Logistics & Distribution Acquisitions in North Carolina

Blue Yonder, through its subsidiary Doddle Inc., has purchased the remaining 51% stake in Inmar Post-Purchase Solutions (IPPS) from Inmar, Inc., bringing IPPS under full Blue Yonder ownership and renaming the entity Blue Yonder Reverse Retail Operations LLC. The move secures control of IPPS’s returns network (which supports FedEx Easy Returns at ~3,000 U.S. drop-off locations) and integrates it with Blue Yonder’s Returns Management solution to enhance retailer returns visibility, cost efficiency, and sustainability.

American Tire Distributors (ATD) has completed a sale of substantially all of its assets to an ad-hoc lender group / well-capitalized investors, creating a new privately owned company that will operate as American Tire Distributors. The new ownership installed a leadership team (Ira Silver as CEO) and plans to invest in replenishing inventory and optimizing ATD’s national distribution footprint to stabilize and grow the business.

DHL Supply Chain has acquired Inmar Supply Chain Solutions, the returns and reverse logistics division of Inmar Intelligence, adding 14 return centers and about 800 associates to its North American operations. The deal positions DHL as the largest provider of reverse logistics in North America and expands its returns capabilities to include remarketing, recall management, and supply chain analytics.

D&L Parts Company, a family-owned HVAC and appliance parts distributor based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has acquired Cashwell Appliance Parts, a family-owned wholesale distributor headquartered in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The deal adds Cashwell’s 11 locations across North Carolina and Virginia to D&L’s network, expanding D&L’s mid‑Atlantic and Southeast footprint and strengthening its parts supply and service capabilities.

Canopy Capital Partners, alongside co-investor Plexus Capital, acquired an equity stake in Guardian Logistics Solutions, a Charlotte-based asset-light transportation and logistics platform. The investment will support Guardian's strategic growth plan—both organically and via add-on acquisitions—while founders Brent Smith and Randy Ferrell remain in leadership.

Rock-it Cargo, part of Global Critical Logistics (GCL), has acquired SOS Global, a New Bern, North Carolina-based freight forwarder specializing in live-event, sports and broadcast logistics, from NEP Group. The acquisition (closed January 31, 2024) expands GCL/Rock-it's domestic capabilities and creates the largest specialty logistics provider serving live touring, sports, broadcast, and film/TV production markets.

BradyIFS + Envoy Solutions, a merged distributor of janitorial/sanitation, foodservice disposables and industrial packaging, has acquired PFS Sales Company to expand its footprint in the Carolinas and the broader Southeast. Terms were not disclosed; the acquisition will strengthen BradyIFS + Envoy Solutions' foodservice disposables and JanSan presence and provide PFS with additional resources to grow.

Firmament, a structured-equity investor, has acquired NASCENT Technology, a manufacturer and integrator of automated gate systems serving intermodal, rail, marine terminals, distribution centers and carriers. The investment will fund NASCENT’s product and software development and enable strategic integration with Firmament portfolio company Envase Technologies to expand visibility and services across the intermodal supply chain.

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital has acquired BECO Holding Company, Inc. from Behrman Capital; financial terms were not disclosed. BECO, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates 16 distribution centers and provides fire suppression, life safety and kitchen system products and services; the company's leadership will remain with a significant ownership stake in the recapitalized business.

Transportation Infrastructure Partners, a joint venture between Ridgewood Infrastructure and Savage, acquired Carolina Marine Terminal (CMT), a multi-modal dry bulk marine terminal in Wilmington, North Carolina. Savage will operate the terminal while the JV looks to expand and operate critical transportation and logistics infrastructure across the United States.

Carousel Capital has partnered with Armstrong Transport Group management to recapitalize the Charlotte-based freight brokerage, providing equity from Carousel Capital Partners V and senior debt from Barings. Armstrong, a technology-enabled, non-asset based logistics platform that facilitates nearly $500 million in annual transportation spend for over 4,000 customers, will use the investment to accelerate growth and expand its technology and service offerings.

Funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management have entered a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Direct ChassisLink, Inc. from EQT Infrastructure, which will retain a 20% minority interest. Direct ChassisLink is a leading North American provider of marine and domestic container chassis and related asset-management and logistics technology (Blume Global); financial terms were not disclosed and the transaction was expected to close in Q2 2019.

Platte River Equity has acquired a controlling interest in Sherrill, Inc., the Greensboro, North Carolina–based distributor and retailer of arborist tools and equipment. Platte River plans to partner with Sherrill's management to expand distribution and digital marketing capabilities; Generation Equity Capital is referenced as the prior partner.