Lineage Logistics Holdings, LLC, Novi, Mich., signed definitive agreements to acquire Emergent Cold, Dallas, Texas. This acquisition strengthens the company’s port presence in the United States and signifies its entry into the Australian, New Zealand, and Sri Lankan, temperature-controlled logistics markets.
“Food producers, manufacturers and retailers are looking for cold chain partners who can offer a dynamic and truly end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics solution, and one that can reach every corner of the world,” says Greg Lehmkuhl, president and CEO of Lineage. “Welcoming Emergent to the Lineage family not only adds significant capacity to our international footprint, but also deepens our commitment to our port strategy and international trade. We are better able to help customers respond to constantly shifting market dynamics, such as global network optimization, tariff impacts, consumer preference shifts and much more, while at the same time unlocking new potential market opportunities to sell their goods.”
Following closing of the transactions, the combined company will feature over 1.7 billion cubic feet of temperature-controlled capacity across 260 facilities in 10 countries, with a global footprint that now spans North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. With the acquisition, Lineage adds a newly constructed distribution center in the Dallas-Fort Worth market as well as four U.S. port facilities in New Orleans, Houston, and Charleston, Texas. The transaction also includes the purchase of real estate at select facility sites currently leased by Emergent under long-term lease agreements.
“Joining Lineage accelerates our goal of providing the highest quality global cold chain solutions to our customers,” says Neal Rider, founder and CEO of Emergent. “Lineage has established itself as a leader in our industry, and expanding its global footprint and port presence with the addition of Emergent will create incredible opportunities for our collective customers. I also want to thank Elliott Management for believing in and backing us when Emergent Cold was just an idea, and our executive chairman Chris Jamroz for his tireless leadership and support. Their partnership, support and expertise has been critical in driving Emergent’s success, and we are looking forward to the next chapter with Bay Grove and Lineage.”
“As an innovative leader in global cold storage, we look forward to making Emergent part of the Lineage team,” says Jamroz.
“We have been following Emergent’s impressive growth trajectory, and have a long-standing respect for their management team. We’re excited to bring their capabilities, relationships and growth pipeline into our organization,” says Kevin Marchetti, co-founder and managing partner of Bay Grove, the San Francisco-based principal investment firm backing Lineage. “Together, our teams are committed to strengthening our important relationships with customers by leveraging our expansive network and applying innovative solutions to their most pressing challenges.”
