and 2020. Of the capital deployed by ASEAN investors, 56% occurred within mergers and acquisitions. This highlights the appetite for inorganic expansion and the intention for companies in Southeast Asia to grow geographically and into new market segments. Singapore remains the key regional market and houses the largest and most active institutional investors.

  • Capital markets are maturing in Southeast Asia. Capital deployed and deal count have been increasing steadily over time. Capital deployed by ASEAN investors in the first half of 2021 ($19.3 billion) has already exceeded total deployment in 2020 ($18.8 billion).
  • A deal count conducted between 2018 and 2020 increased by 147%, from 144 to 356 announced deals. In the first half of 2021, 244 capital market transactions were announced, with a strong capital market growth forecast as the region emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The six largest institutional investment firms, in terms of assets under management, are based in Singapore. The sovereign wealth funds Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) are the two largest investors in the ASEAN region. The GIC has a total of 840 active investments and $500 billion in assets under management. Temasek Holdings has a total of $300 billion in assets under management and a total of 336 active portfolio investments.
  • Temasek Holdings has been the most active Southeast Asian investor in 2020 and 2021. The firm conducted a total of 30 investments between Q3 of 2020 and Q3 of 2021.
  • The top seven most active 2020 and 2021 investors in Southeast Asia are based in Singapore and include early-stage venture capital firms that made 25 investments in the period.

Mergers and Acquisitions Dominate Capital Markets in ASEAN

  • In 2020, 56% of total capital deployed by ASEAN investors occurred within mergers and acquisitions. Significant mergers and acquisitions activity highlights the expansion intentions of Southeast Asia firms.
  • As companies outgrow their markets and become comfortable with international expansion, investment banks will see increased opportunities in M&A advisory and acquisition financing.
  • Four sectors that illustrate this trend well are financial services, telecommunications, energy, and natural resources.

Competition is Normalizing ASEAN Equity Returns

Return on average equity of Asia-Pacific Banking has been drifting down toward the global average

  • APAC emerging markets include the 10 ASEAN countries as well as rising superpowers such as China and India.
  • APAC emerging markets have experienced outsized returns on equity investments over the period from 2010 to 2018. As these markets, and particularly China, have become more accessible to international investments, returns have trended towards global averages.
  • Returns among APAC developing nations are still higher than in APAC developed nations such as Australia, Canada, and Russia.
  • However, ASEAN returns are normalizing with parts of the world as growth slows and the region slows from capitalizing on its many competitive advantages.

Investment Banking in ASEAN

  • There are currently 91 registered investment banks operating in ASEAN. Over 80% of these institutions are headquartered outside of Southeast Asia with regional headquarters in Singapore. Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada, and Bank of America are the three most active investment banks in the region and are all headquartered in North America.
  • The expansion of international investment banks into Southeast Asia is driven by strong regional macroeconomic growth and positive investor environments.
  • The level of investment sophistication in Southeast Asia differentiates the region from other developing markets.

ASEAN Technology Companies are Globally Competitive and Their Strategic Geographic Access to the USA, China, and India Makes High-Growth Companies in the Region Prime Targets for Investors

With uncertainty surrounding the role of Hong Kong and Taiwan, Singapore has become the gateway to the East. Capital market activity in the region is dominated by institutional investors from the city-state. The strength of mergers and acquisition activity by Southeast Asia companies is a sign of the expansion ambitions of the region. International investors and companies seeking growth partners should be mindful of the continued expansion and strategic position of the ASEAN markets. J&A forecasts an increase in capital market activity as nations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam develop.

We hope that you enjoyed this overview of ASEAN capital markets. In the next section of this analysis, we will review the region’s position on global trade. The region’s economic growth has been spurred by strong capital markets and high openness to trade. Southeast Asia is a critical market to link the rising superpowers of the East with the spending power of the West. The economic and geopolitical integration of the region will enhance Southeast Asia’s global prominence and economic growth.

ASEAN: Global Trade (3 of 4)

Part three of J&A’s ASEAN series focuses on the region’s trade openness and trade advantages. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has facilitated the rapid economic growth and development of the region. The increase in trade between member states and other regions internationally is a critical factor for this growth and success. Singapore acts as a regional trade hub and is ranked first in global exports per capita and third in openness to trade. J&A forecasts continued growth in trade in Southeast Asia and the continual rise of the region in global prominence.

Openness to Trade

The trade openness index is calculated through the sum of a nation’s exports and imports as a share of the total GDP as a percentage. Trade openness indicates the strong influence of trade on domestic industries.

Trade openness spurs economic growth and encourages foreign direct investment. It also promotes competitive markets and allows consumers access to a wider range of products at competitive prices.

Trade openness can negatively impact domestic businesses and industries that are not competitive with large, multinational companies. This is particularly common in sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing. Countries with high trade openness indexes rely heavily on international business cycles and may experience highly volatile economic conditions.

  • Trade within Southeast Asia has grown remarkably from $790 billion in 2000 to $2.8 trillion in 2019.
  • Five of the 10 ASEAN nations—Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—have a trade openness index of over 100%.
  • Intra-ASEAN trade accounted for 22.5% of total merchandising imports and exports.
  • ASEAN’s largest trading partners in 2019 were China, with 22% of imports and 14% of exports, the European Union, with 21.5% of imports and 13% of exports, and the United States, with 8% of imports and 13% of exports.

 Key Market: Singapore

  • Singapore ranks first globally on per capita exports, $52,700 annually, and fifth globally for imports per capita, $56,300 annually. The nation has a trade openness index of 317%, the third-highest globally.
  • Singapore is the regional trade hub of Southeast Asia and accounts for 27.5% of the region’s total exports.
  • The nation had a 79% manufacturing products to total exports ratio, and a 74% manufacturing products to imports ratio, showing the reliance of domestic industry on trade.
  • Top imports into Singapore include electrical equipment (21%), minerals (22%), machinery and appliances (13%), and precious metals (6%).
  • Leading exports from Singapore include electrical equipment (28%), minerals (15%), machinery and appliances (13%), and instruments and apparatus (7%).

Deregulation Has Boosted the ASEAN Economy

  • ASEAN nations have reduced internal and international tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTB) in an effort to stimulate trade in the region.
  • Average regional tariffs have decreased from 25% in 1990 to 7% in 2010, a period in which ASEAN nations also experienced large real GDP growth.

Openness to trade and ease of business have been vital contributing elements to the growth of Southeast Asian economies such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The region is ideally positioned to act as a hub for trade among the emerging superpowers of India and China and developed markets such as Australia and the USA. J&A forecasts continued growth of regional and international trade in ASEAN, which will further spur the region’s economic and geopolitical rise.

We hope that you enjoyed this introduction to ASEAN. We reviewed the organization’s history and economic performance, which provides the basis for the region’s rise to global prominence. The region’s economic growth has been spurred by strong capital markets and high openness to trade. Southeast Asia is a critical market to link the rising superpowers of the East with the spending power of the West. The economic and geopolitical integration of the region will enhance Southeast Asia’s global prominence and economic growth.

ASEAN: Economic Integration with the USA, MENA, and China (4 of 4)

This is the final part of J&A’s ASEAN series, wherein we will investigate the integration of ASEAN economies into the rest of the world. ASEAN will prove a key geopolitical and economic battleground for the United States and China.

The region’s geographic positioning, openness to trade, and expeditious economic emergence have made the ASEAN a prominent economic and political force. Southeast Asia is closely integrated with the developed nations of the European Union, the USA, and Australia through trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and business. China, however, is now the region’s closest trade partner and has increased its share in FDI to exceed that of the USA. Economic integration between ASEAN and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has strengthened through trade and capital market activity. J&A forecasts the continued rise to global prominence of the ASEAN as a hub for trade positioned to connect the manufacturing of the East with the spending power of the West.

  • Southeast Asia is strategically positioned to act as a link between the rising superpowers of India and China and established markets such as the USA, Canada, and Australia.
  • Intra-ASEAN trade has increased at a rate of 9.5% annually from $608 billion in 2013 to $1.15 trillion in 2020.
  • ASEAN’s biggest trading partner is China, which conducted a total trade, consisting of both imports and exports, of $777 billion with the region in 2020. The share of ASEAN exports to China has increased from 3.7% in total exports in 2005 to 13.9% in 2018. The share of Chinese imports in the region has increased from 5.4% to 20.5% of imports in the same period.
  • ASEAN conducted a total of $358 billion in trade with the US. The share of imports and exports with the US and the EU as a percentage of total trade has declined significantly between 2005 and 2018 and signals the global rise of Asian markets.
  • Trade between Southeast Asia and MENA has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% between 2013 and 2020 and now accounts for $296 billion in ASEAN total trade.

Southeast Asia is strategically positioned to act as a link between the rising superpowers of India and China and established markets such as the USA, Canada, and Australia.

  • Trade surpluses in ASEAN have been driven by nations’ rapid increase of production in agriculture and manufacturing. In addition, the region now has a globally competitive services sector.
  • The $1,432 billion of regional exports in 2018 exceeded the $1,384 billion spent on imports in the same year. Thus, a total regional trade surplus of $48 billion was achieved in 2018.
  • Large trade surpluses ensure a continual injection of capital into an economy and grant authorities the ability to increase foreign reserves or strengthen local currencies depending on policy preferences.

ASEAN Receives FDI from Diverse Nations and Growingly in China

  • Countries in Southeast Asia have historically received large amounts of FDI from developed nations such as the USA, Japan, and members of the European Union.
  • China and Hong Kong have recently displaced the USA in the region’s top five FDI contributors and jointly contributed over 13% of the region’s FDI in 2018. The geopolitical significance of China’s influence through FDI and trade, which now eclipse the influence of the USA, should not be understated.
  • Intra-ASEAN FDI has grown substantially and contributed approximately 16% of FDI in 2018. Developed nations in the region are contributing large quantities to stimulate growth in neighboring markets.

Southeast Asia is strategically positioned as a global trade and investment hub. The economies of Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand could serve as a springboard for western companies to access the rising superpowers of India and China.

The level of Chinese influence in the region through trade and FDI will leave many in the USA weary. However, companies from North America should spot opportunities now available to them to access Chinese customers through the ASEAN markets. The increase in economic integration between the ASEAN through trade and FDI is undoubtedly a contributing factor to the region’s economic growth and one that many other developing regions have struggled to emulate. J&A forecasts the continued rise of ASEAN prominence through economic integration.

We hope that you enjoyed this introduction to ASEAN. We reviewed the organization’s history and economic performance, which provide the basis for the region’s rise to global prominence.
The region’s economic growth has been spurred by strong capital markets and high openness to trade. Southeast Asia is a critical market to link the rising superpowers of the East with the spending power of the West. The economic and geopolitical integration of the region will enhance Southeast Asia’s global prominence and economic growth.
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Nov
24

Jahani & Associates Capital Market Report: Freight-Forward Technology

Jahani & Associates Capital Market Report: Freight-Forward Technology

As a top investment bank headquartered in New York City, Jahani and Associates (J&A) have rich experience providing bank mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory, private placement and commercialization, fund advisory, and global trade services to clients all over the world.

Our report provides an overview of the freight-forward technology sector, analyzes recent capital market activity in the space, and spotlights the recent rise conducted by Flexport. From the data collected in our capital market report, our expert tech investors forecast the continued expansion in freight technology and an increase in deals and capital deployed within the sector.

J&A Capital Markets Report: Freight Technology

Freight technology, or freight-forwarding technology, has seen an approximate 2,000% increase in capital deployment since 2010. Freight technology companies, such as Flexport, Forto, and YunQuNa, have achieved billion-dollar valuations and unicorn status based on their growth across the USA, Europe, and China. This report provides an overview of the freight technology sector, analyzes recent capital market activity in the space, and spotlights the recent rise conducted by Flexport.

Freight forwarding involves brokering a variety of logistics services to assist clients with international and domestic shipments. Freight technology companies have digitalized this brokering process. These companies allow customers to arrange international trade through ship or sea using an online portal, perform live tracking, and exercise logistics data management.

Announced Freight Technology

JA-freight-technology-2021
  • Global capital deployed in the freight technology sector increased by 1,987% between 2010 and 2021.
  • In the sector, $62.14 billion was deployed across 835 deals, with an average deal size of $74.42 million. Considerably large acquisitions have resulted in a significant increase in capital deployed over the first half of 2021. Deal count has increased by over 1,000% since 2010, a trend that J&A anticipates will continue.
  • The most significant deal within the sector was the acquisition of the German technology company Bombardier Transportation by the French logistics firm Alstom. The acquisition was announced on January 29, 2021, for a reported $9.24 billion.

Announced Supply Chain Management Technology Deals

  • Venture and pre-venture capital deals represented 24% of capital deployed in the sector. The involvement of early-stage investors shows the potential for new entrants to the market and the freight technology sector’s growth potential.
  • Mergers and acquisitions represented the largest capital deployment, 36%, since 2010 in the sector. Most acquisitions have been conducted by large logistics corporations looking to add the competitive advantages that cutting-edge freight technology provides.
  • Freight technology companies from the USA received over 65% of the deployed capital in the past decade. Venture capital and private equity groups in North America have been particularly active in the sector since 2010.

Deal Spotlight: Flexport

The Company

Flexport is a freight forwarding technology company that has implemented a platform designed to provide greater insights and influence over every stage of logistics in the supply chain. Flexport offers product delivery and tracking through its platform along with real-time data analytics. The company facilities logistics through cargo ship, plane, or truck and allows logistics companies to use and monitor their assets effectively.

 Recent Fundraising

  • Flexport completed a late-stage VC round of $10 million on July 15, 2021, at a pre-money valuation of $2.2 billion.
  • The deal was led by GV, SoftBank, and Fabrica Ventures. Ten other investors participated in the round.
  • Flexport has already raised $1.36 billion through 10 previous equity rounds and one debt raise.

The rapid acceleration of globalization was halted by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. International trade has rebounded and will reach new heights in 2022 and beyond. Freight technology already plays a critical role in international trade, and this will only increase over time. J&A forecasts the continued expansion in freight technology and an increase in deals and capital deployed within the sector.

Choose Jahani & Associates

J&A specializes in cutting-edge financial theory and business practicality. Our unmatched skills in technology, engineering, and business operations allow us to create sustainable value for our clients. Contact us today to gain unparalleled access to commercial and financial opportunities.
Nov
11

Inventory Management and Warehousing Technology

Inventory Management and Warehousing Technology

Capital markets activity for inventory and warehousing solutions has exceeded expectations in 2020 and is on track to more than double in 2021, with more than $90 billion in announced transactions thus far.

This is mostly due to pandemic-related changes in 2020 and 2021 in these industries. Contrary to most industries, inventory technology sectors have seen an increase in adoption over the last few months, increasing competition for retailers, e-commerce companies, wholesalers, and distribution firms.

In 2021, deal count has already exceeded previous years in both deal count and average deal size and could double by the end of the year. In this report, J&A provide an analysis of the reasons behind these trends, as well as a profile of key players in these industries.

Supply Chain Technology

Companies in the supply chain management industry and similar sectors are increasingly using a combination of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and predictive analytics.

By doing so they can automate warehouse operations, improve delivery times, proactively manage inventory, optimize strategic sourcing relationships, and create new customer experiences. This increases customer satisfaction, reduces attrition, benefits the top line, and boosts income margins.

Inventory Management and Warehousing

Developments during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 have increased the need for all businesses to integrate warehousing and inventory tracking technology. This trend has accelerated in 2021 and is not expected to slow down, even after business operations normalize once the virus is controlled.

Recent advancements in inventory management systems readily offer real-time tracking of inventory levels, orders, and deliveries, providing instant error detection, efficient actionable feedback, and quicker response times. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, sensors, and asset-tagging technologies are leading spaces attracting investor interests.

Innovations in warehousing revolved around improving warehouse efficiency through the application of robotics and other automation software; wearable augmented reality-based devices; and third-party warehousing services targeting individual retailers. The sector also saw the rise of warehousing marketplaces in recent years, adding alternatives to the handling of excess inventory and excess warehouse space.

Competitive Landscape

The supply chain management industry has over 2,000 technology firms in diverse verticals. Two of the most active verticals are inventory management systems and warehousing software. Other verticals include business productivity software for supply chain, logistics, media technology, and application software. The most crowded markets in 2020 are transportation logistics services ($39 billion raised), quality management software ($32 billion raised), and logistics service providers ($82 billion raised).

Public companies, such as Amazon, Oracle, Uber, and FedEx, are the most active companies involved in capital placements and M&A activity in this space. Private companies like Grab, Instacart, and Aurora are involved in smaller series funding in comparison. Forecasts show that players like these will continue being involved in PIPE transactions, Series A to D funding, and acquisition activities.

  • The year 2021 has been record-breaking for logistics software and supply management technology firms.
  • Forecasts suggest more than $180 billion will be raised by the end of 2021, doubling the capital raised in 2020.
  • With roughly the same number of deals forecasted for 2021 as were done in 2020, forecasts suggest 2021 will double the capital invested.
  • So far in 2021, $90 billion has been raised; $91 billion was raised in all of 2020. This upsurge in deal size is due to COVID-19 trends expected to require logistics technology for businesses to integrate or implement.
  • J&A does not expect that the deal count in this space will increase in 2021; deal counts in 2020 and previous years have consistently increased by an average of 25% since 2011.
So far $90 billion has been raised in 2021; $91 billion was raised in all of 2020. This upsurge in deal size is due to COVID-19 trends expected to require logistics technology for businesses to integrate or implement.

The Future of Inventory Management and Warehousing Technology

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way many businesses operate their in-house warehousing capabilities and outsourced technologies. J&A expects the trends set by this influence will grow for at least half a decade once the pandemic is officially contained. Most players in the industry have and will continue to buy strategic smaller entities to tap into new sectors and integrate the technologies offered by them.

Source: Pitchbook, Accessed August 2021

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