Transfix announces SPAC plans with investor G Squared

Digital freight platform plans to be listed on NYSE under ticker symbol TF

Transfix announces SPAC plans. (Photo: Photo: Flickr/QuoteInspector.com CC BY-ND 2.0)

On Tuesday, digital freight platform Transfix announced it has reached an agreement with special purpose acquisition company G Squared Ascend I Inc., sponsored by affiliates of venture capital fund G Squared, to go public under the New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol TF.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of Q1 2022, with a total implied pro forma enterprise value for Transfix of $1.1 billion and approximately $375 million in cash net of transaction expenses if there are no redemptions by G Squared Ascend I’s stockholders.

“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,” said Transfix President and CEO Lily Shen. “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.”

Ward Davis, CEO of G Squared Ascend I, said, “Transfix exceeds our many acquisition criteria. … 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.”

At close, Transfix is expected to own roughly 69% of the merged company, G Squared Ascend I public stockholders would own 24%, G Squared Ascend I’s sponsors would own 3% and investors in the forward purchase agreement would own the remaining 4%, according to the company.

Depending on the post-closing share performance, G Squared Ascend 1’s sponsor has agreed to 50% of its Transfix shares being subject to forfeiture. The transaction will also include a minimum cash condition of $200 million.

The company announced in May that it had closed on a $50 million, five-year senior credit facility from MidCap Financial, giving Transfix approximately $400 million in liquidity with the cash provided from the SPAC transaction. 

The company plans to use the public equity for M&A, recruiting and other strategic measures to accelerate growth.

According to a report, Transfix had $184 million in revenue and an adjusted loss of $27 million in 2020.

“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,” said Drew McElroy, Transfix’s co-founder and board chairman.

You may also like:

WeWork CFO joins Transfix executive team to accelerate growth

3PL Summit: Delivering better digital experience through human-centered design

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Grace Sharkey

Grace Sharkey is a professional in the logistics and transportation industry with experience in journalism, digital content creation and decision-making roles in the third-party logistics space. Prior to joining FreightWaves, Grace led a startup brokerage to more than $80 million in revenue, holding roles of increasing responsibility, including director of sales, vice president of business development and chief strategy officer. She is currently a staff writer, podcast producer and SiriusXM radio host for FreightWaves, a leading provider of news, data and analytics for the logistics industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Michigan State University. You can contact her at gsharkey@freightwaves.com.