Case Studies - Unigistix, Inc.
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Taking a Core Management Team and Company to a New Level
When Wynnchurch acquired Unigistix, Inc. in 2002, partner Frank Hayes recalls, "The company had excellent people, processes and technology, but didn't have a deep management infrastructure that would enable it to reach the next level of success." Twice named to the list of Canada's 50 best-managed companies under Wynnchurch's ownership, Unigistix is a third-party logistics provider serving global customers in telecommunications, apparel, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors with highly flexible and integrated contract-based logistics solutions.
At the time that Wynnchurch made its initial investment, Unigistix was essentially a small but growing company with one major customer. Our goal was to expand customer relationships, and support management's business plan with the strategic and financial resources necessary for growth. The foundation for growth was definitely there. With approximately 290 full- and part-time employees at three facilities in the Toronto area, all Unigistix operations featured the company's proprietary software for planning, tracking and managing the physical movement and distribution of clients' product inventory which was critical to the company's value proposition.
We put the full force of our knowledge of the Canadian logistics market behind President and CEO Michael Dunlop and his management team. We worked with Mr. Dunlop to make key management hires as well as consummate strategic acquisitions that expanded the company's breadth of services and customer base.
After two and one-half years, in a very successful investment for all the shareholders, management and employees, we sold the company in 2004 to UTi Worldwide Inc. As part of the sale transaction, UTi offered significant incentives to the Unigistix team to ensure that they remained in place after the sale.
The company's revenues and profitability had grown significantly under Wynnchurch's watch. UTi, itself a global logistics leader, purchased a world-class service provider with world-class management.