Logistics & Distribution Acquisitions in 2020

Amware Fulfillment, backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, has acquired Moulton Logistics, a Los Angeles–based third-party fulfillment and customer-care provider. The deal adds Moulton’s Los Angeles and South Brunswick, NJ facilities (adding over 400,000 sq. ft.) to Amware’s footprint, expanding national coverage and adding after-sale customer service capabilities to Amware’s service suite.

Staci Americas has acquired Moulton Logistics, a Los Angeles–based fulfillment and customer service provider, adding four facilities (three in Los Angeles, one in South Brunswick, NJ) and ~500,000 square feet to its network. The deal expands Staci Americas' national fulfillment footprint to 15 facilities—enabling 1–2 day ground delivery to 95% of the U.S.—and brings Moulton's DRTV fulfillment expertise and large customer service contact center into Staci's service suite.

Castik Capital–backed Customs Support has acquired Germany’s First Class Zollservice and Netherlands-based Verex Customs Services as add-ons to strengthen its European customs brokerage network. The deals expand Customs Support’s geographic coverage in Germany and the Netherlands and add complementary capabilities such as veterinary inspection services and enhanced local coverage at logistic hotspots.

Imperial Dade has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Jackson Newell Paper Company, a Meridian, Mississippi-based distributor of janitorial and paper supplies. The acquisition expands Imperial Dade’s Southeast footprint and provides a foothold in the Mississippi market as the company continues its national growth strategy; financial terms were not disclosed.

Imperial Dade has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Paper Chemical Supply Company, a family-owned janitorial supplies distributor based in Savannah, Georgia. The deal expands Imperial Dade's Southeast footprint (adding Savannah and Charleston locations) and strengthens its national distribution platform; financial terms were not disclosed.

Affiliates of CriticalPoint Capital completed the acquisition of substantially all assets of the Farm Supply Distribution division from Southern States Cooperative and rebranded the business as Agway Farm & Home. The company will operate as a wholesale product distributor serving a network of more than 1,250 independent dealers and Southern States-owned retail locations across the East Coast; CriticalPoint said it plans to support organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions.

Uber Technologies, Inc. agreed to acquire Postmates, Inc. in an all-stock transaction announced in November/December 2020 valued at approximately $2.65 billion. The deal combines Postmates' last-mile delivery and delivery-as-a-service capabilities with Uber's global Rides and Eats platform to create operational synergies, expand merchant reach, and improve batching and logistics efficiency.

Taylored Fulfillment Services, together with FMI International and Joseph DeSaye, closed the acquisition of the U.S. operations of Toll Global Logistics from Toll Group. The deal adds more than 4.1 million square feet across port-centric facilities in Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York, Miami and Louisville, tripling Taylored’s footprint in key distribution metros and expanding its port-to-door 3PL capabilities.

BFG Supply, a portfolio company of Incline Equity Partners, has acquired Gard'N-Wise Distributors, a regional distributor of lawn & garden products and greenhouse equipment. The deal is an add-on acquisition that expands BFG's geographic footprint and distribution capabilities across the Midwest, Southwest and Mountain West regions.

Terra Worldwide Logistics (parent company of American Global Logistics) has acquired Downers Grove, Illinois-based Connect Global Logistics. Connect Global Logistics will operate under the American Global Logistics tradename and founder Kim Malloy has joined TWL as President of the CGL division; the deal is an add-on to TWL/AGL's logistics platform to expand capabilities and customer reach.

NW Synergy (NWS), the holding company led by FEMSA and comprised of North American, WAXIE and SWPlus, has acquired Southeastern Paper Group (SEPG). The acquisition adds SEPG's seven warehouse facilities and nearly 500 employees, expanding NWS's geographic reach into the southeastern United States and strengthening its janitorial, foodservice disposables and industrial packaging distribution capabilities.

TorQuest Partners, together with co-investors The Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO) and OPTrust, completed the acquisition of VersaCold Logistics Services from KingSett Capital and Ivanhoé Cambridge. VersaCold's management (led by Mike Arcamone as CEO) rolled equity and will continue to operate the business as the new investors support growth of the company's temperature‑controlled warehousing and food logistics network in Canada.

LOGISTEC Stevedoring Inc., part of LOGISTEC Corporation, acquired Gestion Castaloop Inc. (Castaloop), a provider of bulk and break-bulk cargo handling services across the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and US East Coast. The acquisition expands LOGISTEC's cargo handling capabilities and geographic coverage in key North American port markets.

Offen Petroleum has closed on the acquisition of the business assets of Ozark Mountain Energy and its affiliate trucking company Petroleum Express, both based in Mt. Vernon, Missouri. Offen — a portfolio company of Court Square Capital Partners — will operate the acquired businesses under the Ozark Mountain Energy name in the Mid-continent and Midwestern states, with Brent, Eric and Kyle Wilmoth joining Offen’s leadership; Brent also purchased a significant equity stake in Offen.

Hub Group, Inc. acquired NonstopDelivery, LLC (NSD), a non-asset based last-mile logistics provider based in Chantilly, Virginia, to add residential last-mile delivery capabilities and provide end-to-end supply chain solutions to its customers. NSD's senior leadership will remain with the business, which operates a nationwide agent network and is expected to be accretive to Hub Group's earnings.

Audax Private Equity has acquired a controlling interest in 48forty Solutions from Grey Mountain Partners. The investment positions 48forty — a leading North American pallet management and reverse logistics provider with a national network of facilities and over 2,400 employees — for continued organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions to expand its product and service offerings.

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., a subsidiary of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., acquired the assets of Mass Movement, Inc. to expand its final mile delivery, assembly and installation capabilities for large and bulky products. The acquisition strengthens J.B. Hunt's Final Mile Services and deepens its presence in the commercial fitness equipment end market; both founders of Mass Movement will join J.B. Hunt in leadership roles.

Chicago-based AIT Worldwide Logistics has acquired Northampton-based Panther Logistics from mid-market private equity firm LDC. The purchase, terms undisclosed, gives AIT a stronger UK presence and brings Panther's two-person home-delivery and e-commerce logistics capabilities into AIT's global footprint.

A.P. Moller Capital, through its Africa Infrastructure Fund 1, has acquired a 49% shareholding in Casablanca-based grain terminal operator Mass Céréales al Maghreb (MCM). The investment will support MCM's ambition to strengthen its position in Morocco and expand grain logistics capabilities across Africa, in partnership with local stakeholder HOLMARCOM.

International Keg Rental LLC completed the acquisition of substantially all assets of Global Asset Rental (dba Global Keg Rental). International Keg said it will inject growth capital to expand the business internationally, retain customer relationships and install a new leadership team including Thadeus Avvampato as President and Justin Smith as CFO.

Select Express & Logistics, a LongueVue Capital portfolio company, has acquired Go Configure (GCI), the delivery, assembly, and installation division of Step2 Discovery. The add-on expands Select Express’s national last-mile, white-glove delivery and specialized assembly capabilities—particularly for outdoor furniture and playsets—and increases geographic density and service offerings for retail and e-commerce customers.

Pilot Freight Services, a Glen Mills, Pennsylvania–based transportation and logistics provider backed by ATL Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), acquired the Metro New York franchise effective November 1, 2020. The franchise and its employees will be integrated into Pilot to increase the company’s operational control and capacity in the high-volume Metro New York inbound and last-mile market, expanding its heavy/bulky and white-glove delivery capabilities.

Castik Capital has agreed to acquire Customs Support from Mentha and Park Ventures, with the management team (including Oscar Driessen) reinvesting alongside Castik's EPIC II fund. Customs Support is a leading independent European customs broker with over 450 specialists and 35+ offices; Castik plans to continue the company's buy-&-build strategy and accelerate digitalisation and international growth.

Associated Couriers, LLC (St. Louis) has acquired Specialty Freight & Courier, a Florida-based medical and final-mile courier with offices in Jacksonville and Tampa. The acquisition — effective November 2020 and announced February 1, 2021 — expands Associated Couriers' regional same-day, last-mile and next-day capabilities in Florida and the Southeastern U.S., increasing the buyer's national footprint to 40 states.

H.I.G. Capital agreed to acquire a majority stake in Capstone Logistics, a Peachtree Corners, Georgia–based third‑party logistics provider, from an affiliate of The Jordan Company. Capstone’s management, led by CEO Steve Taylor, will remain shareholders and TJC will retain a minority stake and reinvest; the deal is positioned to accelerate Capstone’s organic growth and acquisition strategy.

MidEuropa agreed to sell 24% of Waberer's International Nyrt. to Trevelin Holding Zrt. (part of Indotek Group) and granted Indotek a call option over MidEuropa's remaining 47.99% stake. The transaction, intended to support Waberer's restructuring and transformation, is subject to customary antitrust clearance and was expected to close by the end of Q1 2021.

Barentz International, a Cinven-backed global distributor of life science ingredients, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Maroon Group, a leading North American distributor of specialty chemicals and life science ingredients headquartered in Avon, Ohio. Maroon, previously owned by CI Capital Partners, has roughly $500 million in annual revenue and ~300 employees; the deal expands Barentz's presence and capabilities across North America.

Equity Group Investments, the private investment vehicle of Sam Zell, purchased a majority stake in Able Freight, a Los Angeles-based international airfreight forwarder specializing in temperature-controlled shipments of perishables. The deal, which includes management participation from CEO Orlando Wong, positions EGI to expand its cold‑chain logistics footprint and support Able Freight’s growth across product verticals and geographies.

Armstrong Transport Group, a portfolio company of Carousel Capital, has completed the acquisition of Eason Enterprises, a provider of transportation brokerage services. The deal expands Armstrong's brokerage capabilities, adds Ben Eason as Chief Revenue Officer, and establishes operations in both Charlotte and Eason's Boise office to drive future growth.

Lean Staffing Solutions, a Fort Lauderdale-based nearshore outsourcing provider for the transportation and logistics industry, received a $42.5 million minority growth equity investment from FTV Capital. The capital will accelerate LSS's expansion in its core logistics market, enhance its product and service offerings, and support entry into new verticals including finance and healthcare; FTV will join LSS's board.

Forward Air Corporation has agreed to acquire the assets of Value Logistics, Inc., a Memphis-based intermodal drayage provider, for $2.25 million. The acquisition (expected to close in October 2020) expands Forward Air's intermodal drayage capabilities and strengthens its presence in the Memphis market; Value Logistics generates approximately $6 million in annual revenue and operates with about 20 employees and ~30 independent contractors.

Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc. (AHG) acquired all issued and outstanding shares of TDS Logistics Ltd. and McAllister Courier Inc. from Andlauer Management Group Inc. for approximately $15.9 million in cash. The tuck‑in acquisitions expand AHG's temperature‑controlled and regional courier footprint across Ontario (combined ~ $22M revenue in 2019) and were structured as a related‑party transaction (AMG is owned by Michael Andlauer).

Investment funds managed by Alinda Capital Partners and the Universities Superannuation Scheme have agreed to acquire PECO Pallet, Inc., a leading North American provider of pooled rental pallets. PECO operates a network of more than 80 facilities and manages roughly 21 million pallets across the United States and Canada, providing recurring, asset-backed logistics services.

Mullen Group Ltd. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire International Warehousing & Distribution Inc. (IWD), a Mississauga-based customs sufferance warehousing and import/export delivery provider serving the Greater Toronto Area. The acquisition expands Mullen Group's logistics and warehousing footprint in the Greater Toronto Area and eastern Canada; IWD founder Steve Cox will remain during the transition period.

Imperial Dade, a leading distributor of foodservice packaging and janitorial supplies, acquired P&R Paper Supply, a family-owned distributor headquartered in Redlands, California. The acquisition strengthens Imperial Dade’s West Coast presence; financial terms were not disclosed and the seller was the Maiberger family.

Kohlberg & Company signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Parts Authority. Parts Authority's existing management team, led by CEO Randy Buller, will continue to lead the business and remain significant owners, and The Jordan Company will retain a significant ownership position; financial terms were not disclosed. Headquartered in Lake Success, New York, Parts Authority operates more than 200 locations across the U.S., distributes nearly 500,000 SKUs, and serves independent installers, national fleets, jobbers and e-tailers.

Magaya Corporation acquired Catapult, a freight rate management software provider, to integrate rate quoting and rating capabilities into Magaya's logistics and supply chain platform. The acquisition expands Magaya's product offering for freight forwarders, NVOCCs and carriers, enabling smarter quoting and rating workflows across its customer base.

Los Angeles-based CR Creative Services, a decorative-arts logistics, transportation and storage company, was acquired by a local family office. The company — which has more than 100 employees, a fleet of vehicles, five Southern California storage locations and a proprietary inventory/GPS/photo app — retained Keystone Business Advisors to manage the sale.

Forward Air Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of CLW Delivery, Inc. for $5.5 million in cash, a transaction expected to close in October 2020. The acquisition expands Forward Air’s Final Mile footprint into 14 additional markets and adds CLW’s in-home installation capabilities; CLW is expected to contribute about $20 million of revenue and $1 million of EBITDA on an annualized basis.

Individual FoodService (IFS), a Bell, California-based distributor of foodservice disposables and janitorial supplies, has acquired Central Sanitary Supply, a Modesto, California-based janitorial and facility supplies distributor. The deal expands IFS’s sales presence and distribution capabilities across California and Nevada and broadens its JanSan product offering to Central’s customers. Terms were not disclosed.

Visible Supply Chain Management has acquired PC Synergy (PostalMate), a San Marcos, California–based point-of-service (POS) software supplier for the retail shipping industry. The acquisition adds PostalMate's shipping automation and POS capabilities to Visible's shipping, fulfillment and logistics services, expanding Visible's technology offering for small and midsize business customers.

Nippon Express Co., Ltd., via its U.S. subsidiary Nippon Express USA, Inc., completed the acquisition of all equity interests in MD Logistics, LLC and MD Express, LLC, making the businesses subsidiaries. MD Logistics is a U.S.-based third-party logistics provider (founded 1996) specializing in pharmaceutical cold-chain warehousing and distribution, with multiple facilities in Indiana and a site in Reno, Nevada and reported roughly $51M revenue for 2019.

Uber Freight has acquired ScanData Systems, a provider of Parcel Transportation Management System (PTMS) technology, from Craftsman Capital. The acquisition will integrate ScanData’s last-mile and parcel visibility tools into Uber Freight’s TMS to enhance route optimization, carrier flexibility and analytics for shippers and retailers.

Transplace, a logistics technology and managed transportation provider, has acquired LeanCor Supply Chain Group, a Florence, Kentucky-based leader in lean supply chain consulting, managed transportation and corporate training. The acquisition expands Transplace's capabilities in manufacturing logistics, lean process improvement and training to strengthen its logistics platform and service offerings for manufacturing-centric shippers.

AFC Industries, a portfolio company of Incline Equity Partners, has acquired Master Distribution, a Brunswick, Ohio-based value-added distributor of channel and pipe fittings, fasteners and related accessories. The deal expands AFC's product portfolio and strengthens its distribution capabilities and geographic footprint within commercial, industrial and infrastructure end markets.

Marlin Equity Partners has completed the acquisition of Unifaun, a Stockholm-based cloud delivery orchestration SaaS platform that connects carriers, shippers and parcel recipients. The deal positions Marlin to support Unifaun's Nordic leadership and accelerate its international expansion through organic investment and complementary acquisitions.

Forest Light Capital, a Fairfax, Virginia-based holding company, has acquired Central Marketing Associates, Inc., a Delaware, Ohio-based produce brokerage and supply-chain services firm. The sellers will remain involved as partners running the business; financial terms were not disclosed.

NFI has acquired CAI Logistics, the non-asset logistics business of CAI International, adding a unit that generates more than $100 million in annual revenue. The deal (announced August 2020) expands NFI's brokerage, intermodal and global freight forwarding capabilities across North America; CAI Logistics' operating entities will be rebranded NFI.

Banner Group Ltd, part of the evo Group, has agreed to acquire the UK book of business of Staples Solutions B.V. — including staples.co.uk and staplesadvantage.co.uk. Staples Solutions said the divestiture transfers UK contracts and online business to Banner while Staples will continue its UK 3PL operations and honour pension obligations; the move aims to reduce Staples' fixed-cost burden and secure customer and employee support under a larger platform.

Architect Equity has acquired a majority stake in Solution Net Systems, Inc. (SNS), a Quakertown, Pennsylvania–based supplier of automated logistics and material handling systems. Architect will partner with Datalogic to support SNS's innovation, market expansion and growth initiatives across e‑commerce, retail, postal, food and pharmaceutical end markets.