555 Capital Advisors, LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Gardner Trucking, Inc. (Gardner) in its sale to CRST International, Inc. (CRST), one of the nation’s largest transportation companies. 555 initiated, structured and negotiated the transaction on behalf of Southern California-based Gardner, a leading provider of specialized regional truckload services, logistics, drayage and warehouse services.
“Gardner Trucking is a one-of-a kind company in its industry,” commented Andre Guardi, senior managing director of 555. “We enjoyed working with their terrific team throughout the sale process. The transaction is the largest acquisition in CRST’s history and will result in about $400 million of incremental revenue for the company.”
The business combination greatly accelerates CRST’s goal of reaching $2 billion in annualized revenue by 2018.
“555, led by Andre Guardi, was more than an insightful advisor,” said Tom Lanting, president of Gardner. “They were a true partner in the process. My family is very pleased with the outcome, which included activities related to the sale of Gardner, all of which were key to accomplishing our goals.”
Founded in 1989, Gardner has grown from a single-truck hauling business into the largest truckload carrier based in California. Gardner services bulk and commodity end-to-end markets for customers in the paper & packaging, food & beverage, wood products and metal & plastic container industries throughout the western United States from facilities located in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Texas.
“For over 25 years, we have worked hard to provide strategic service offerings that fulfill our customers’ needs on as many levels as possible,” added Lanting. “Our specialized equipment and regional focus have enabled us to maximize efficiency and optimize our service capabilities—so it’s a win-win for our customers and for Gardner. Joining the CRST team will enable us to continue to expand geographically and to replicate the Gardner model in U.S. regions beyond the West and Southwest.”
555 Capital Advisors is an independent investment bank that provides M&A, capital raise and strategic advisory services to middle-market companies. To learn more about this transaction, contact Andre Guardi at andreg@555capitaladvisors.com or 949-328-7255.
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