Wind Point Partners and portfolio company A&R Logistics , a supply chain services company for the chemical industry, have announced that A&R has acquired First Choice Logistics, a provider of bulk liquid transportation and logistics services. The acquisition of First Choice marks A&R's entry into liquid chemical supply chain services.
With a network of terminals, including locations in Chicago and Houston, First Choice provides over-the-road bulk transportation, ISO intermodal services and a full suite of logistics solutions to producers and converters of liquid chemicals. Founded in 1987 by Richard Jousma, First Choice has historically operated as an independent unit of Ozinga Bros. Inc., a Chicago-based provider of cement, energy and related solutions. The entire First Choice leadership team will join A&R at the time of the transaction.
"We are thrilled to welcome the First Choice employees to the A&R team and congratulate the Jousma and Ozinga families on building such a great liquid transportation platform," said Mark Holden, CEO of A&R. "For many years, A&R's customer base has requested that we complement our best-in-class dry bulk services with high-quality, high-touch liquid transportation capabilities. We spent significant time evaluating potential add-on candidates, and First Choice stood out for its enviable reputation among customers and competitors. The addition of First Choice expands on our chemical supply chain platform and enhances our ability to provide shippers end-to-end solutions.”
”On behalf of First Choice management, our drivers, and all our employees, we would like to express our thanks to the Ozinga family, who have been such great partners to us over the past 30 years. We are excited to join the A&R family and we are eager to expand the liquid platform through organic and acquisition growth,” said Luke Jousma, Vice President of First Choice.
About A&R Logistics
A&R Logistics Holdings, Inc. is a leading supply chain services company providing dry bulk transportation services, warehousing & packaging, distribution, export, and third-party logistics solutions to numerous multinational companies within the chemical industry. A&R provides a comprehensive suite of services including over-the-road transportation, transloading, packaging, warehousing, in-plant operations and end-to-end outsourced transportation management through a nationwide network of facilities, a combination of Company-owned equipment and owner-operators, and a non-asset based transportation management division.
About Wind Point Partners
Wind Point Partners is a Chicago-based private equity investment firm with approximately $3 billion in assets under management. Wind Point focuses on partnering with top caliber management teams to acquire well-positioned middle market businesses where it can establish a clear path to value creation. The firm targets investments in the consumer products, industrial products, and business services sectors. Wind Point is currently investing out of Wind Point Partners IX, a fund that was initiated in 2019.
