Amber Road Inc Acquisitions and Growth Strategy

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Amber Road Inc has been actively pursuing acquisitions to fuel its growth and expansion.

The company has made significant investments in its technology and services through strategic acquisitions.

One notable example is the acquisition of Amber Road's European operations by E2open, a global leader in cloud-based supply chain management.

This acquisition marked a major milestone in Amber Road's history, allowing the company to focus on its core strengths in the US market.

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SEC Filings

Amber Road, Inc. makes their SEC filings easily accessible, allowing you to read the entire document without having to search for specific sections.

You can find these filings on their official website or through the SEC's website.

By reviewing these filings, you can gain a deeper understanding of the company's financial situation and future plans.

1314223 Quarterly Reports

The 1314223 Quarterly Reports are a treasure trove of financial information. They reveal that the company suffered a net loss.

The adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) is a key metric to watch. It helps investors understand a company's profitability without considering non-operating items.

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A closer look at the financial expense highlights shows that employee-related compensation costs decreased by $0.3 million. This was due to the company's professional services organization temporarily assisting their marketing and research and development teams.

Additionally, there was a decrease of $0.2 million in depreciation, amortization, and other allocated costs. These cost savings are a welcome relief for the company.

Here's a breakdown of the financial expense highlights:

  • Decrease in employee-related compensation costs: $0.3 million
  • Decrease in depreciation, amortization, and other allocated costs: $0.2 million

Material Documents

When reviewing SEC filings, you'll often come across a variety of material documents that provide additional context and information about the company.

These documents can include contracts, statements, and certifications, such as the one provided by Amber Road, Inc. in their SEC filing, which included exhibits.

Material contracts, like those mentioned in the filing, can be crucial in understanding a company's financial obligations and commitments.

The type of documents included in SEC filings can vary, but they're often required to be disclosed to maintain transparency and avoid any potential misrepresentation.

SEC filings typically include a wide range of material documents, such as those listed in the Amber Road, Inc. filing, to provide a comprehensive view of the company's operations and financial situation.

Acquisitions

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Amber Road has been quite active in the acquisition space, filling in some apparent weaknesses in their base business. They acquired ecVision, a company that offers solutions on the Sourcing and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) portion of the business process, which complements Amber Road's downstream duties and logistics solutions.

The acquisition gives Amber Road a new product to sell, adds exposure to China and key apparel and footwear verticals, and provides some access to Li and Fung. It also provides competitive differentiation relative to GT Nexus.

The companies are geographically compatible, both being based in New Jersey, and the technologies are compatible as well, according to the AMBR Chief Product Officer. Amber Road paid about 3x revenue for ecVision, which had about $10 million in revenue and was about break-even at the EBITDA level.

Here's a list of some notable acquisitions in the industry:

  • 2002—ClearCross acquired by TradePoint
  • 2004—Open Harbor acquired by TradeBeam
  • 2004—Arzoon acquired by SSA Global
  • 2005—Vastera acquired by JPMorgan
  • 2005—NextLinx acquired by Management Dynamics (now Amber Road)
  • 2005—BridgePoint acquired by Mgmt. Dynamics
  • 2006—Precision Software acquired by QAD
  • 2006—TradePoint acquired by Kewill
  • 2010—TradeBeam acquired by CDC Software (now Aptean)
  • 2012—JPMorgan Global Trade acquired by Livingston International
  • 2014—Customs Info acquired by Descartes
  • 2015—MK Data Services acquired by Descartes
  • 2016—Datamyne acquired by Descartes
  • 2018—Integration Point acquired by Thompson Reuters
  • 2019—Amber Road acquired by E2open

GTM Solution

The GTM solution market is fairly fragmented, with no single dominant player, and estimates put the entire market at around $500M to $700M.

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There are different definitions of what's included in a GTM solution, but one way to categorize it is into 'Core' vs. 'Cross-function' GTM components.

Some companies still use niche standalone GTM solutions like QuestaWeb, Panjiva, CustomsNow, and others, but Amber Road's solution is a more comprehensive option that can help ensure ongoing compliance.

GTM Acquisition Rush

The GTM Acquisition Rush has been a defining characteristic of the industry, with numerous companies changing hands over the years. In 2002, ClearCross was acquired by TradePoint, marking the beginning of a trend that would continue for decades.

Some notable acquisitions include Open Harbor being acquired by TradeBeam in 2004, and Vastera being acquired by JPMorgan in the same year. TradeBeam itself would later be acquired by CDC Software in 2010.

Arzoon was acquired by SSA Global in 2004, and NextLinx was acquired by Management Dynamics (now Amber Road) in 2005. BridgePoint was also acquired by Management Dynamics in the same year.

Discover more: Casetext Acquired

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Precision Software was acquired by QAD in 2006, and TradePoint was acquired by Kewill in the same year. JPMorgan Global Trade was acquired by Livingston International in 2012.

Customs Info was acquired by Descartes in 2014, and MK Data Services was also acquired by Descartes in the same year. Datamyne was acquired by Descartes in 2016, and Integration Point was acquired by Thompson Reuters in 2018.

Here's a list of some of the notable acquisitions:

  • 2002: ClearCross acquired by TradePoint
  • 2004: Open Harbor acquired by TradeBeam
  • 2004: Arzoon acquired by SSA Global
  • 2005: Vastera acquired by JPMorgan
  • 2005: NextLinx acquired by Management Dynamics (now Amber Road)
  • 2005: BridgePoint acquired by Mgmt. Dynamics
  • 2006: Precision Software acquired by QAD
  • 2006: TradePoint acquired by Kewill
  • 2010: TradeBeam acquired by CDC Software (now Aptean)
  • 2012: JPMorgan Global Trade acquired by Livingston International
  • 2014: Customs Info acquired by Descartes
  • 2015: MK Data Services acquired by Descartes
  • 2016: Datamyne acquired by Descartes
  • 2018: Integration Point acquired by Thompson Reuters
  • 2019: Amber Road acquired by E2open

Cross Function GTM Components

Cross Function GTM Components are a vital part of a GTM solution, often integrated into logistics, supply chain, sourcing, and other functions' workflows. GTM solutions can provide visibility into events, inventory at rest and in motion, and even sourcing and supplier management capabilities.

One such cross-function solution capability is Cross-border Transportation Management, which integrates customs declarations, regulatory filings, and document management into transportation planning and execution. This is in contrast to traditional TMS, which is often ground-centric and domestic-focused.

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GTM solutions can also provide Visibility into events and inventory, such as carrier pickup, vessel departure/arrival, and inventory at rest and in motion. This helps companies stay on top of their supply chain and make informed decisions.

Another key component is Sourcing and supplier management, which can include total cost and duty optimization. GTM data can also be used for supplier discovery and risk management.

Ecommerce is also an important aspect, as international customers expect instant and accurate estimations of duties and tariffs. This requires ecommerce platforms to integrate GTM data to provide real-time denied party screening and approve new buyers and purchases in real-time.

Here are some examples of Cross-function GTM Components:

  • Cross-border Transportation Management
  • Visibility
  • Sourcing and supplier management
  • Ecommerce
  • Supply Chain Finance

These components are often integrated into broader, cross-functional suites, enabling companies to leverage GTM data across multiple functions and workflows.

Trade Data Management

Trade data management is a crucial aspect of global trade management (GTM) solutions. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date trade data is no small feat, with an enormous and ever-increasing volume of classifications, duties, and tariffs to keep track of.

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Trade data is volatile, with changes happening virtually every day. The consequences of getting wrong or out-of-date data can be high, with fines reaching up to $24M since 2009 by the OFAC.

To manage trade data effectively, GTM solution providers require large teams of people to monitor, gather, cleanse, normalize, and update trade data and regulations databases continuously. This requires experts on the ground in many countries, knowledgeable about the government and culture, with the right connections.

Only a handful of GTM solution providers have the resources to comprehensively gather and maintain trade data and rules. Amber Road, for example, has a large trade data team, with 180 dedicated trade content personnel, including lawyers, customs brokers, and trade compliance professionals.

The complexity of trade data is evident in the numerous types of data that need to be kept up-to-date, including:

  • Denied/restricted parties lists
  • Sanctions, licenses
  • Duties and tariffs
  • Rule of Origin/FTAs (Free Trade Agreements)
  • Free Trade Zones/Export Processing Zones
  • Trade regulations and import/export filings requirements
  • Import/export data

Amber Road's trade data team has achieved impressive statistics, including 618 Restricted Party Lists, 17M trade content updates in 2018, and 1.3M Dutiable records. They also support 170+ FTAs and 1,884 preferential trade programs.

Value Proposition

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Amber Road, Inc. offers a comprehensive value proposition that can transform the way businesses approach global trade management.

By integrating GTM data into ecommerce platforms, customers can access instant and reliable information about duties and tariffs, streamlining their online transactions.

With Amber Road's GTM platform, ecommerce platforms can perform real-time denied party screening and approve new buyers and purchases in real-time.

Sales teams can leverage analytics on publicly available import and export filings data to generate leads and discover new business opportunities.

Marketing teams can use GTM data to gain a deeper understanding of the competition, including who they're selling to.

Sourcing professionals can use GTM data to discover new suppliers, learn which suppliers others are using, and diversify their supply base.

Supply chain and logistics teams can use Amber Road's GTM platform to reduce risk and delays caused by non-compliance.

By making trade data available across functions and integrating it into existing tools and workflows, businesses can unlock a wealth of benefits and drive growth.

Management and Compensation

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Amber Road, Inc.'s management team is paid as outlined in their Annual Proxy Statement, which includes information on salaries, bonuses, and perks.

The company's Definitive Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A) filed after their 2019 10-K Annual Report provides a breakdown of executive compensation, including salaries, bonuses, and perks.

Robert Pasternak serves as the Chief Operations Officer and Board Advisor of Amber Road Inc., overseeing the company's operations and providing guidance to the board.

The company's proxy statement includes information on their executive team, including Robert Pasternak, but does not provide a comprehensive list of all executives.

This information can be found in the company's proxy statement, which is publicly available and provides a clear picture of executive compensation and management structure.

Chief Operations Officer and Board Advisor

In the business world, having a clear understanding of who's in charge is crucial for success. Robert Pasternak is the Chief Operations Officer and Board Advisor of Amber Road Inc.

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His role is vital in ensuring the smooth operation of the company. The Chief Operations Officer is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the organization, making strategic decisions, and implementing policies.

Robert Pasternak's experience and expertise bring value to the company. As a Board Advisor, he also provides guidance and support to the company's leadership team.

Having a strong leadership team in place is essential for a company's growth and success.

Assess Management Team Compensation

Assessing management team compensation is crucial for understanding how a company values its leaders. According to Amber Road, Inc.'s Definitive Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A), salaries, bonuses, and perks for the executive team are publicly disclosed.

These disclosures provide transparency into how the company's management team is paid. For instance, the proxy statement mentions the voting procedures for approving executive compensation.

The executive team's compensation is detailed in the proxy statement, which is filed after the 10-K Annual Report. This information is available to the public, providing insight into how the company's leaders are rewarded.

Here's a breakdown of the compensation details mentioned in the proxy statement:

Understanding how a company's management team is paid can help investors and stakeholders make informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Amber Road do?

Amber Road develops and offers software solutions for managing global trade and supply chains, providing transparency and automation. Their solutions help businesses streamline international trade operations.

Ruben Quitzon

Lead Assigning Editor

Ruben Quitzon is a seasoned assigning editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in finance and journalism, Ruben has honed his expertise in covering complex topics with clarity and precision. Throughout his career, Ruben has assigned and edited articles on a wide range of topics, including the banking sectors of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

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