Rotunda Capital invests in Amware

Rotunda Capital said Wednesday that it has acquired a majority stake in Amware Logistics Services. No financial terms were disclosed. Also, the firm has added Ray Greer, the president of BNSF Logistics to its board of directors. Amware is a provider of third-party warehousing and fulfillment solutions.

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON and CHICAGO (May 28, 2014) – Rotunda Capital Partners (Rotunda Capital), a lower-middle-market private equity investment firm, has acquired a majority stake in Amware Logistics Services (Amware), a premier provider of value-added, quality-driven, third-party warehousing and fulfillment solutions. The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
“Amware has built a unique and successful third-party operations platform that provides premium value-added services for business to consumer and business to business warehousing and fulfillment customers,” said Corey Whisner, a partner at Rotunda. “We look forward to working with the management team to support the continued evolution of the company by increasing its growth through organic platform expansion and strategic acquisitions.”
Amware’s president, Vincent Gulisano, will become CEO of the company, and Rotunda Capital operating executive, John McAlpin, will become chief operating officer. McAlpin brings 30 years of experience in logistics management, having previously served as senior vice president of BNSF Logistics and vice president- of operations of Newgistics. Mark Wilhelm and Jim Smith, Amware’s co-owners, will retain a meaningful ownership stake in the company and serve on the board of directors to provide strategic direction to the company. Ray Greer, a highly experienced logistics executive has agreed to join Amware’s board of directors. Greer is currently the President of BNSF Logistics and was formerly the CEO of Greatwide Logistics Services and Newgistics and serves on the board of Industrial REIT and DCT Industrial Trust Inc.
“Rotunda is an ideal partner for Amware, given the firm’s deep knowledge of logistics and distribution industries, its extensive operating executive network, and its successful history of growing businesses,” said Gulisano. “Rotunda Capital will enable Amware to continue executing our expansion plans by increasing our sales force, selectively adding new locations and investing growth capital in the existing network of locations.”
John Fruehwirth, managing partner at Rotunda Capital, added, “We are thrilled to work with the management team to build on Amware’s deep relationships with existing clients and expand its fulfillment services for growing e-commerce and direct sales customers.”
About Amware Logistics Services
Amware Logistics Services is one of the premier third-party logistics and order fulfillment providers for a wide variety of industries throughout North America. Amware operates over 2 million square feet of warehouse space through nine facilities located across the United States and Toronto, Canada. The company’s focus is on quality-driven, cost-effective solutions for its customers warehousing and distribution needs. By leveraging their expertise and experience in the logistics industry, Amware is able to craft customized solutions for their customers based on their suite of value added services ranging from light manufacturing to customer service support. For more information on company processes and capabilities please visit http://www.AmwareLogistics.com or call 970-337-7000.
About Rotunda Capital
Rotunda Capital Partners is a private equity firm that invests equity capital in established and profitable lower middle market companies. As an independent deal sponsor, Rotunda Capital raises and invests the capital of its principals, family offices and high net worth individuals on a deal-by-deal basis. The firm uses a rigorous approach to identify market-leading companies with identifiable growth opportunities and capable management teams in targeted sectors, including specialty finance, logistics and distribution, and business services. Rotunda Capital partners with industry leading operating executives to grow each portfolio company. Since 2009, Rotunda Capital has completed seven platform investments and realized two exits. The partners of Rotunda Capital have collectively invested more than $1.6 billion in more than 30 companies, providing experience and drawing on deep industry and financial relationships to contribute to the successful execution of Rotunda’s companies’ strategic plans.