Gryphon Investors, a private equity firm based in San Francisco, has announced a significant majority investment in Transportation Insight, LLC, a leading provider of enterprise logistics and transportation brokerage services. This strategic move signals a strong vote of confidence in Transportation Insight’s market position and future growth potential within the dynamic transportation sector.
The deal, finalized in early September 2018, sees Gryphon Investors taking over from Ridgemont Equity Partners as the majority owner. Crucially, Paul Thompson, the Founder and Chairman of Transportation Insight, and CEO Chris Baltz will maintain substantial ownership and continue to steer the company’s daily operations. Reinforcing Gryphon’s commitment, Wes Lucas, Operations Partner at Gryphon Investors and former CEO of SIRVA, Inc., a major player in transportation, will join Transportation Insight’s Board as Executive Chairman. While the specific financial terms of this transaction remain undisclosed, the implications for Transportation Insight and the broader logistics landscape are noteworthy.
Transportation Insight, headquartered in Hickory, NC, has established itself as a key player in North American logistics since its founding in 1999. The company distinguishes itself as an asset-lite, technology-enabled provider, offering sophisticated enterprise logistics and freight brokerage solutions. Currently, Transportation Insight manages approximately $4 billion in annual transportation-related expenditure for a diverse portfolio of over 1,500 enterprise clients. Their expertise spans a wide range of industries and end markets, demonstrating their adaptability and comprehensive service offering.
At the heart of Transportation Insight’s value proposition is its blended technology platform. This platform integrates both proprietary and best-in-class solutions, empowering clients to achieve significant improvements across their transportation networks. These benefits include optimized transportation routes, reduced transportation costs, enhanced on-time delivery performance, and streamlined management of complex supply chains. In today’s competitive business environment, these capabilities are crucial for enterprises seeking efficiency and a competitive edge.
The leadership of both Gryphon Investors and Transportation Insight expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and the future direction of the company. Paul Thompson of Transportation Insight highlighted the “significant market opportunity available” and the company’s commitment to “building our business both organically and through acquisitions.” Chris Baltz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Gryphon’s “deep expertise in industrials, transportation, and logistics” as being the “perfect partner” to “dominate the North American transportation logistics space.”
Wes Lucas of Gryphon Investors underscored the attractiveness of Transportation Insight’s “strong value-proposition and market-leading position.” He pointed to key industry trends as tailwinds for Transportation Insight’s continued success, including “increasingly complex supply chains, sustained growth in ecommerce and omni-channel fulfillment, and a shift toward outsourced supply chain management among businesses globally.” These trends align perfectly with Transportation Insight’s strengths and strategic focus, positioning the company for sustained growth.
Bob Grady, Partner at Gryphon Investors, further elaborated on the strategic alignment, noting that the investment fits Gryphon’s focus on “partnering with companies that are benefiting from strong macroeconomic tailwinds.” Felix Park, Principal at Gryphon, praised the Transportation Insight management team and expressed eagerness to support the company’s growth through “strategic initiatives.”
Harris Williams & Company served as the financial advisor to Transportation Insight, and BB&T Capital Markets advised Gryphon in this transaction.
About Transportation Insight, LLC
Transportation Insight is recognized as a leading multi-modal logistics provider, managing approximately $4 billion in annual transportation spend. For nearly two decades, they have collaborated with manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, delivering substantial cost savings, reduced cycle times, and improved customer satisfaction through tailored supply chain solutions. Their service portfolio includes Co-managed Logistics® (a unique 3PL approach), carrier sourcing, freight bill audit and payment, advanced Transportation Management System (TMS) applications, a parcel technology platform featuring audit, engineering, and advanced analytics, and comprehensive business intelligence tools. More information can be found at www.transportationinsight.com.
About Gryphon Investors
Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors is a prominent private equity firm committed to fostering profitable growth and enhancing the competitive positions of middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management teams. Gryphon, managing over $4 billion in equity investments and capital since 1997, has consistently been ranked among North America’s top-decile buyout firms by Preqin. They focus on equity investments ranging from $50 million to $200 million in companies with sales between approximately $100 million and $500 million. Gryphon prioritizes building strong partnerships with owners and executives, leveraging their capital, specialized resources, and operational expertise to develop industry-leading businesses. Further details are available at www.gryphoninvestors.com.
This acquisition marks a significant chapter for Transportation Insight, poised to leverage Gryphon Investors’ resources and expertise to further solidify its position as a leader in providing insightful transportation solutions and driving value for its clients in the evolving logistics landscape.
