Global private markets firm Partners Group has acquired a significant equity stake in Milestone Equipment Holdings (Milestone) and will partner with Barings to continue and accelerate the company’s growth story as one of the largest providers of transportation equipment and supply chain solutions in the US.
Through this significant recapitalisation, which Barings led, Milestone raised over USD1.0 billion in equity commitments from institutional investors in a transaction that valued the Company in excess of USD1.4 billion. As part of the transaction, Partners Group acquired a co-control ownership stake in Milestone and joined the Company’s board of directors alongside Barings.
Milestone operates a fleet of over 95,000 owned and managed trailers, chassis, and containers across an integrated network of more than 70 locations near major logistics hubs. The Company provides equipment and logistics solutions to its customers under term lease and rental contracts and is one of the largest lessors of critical transportation equipment to US parcel carriers. Milestone has enjoyed significant tailwinds from the growth of e-commerce, a key transformative trend that Partners Group and Barings have both been following in their Thematic Research. Partners Group, Barings, and Milestone management will work on a transformational value creation plan, which will focus on growing the trailer, chassis, and container segments by expanding the Company’s domestic network, executing on M&A, and pursuing adjacent market opportunities.
Don Clayton, Chief Executive Officer, Milestone, says: “Our team has worked tirelessly to serve our customers and grow rapidly in our target market segments, while modernising our operations and systems to create a highly scalable platform. We are excited by the opportunity to build on this progress with the continued partnership of Barings and the addition of Partners Group. We remain highly committed to delivering the best customer experience in the industry, while providing every Milestone team member the tools they need to grow and prosper.”
Ed Diffendal, Managing Director, Private Infrastructure, Partners Group, states: “Milestone is an established infrastructure business that provides exposure to e-commerce, a transformative trend that continues to gather pace as economies digitise. Based on its scale, service, and fleet quality, we have conviction in Milestone’s ability to capture a growing share of the transportation equipment market. Our value creation plan will further develop Milestone’s mobile warehouse offering, as well as build out its network into under-served geographies across the US. We are looking forward to partnering with Milestone’s very experienced management team and our partner Barings on these initiatives.”
Tom Juterbock, Managing Director, Barings Private Equity/Real Assets, says: “We are thrilled to complete the equity recapitalisation of Milestone, which will help enable the Company to achieve its long-term growth objectives. We look forward to working with Partners Group to continue providing Milestone with the resources to excel over the coming years.”
PJT Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Barings, with Kirkland & Ellis serving as Barings’ legal counsel. Latham & Watkins served as legal counsel for Partners Group, and McGuireWoods served as legal counsel for Milestone.
