Heath E. Combs
Further acquisitions planned to complement deal
ATLANTA — Golden Gate Logistics of Palo Alto, Calif., has acquired Global

Link Logistics, an Atlanta-based provider of ocean freight and brokerage services to North American furniture importers.

Golden Gate was founded in January by GTCR Golden Rauner, a Chicago-based private equity firm, to focus on acquiring and consolidating logistics services providers in North America and internationally, according to the company’s Web site.

It acquired Global Link from Connecticut-based private equity firm Olympus Partners for an undisclosed price.

Global Link, founded in 1998, arranges shipments mainly from the Pacific Rim, according to Gene Winters, vice president of sales and marketing. Its customers include companies shipping from factories in Asia and Latin America to U.S. distribution networks or to retailers.

“We expect to complement Global Link’s capabilities with further acquisitions in North America and Asia,” Golden Gate CEO John H. Williford said in a prepared statement.

Global Link also said the acquisition will help it continue its growth. The company plans to add services such as warehousing in Asia and consolidating furniture from several factories or warehouses to ship in a single container, Winters said.

He said Global Link had slightly under $200 million in gross revenues last year and has been growing at about 35% a year.

No management changes are planned as a result of the acquisition, which was completed June 6, he said.
Global Link also serves the residential lighting, apparel, general merchandise and hardware markets. The company says it has worked since its inception with Asian firm Hecny Transportation.