Transfix, Inc., a Leading, Next-generation Digital Freight Platform, to Become a Publicly Traded Company Through a Business Combination With G Squared Ascend I, Inc.
- Transfix is on a path to transform the highly-fragmented $1 trillion total transportation & logistics sector with a focus on reducing the massive amount of waste across the supply chain
- Transfix utilizes proprietary technology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence combined with world-class operations to dynamically match thousands of freight transactions between shippers and carriers, simultaneously
- Capacity-focused approach brings greater predictability, revenue, and operational efficiency to truck owners & drivers which in turn drives greater access, reliability, and savings to shippers
- Asset-light business model has produced strong revenue growth, expanding gross margin and exceptional operating leverage
- Grew revenues over 40% from $130 million in 2019 to $184 million in 2020 during the tumultuous impacts on freight logistics due to COVID-19
- Transaction provides up to $405 million in gross cash proceeds to be used to accelerate growth initiatives.
- In addition to the $345 million cash in trust, G Squared is leading a commitment of an incremental $60 million under Forward Purchase Agreements, plus up to another $50 million under G Squared’s Forward Purchase Agreement to backstop redemptions from G Squared Ascend I’s trust
- Anticipated transaction close in First Quarter 2022
- The combined company will list its shares of common stock on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “TF”
Transfix’s digital freight platform – powered by its proprietary technology, AI, and automation and underpinned with world-class operations – is transforming the traditional and digital freight sector, bringing together the world’s best shippers and carriers, and delivering a transparent, trusted, and sustainable freight ecosystem. Transfix works with some of the largest Fortune 500 companies as well as mid- and small sized shippers, and has built a strong carrier community across the U.S.
Transfix’s asset-light business model has produced strong revenue growth and a rapidly expanding gross margin with exceptional operating leverage. This is demonstrated by the company’s ability to grow revenue by over 40% in 2020, while gross profit grew over 100%, despite a highly-tumultuous freight environment caused by the global pandemic.
Lily Shen, Transfix CEO and President, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with G Squared on this significant milestone. They have been incredible partners who share our excitement about the opportunity ahead, and who bring invaluable expertise in and knowledge of our rapidly growing sector. With this transaction, Transfix is well-positioned to accelerate growth and innovation to drive our impact at scale. We are at the beginning of a new era for the freight industry.”
Drew McElroy, Transfix Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, stated, “This announcement marks an important moment in Transfix’s natural evolution to a public company. Our vision, since day one, has been to build the world’s most connected and intelligent freight platform. This marks the next important step in advancing and accelerating toward that goal.”
Larry Aschebrook, Founder & Managing Partner, G Squared and Chairman, G Squared Ascend I, commented, “Transfix’s leadership team has built a best-in-class business with an incredible team of freight industry and technology experts. The company has consistently delivered impressive growth and margin expansion and has demonstrated a clear path to profitability. We are delighted to continue our support of Transfix’s industry-disruptive business as it raises the bar for the entire sector to move goods more sustainably.”
Ward Davis, CEO, G Squared Ascend I, said, “Transfix exceeds our many acquisition criteria for Ascend I. Impressively, its team managed through the pandemic and its incredibly volatile impact on freight with exceptional, industry-leading growth and returns. The company’s consistently strong financial performance, outstanding shipper spend retention, and growing list of top tier enterprise accounts fuel our conviction in this business combination.”
Transaction Overview
The merger marks an exciting and significant next step in a deep, multi-year partnership between Transfix and G Squared, a growth-stage venture capital fund manager with significant focus on the freight-tech sector. The relationship, which began in 2019, has been underscored by diligence, expertise, sustainability, and alignment. G Squared has been consistently impressed with the company’s growth across all key metrics including revenue, new partnerships, and a clear path to sustained profit.
The transaction implies a pro forma enterprise value for Transfix of $1.1 billion. Upon the closing of the transaction, existing Transfix shareholders are expected to own approximately 69% of the combined company, with G Squared Ascend I public stockholders owning approximately 24%. G Squared Ascend I’s sponsor has agreed that 50% of its Transfix shares will be subject to forfeiture depending on post-closing share performance. By aligning compensation incentives with management, this structure represents G Squared’s long-term commitment to the investment. The Transaction will also include a Minimum Cash Condition of $200 million.
In addition to the $345 million cash in trust, G Squared is leading a commitment of an incremental $60 million under Forward Purchase Agreements, plus up to another $50 million under G Squared’s Forward Purchase Agreement to backstop redemptions from G Squared Ascend I’s trust.
Following this transaction, Transfix is expected to have approximately $375 million of cash net of transaction expenses, assuming no redemptions by G Squared Ascend I’s public stockholders to accelerate its growth initiatives. In May, Transfix closed on a $50 million, (5 year) senior secured revolver/credit facility with MidCap Financial. Combining the large ABL facility with the cash to the balance sheet from this transaction provides Transfix approximately $400 million in liquidity which will be used to accelerate growth initiatives by further investing in product innovation and technology, new partnerships, geographic expansion, and strategic and targeted acquisitions. Key areas of focus will include alignment of drop and backhaul, and extending the platform into Less Than Truckload and all areas of managed transportation and logistics.
The ability to leverage its public equity for recruiting, M&A, and other strategic endeavors provides Transfix the opportunity to generate value for our shareholders and accelerate growth.
The boards of directors for both Transfix and G Squared Ascend I have unanimously approved the proposed business combination, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022, subject to, among other things, the approval by G Squared Ascend I’s stockholders of the merger; satisfaction of the conditions stated in the definitive agreement and other customary closing conditions, including that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) completes its review of the proxy statement; the receipt of certain regulatory approvals; and approvals to list the securities of the combined company.
Lily Shen, Transfix’s Chief Executive Officer and President, and Drew McElroy, Transfix’s Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board of Transfix, will continue in their current roles along with the rest of the Transfix executive team.
Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the business combination agreement and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by G Squared with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.
Advisors
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor to Transfix. Latham & Watkins LLP, O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, and McCarter & English, LLP are serving as legal counsel to Transfix.
UBS Securities LLC is serving as capital markets advisor to G Squared Ascend I. Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal counsel to G Squared Ascend I.
Investor Webcast and Conference Call
G Squared and Transfix will host a joint investor conference call to discuss the proposed transaction Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 8:00AM ET. The conference call will be accompanied by a detailed investor presentation.
A webcast of the call will be available here and can also be accessed on the Transfix website here and on the G Squared Ascend I website here. For those who wish to participate by telephone, please dial 1-877-407-4018 (U.S.) or 1-201-689-8471 (International) and reference the Conference ID 13723249. A replay of the call will also be available via webcast here.
About Transfix
Transfix is a market-leading, next-generation freight platform transforming the traditional and digital freight sector while bringing transparency, trust, and sustainability to the transportation ecosystem. The company combines deep industry expertise and a best-in-class carrier network with cutting edge technology. The result? Competitive pricing, superior service and reliability, and unmatched intelligence for optimizing the supply chain from start to finish. Today, the world’s most recognized brands rely on Transfix’s trusted carrier network, including six of the top ten retailers and five of the ten largest food and beverage brands in America. Transfix was named one of Forbes’ “Next Billion-Dollar Startups” and is headquartered in the heart of New York City.
Visit Transfix online: transfix.io | Connect with Transfix on social: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook
About G Squared
G Squared is a global venture capital firm that partners with dynamic companies throughout their life cycles as a complete capital solutions provider, working to create value for companies, investors, employees, and other stakeholders. The firm focuses on investments in growth-stage technology companies and has invested in nearly 100 portfolio companies since it was founded in 2011. The firm’s affiliate, G Squared Ascend, offers transformative private companies a path to public markets via SPAC. For more information on G Squared and its portfolio, visit: www.gsquared.com. For more information on G Squared Ascend, visit: www.gsquaredascend.com.
Important Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed business combination involving G Squared Ascend I and Transfix, Transfix Holdings, Inc. (“Transfix Holdings”) will file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Registration Statement will include a proxy statement of G Squared Ascend I and a prospectus of Transfix Holdings. Additionally, G Squared Ascend I and Transfix Holdings will file other relevant materials with the SEC in connection with the business combination. Copies may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Security holders of G Squared Ascend I are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials when they become available before making any voting decision with respect to the proposed business combination because they will contain important information about the business combination and the parties to the business combination and related matters. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.
Participants in the Solicitation
G Squared Ascend I and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of G Squared Ascend I’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Transfix and its officers and directors may also be deemed participants in such solicitation. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of G Squared Ascend I’s executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading G Squared Ascend I’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the final prospectus for its initial public offering filed with the SEC on February 8, 2021, and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of G Squared Ascend I’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the business combination when it becomes available.
