Japanese logistics firm Trancom is set to go private through a management buyout backed by U.S. private equity group Bain Capital. The estimated ¥100 billion (US$706 million) deal includes a tender offer of ¥10,300 per share, representing a 41% premium over Tuesday’s closing price. The offer period runs until October 31.
The decision to delist comes as Trancom faces mounting pressures from Japan’s “2024 problem,” a trucking industry crisis triggered by new overtime restrictions that have exacerbated the country’s driver shortage. Privatization will grant the company greater flexibility to pursue acquisitions, international growth, and new ventures in a rapidly shifting logistics landscape.
For Bain Capital, this marks its first foray into the Japanese logistics sector, with the firm aiming to support Trancom’s management during this period of industry upheaval. Trancom’s president, Yasuhiro Jinno, is expected to stay on as part of the deal.
While Trancom’s founding family, through its asset management company AICOH, holds nearly 29% of the company, it will sell its stake back to Trancom rather than participating in the tender offer. The move follows broader trends in Japan’s logistics industry, where companies like Seino Holdings and S Line Group are also adjusting their business models amid operational challenges.
