Logistics & Distribution Acquisitions in Ohio

Aero Fulfillment Services, a privately held fulfillment and distribution provider based in Mason, Ohio, has acquired Kable Product Services, a Fairfield, Ohio-based fulfillment company. The deal expands Aero’s Midwest footprint and operational capacity, bringing Kable’s workforce and capabilities into Aero’s existing fulfillment network to better serve growing customer demand.

OneCompass Holdings has made a strategic minority investment in Evolve Global Logistics (EGL), a minority-owned third-party logistics provider based in the Columbus, Ohio area. The funding is intended to support EGL's growth, operational excellence and scaling capabilities, leveraging OneCompass's logistics experience (including related holding FST Logistics) to drive synergies and expand EGL's service reach.

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. acquired Parsec (including Parsec Intermodal of Canada ULC and OB Leasing, LLC) for $193.6 million. Parsec is a Cincinnati-based provider of rail terminal management, drayage and intermodal services with ~2,100 employees and $230.2 million of trailing-twelve-month revenue; the business will operate within Universal's contract logistics segment to expand its rail terminal capabilities and is expected to be immediately accretive.

Eyring Movers (Edward Eyring & Sons, Inc.) has acquired Dussault Moving Company of Lakewood, Ohio. The acquisition expands Eyring's service area on Cleveland's near-west side and will rebrand the operation as Eyring Movers Lakewood while maintaining continuity of service for Dussault's customers.

Imperial Dade has acquired The Janton Company and G&L Supply, two Ohio-based janitorial and sanitation distributors owned by the Logan family. The deal — Imperial Dade’s 74th acquisition — expands the company's distribution density and presence in Ohio; financial terms were not disclosed.

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. has acquired A&M Cold Storage (Ohio) and Cold Box (California), expanding its temporary cold storage and refrigerated-container capabilities. The acquisitions add roughly 3,500 climate-controlled containers, walk-in freezers, and refrigerated trailers to WillScot’s fleet and strengthen its service offering for temperature-sensitive end markets.

Trimac Transportation acquired AIP Logistics (AIP) on April 27, adding a 52-acre bulk terminal and warehousing facility in Wapakoneta, Ohio, a fleet of 13 tractors and 119 trailers, and 450,000+ square feet of storage with indoor rail access. The deal expands Trimac’s U.S. trucking, transloading and warehousing capabilities; founder Charles (Chuck) Kantner will remain for a transitional period.

Chicago-based private equity firm Frontenac has completed a recapitalization of Zipline Logistics to accelerate organic growth initiatives and pursue strategic acquisitions. Zipline's management team will remain in place and retain a significant ownership stake; industry veteran Don Maltby is joining the board to support growth in the consumer-packaged goods logistics market.

An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital has completed the acquisition of The Tranzonic Companies, partnering with Tranzonic’s management team. Tranzonic is a national distributor and manufacturer of cleaning and hygiene products headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with a network of 16 facilities and more than 600 employees; Peak Rock plans to accelerate growth and pursue complementary add-on acquisitions.

Lineage Logistics has acquired Perishable Shipping Solutions (PSS), a pick-and-pack e-commerce fulfillment provider for temperature-controlled/perishable foods, to expand its Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Fulfillment offering. The acquisition strengthens Lineage's end-to-end cold-chain e-commerce capabilities and complements its existing D2C footprint of temperature-controlled fulfillment centers.

Hy-Tek Holdings, a portfolio company of Dunes Point Capital, has acquired FASCOR, Inc., a Cincinnati-based provider of supply chain execution and optimization software, and LCS, Inc., a St. Henry-based installer of warehouse equipment. The acquisitions expand Hy-Tek’s capabilities across warehouse software, implementation and installation services to better serve e-commerce, 3PL and distribution clients across North America.

Transport Investments, Inc. (a transportation platform backed by Gemspring Capital) has invested in US Logistics, LLC and Nationwide Logistics, LLC (together, USLN), a Cincinnati-based specialty freight brokerage group. The deal brings USLN's agent network and specialty freight brokerage capabilities into Transport's heavy-haul, flatbed, and specialized transportation platform as an add-on to support growth and expanded service offerings.

Pamplona Capital Management has acquired BFG Supply, a technology-enabled distributor serving the green industry, from Incline Equity Partners. Headquartered in Burton, Ohio, BFG distributes products across professional horticulture, lawn & garden, hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture and will look to grow organically and via acquisitions under Pamplona's ownership.

Kamps, Inc., a national pallet recycler headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Buckeye Diamond Logistics, Inc. (BDL), a South Charleston, Ohio-based pallet recycling and management company. The add-on deal (expected to close end of June 2021) expands Kamps' national footprint and pallet recycling capabilities while retaining BDL's employees and leadership under Kamps' PE-backed platform.

Parts Town, the global leader in foodservice equipment parts distribution, has acquired the assets of Dayton Appliance Parts Co., a family-owned Midwest distributor of residential appliance OEM parts. The acquisition brings Dayton’s 12 locations and experienced team into the Parts Town family, with Tim and Bub Houtz remaining in leadership roles to support growth and customer experience expansion in the residential appliance parts market.

I Squared Capital, through its ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund II, has acquired Star Leasing Company, a Columbus, Ohio-based trailer lessor with a fleet of approximately 19,000 trailers and about 300 employees. The acquisition creates a U.S. semi-trailer platform for I Squared, enabling geographic expansion, enhanced service offerings (rentals, leasing, maintenance, sales, and breakdown services), and opportunities for bolt-on acquisitions.

Frazier Healthcare Partners has acquired a 50% stake in CSafe Global from Thomas H. Lee Partners. CSafe, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is a provider of cold chain shipping solutions for pharmaceutical and life sciences customers; THL will remain a partner alongside Frazier to support the company's next phase of growth. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Visible Supply Chain Management has purchased the assets of West Chester, Ohio-based Trade Global out of bankruptcy and will continue operating the business under the Visible name. The acquisition preserves more than 350 local jobs and expands Visible's e-commerce fulfillment, warehousing and logistics capabilities by adding an Ohio location and Trade Global's client base.