CJ Logistics, NPS eye sell-off of Chinese logistics unit

South Korea’s leading logistics firm CJ Logistics Corp. and the National Pension Service have reached out to logistics companies and global private equity firms to sell CJ Rokin, a Chinese logistics firm, according to investment banking industry sources on Oct. 8.

In 2015, CJ Logistics and NPS jointly purchased a 71.4% stake in CJ Rokin for 455 billion won ($394 million), with the CJ Group unit putting up 312 billion won.

The Chinese unit’s enterprise value is now estimated at $1 billion, reflecting increased demand for frozen foods amid the global pandemic, which has fueled expectations for logistics companies’ performance.

“We’re reviewing the sale of CJ Rokin to adjust our business portfolio in China,” said a source from CJ Logistics. He added that the planned sale of the Chinese unit would not indicate its withdrawal from China.

Details of the ownership by CJ and NPS in the Chinese firm were not disclosed.

The sale process is seen as part of CJ Group’s efforts to cash out its stake in CJ Rokin to finance parent CJ Group’s restructuring efforts.

CJ Rokin operates 48 centers across China and boasts a transportation and distribution network connecting about 1,500 cities.

In China, CJ Rokin has a robust portfolio of customers, including soft drink giant Pepsi, global confectionery company Ferrero Group and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The company manages over 400 cold chain transportation vehicles and a 260,000 square-meter warehouse for refrigerated and frozen products, giving it a competitive edge in the cold chain supply sector.

“CJ Logistics can improve its financials through the proceeds from the sale,” said Jay JH Ryu, an analyst at Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities. “CJ Logistics will be able to pocket around $120 million by selling its stake (in CJ Rokin).”

The food and entertainment-focused CJ Group has been shedding non-core assets. In August, CJ Logistics selected Credit Suisse as its advisor to sell its profitable construction business. In September, CJ Foodville Corp. put up its bakery chain Tous Les Jours with a price tag at around 300 billion won as part of the restructuring process.

In the second quarter of this year, CJ Logistics recorded an operating profit of 83.9 billion won.

Write to Hyun-il Lee and Jong-pil Park at hiuneal@hankyung.com