Portland, OR, (December 30, 2021) — CIVC Partners, L.P. (“CIVC”) has sold its position in Magnate Worldwide (“MWW” or the “Company”) to Littlejohn & Co. (“Littlejohn”). The Company’s management team, including CEO Dante Fornari, will continue to lead MWW. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, MWW is a diversified supply chain management company comprising a strong portfolio of complementary, premier logistics providers focused on premium freight services. Through its unique, tailored services in global freight forwarding, mission-critical expedited transportation, and specialized fine arts logistics, MWW provides dynamic logistics solutions for increasingly complex supply chains.
CIVC’s exit of MWW represents the culmination of years of strategic business building beginning with the late 2014 formation of MWW in partnership with former industry executives and the subsequent August 2015 acquisition of TrumpCard, a provider of premium time-definite domestic transportation solutions. In 2017, MWW added international capabilities through the acquisition of Masterpiece International, a provider of customs brokerage and international logistics services, thereby establishing MWW as a diversified, one-stop provider of specialized global logistics services. MWW completed four additional add-on acquisitions under CIVC’s ownership, further expanding the Company’s service offering and geographic footprint.
John Compall, Partner of CIVC, commented, “Dante and his management team have done a phenomenal job of growing MWW to become a leader in the premium logistics services market. We are proud to have been a part of MWW’s success and are excited to witness the Company’s next phase of growth.”
“The CIVC team has been an outstanding, value-added partner in building the MWW platform, providing the resources and expertise we needed to expand into new markets and grow our service offering,” said Dante Fornari.
Harris Williams and Stephens served as financial advisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to MWW. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal counsel to Littlejohn.
About Magnate Worldwide
Magnate Worldwide is a diversified supply chain management company, comprising a unique platform of complementary, premier logistics providers focused on expedited domestic transportation and global freight forwarding. For more information on MWW’s family of companies, please visit www.magnateworldwide.com.
About CIVC Partners, L.P.
CIVC Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm investing in high growth middle market companies in the business services sector. Since 1989, the team has invested $1.9 billion in 71 platform companies and currently invests from CIVC Partners Fund VI. More information on CIVC Partners and its portfolio companies can be found at www.civc.com.
About Littlejohn & Co.
Littlejohn & Co. is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments primarily in middle market companies. With approximately $14 billion in regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit www.littlejohnllc.com.
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Kate Gallego
CIVC Partners
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