Leading supply chain management platform E2open announced plans this week to acquire global trade management software company Amber Road.
The two companies announced the $425 million all-cash buyout in a joint statement Monday. The terms of the agreement stipulate that a subsidiary of E2open will make a tender offer on Amber Road’s outstanding common stock for $13.05 per share in cash. Amber Road’s board of investors has recommended that shareholders tender those shares so that Amber Road can become privately held before the transaction closes in the third quarter of 2019.
The goal of the acquisition is to combine the two platforms into a comprehensive supply chain management tool. Sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, omnichannel operations, and now trade management will all be operable on one cloud-based platform.
Amber Road’s trade management capabilities will augment the partnership by automating import and export processes, managing duty deferral and free trade agreements, providing sourcing solutions for brands in the footwear and apparel industries, and connecting global trade partners with customs filing capabilities.
“We believe combining Amber Road’s advanced trade management and supply chain capabilities with E2open’s end-to-end networked supply chain solutions will further improve margins, lower risks and drive operational flexibility and efficiency for our customers,” said Michael Farlekas, president and CEO of E2open.
“The combination of E2open’s supply chain and logistics technologies with Amber Road’s global trade management platform will also allow customers to more fully digitize their operations and better compete in global markets,” said Amber Road CEO James Preuninger.
In April of this year, Amber Road launched a multi-country customs warehousing platform with enhanced support for European customs filing. The new features address companies’ need to quickly configure their supply chains, as changes in trade regulations or business strategies develop. It also allows firms to work toward the goal of fully digitizing trade processes for filing to customs agencies.