The private equity firm, Adenia Partners has acquired 100% of last-mile logistics company The Courier Guy, which is one of the key players in South Africa’s e-commerce delivery sector. The acquisition aims to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunities in South Africa’s last-mile delivery sector, driven by the exponential expansion of e-commerce and the entry of global marketplace giants into the country.
Adenia anticipates that South Africa’s e-commerce market will grow to $16.3 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 15% until then. The investment firm has joined forces with German development finance institution DEG, French development finance institution Proparco, and South Suez as co-investors in this strategic acquisition.
The move is seen as a catalyst for The Courier Guy’s growth, given its extensive network of delivery partners, kiosks, and over 1,200 smart lockers across South Africa. While there is no apparent direct link between The Courier Guy’s acquisition and the everyone is waiting for the launch of Amazon.com’s retail operations in South Africa, industry experts believe that Amazon’s entry into the local market will likely influence changes in the logistics sector.
The involvement of mature logistics companies like The Courier Guy is expected to be advantageous as e-commerce continues to grow, driven by investments from global players like Amazon. The partnership with Adenia and its co-investors is seen as opening up unprecedented opportunities for The Courier Guy to enhance its service offerings, improve operational efficiencies, and accelerate growth within the logistics sector. Craig Pitchers, CEO of The Courier Guy, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing the potential for setting new standards in the logistics industry.
