Investment bank Amherst Partners was the exclusive financial advisor to Marshall Distributing on its sale to Western Power Sports.
Marshall Distributing is a wholesale distributor of aftermarket parts and accessories for snowmobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and personal watercraft. The company carries more than 55,000 SKUs from hundreds of motorsport vendors. Marshall Distributing was founded in 1964 by John Marshall and his son Roger Marshall and is based north of Detroit in Cass City, MI (www.marshalldistributing.com).
Marshall Distributing engaged Amherst to develop and lead a sale process focused on maximizing shareholder value, and securing a buyer with the capital and operational resources to most effectively leverage the company’s existing market position. Amherst identified and approached a group of prospective buyers – both strategic and financial – and received multiple indications of interest. Ultimately, Marshall selected Western Power Sports as the preferred buyer and the transaction was completed in November 2014.
Western Power Sports (WPS) is the largest wholesale distributor of aftermarket parts and accessories in the power sports industry. WPS carries more than 120,000 SKUs for off-road and street motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and watercraft. The company has five warehouse locations in Boise, ID (258,000 sq. ft.); Fresno, CA (100,000 sq. ft.); Memphis, TN (109,000 sq. ft.); Elizabethtown, PA (144,000 sq. ft.); and Ashley, IN (207,000 sq. ft.). WPS was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Boise (www.wps-inc.com).
Amherst provides investment banking services to middle market companies that have revenues from $10 million to $500 million. The firm’s services include mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and management consulting. Amherst was founded in 1994 by Scott Eisenberg and Bud Aspatore and has completed more than 400 domestic and cross-border transactions exceeding $12 billion in total transaction value. The firm has offices in the Detroit suburbs of Birmingham and Ann Arbor, and a third office in Chicago (www.amherstpartners.com).
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 3-13-15
