CHICAGO, April 4, 2019 – Mesirow Financial acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Circle 8 Logistics, Inc. (“Circle 8” or the “Company”) on its sale to GlobalTranz Enterprises, Inc. (“GlobalTranz”).

Headquartered in Lombard, IL, Circle 8 is a non-asset-based third-party logistics and transportation services company that provides multimodal transportation and logistics services throughout North America. The Company’s business model enables customers and carriers to customize their interactions while providing them with access to cutting-edge services and technology. Circle 8’s core services include FTL shipping, a nationwide drop trailer program and private fleet utilization. The Company covers a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, retail, paper and packaging, agribusiness and metals.

“Circle 8 is looking forward to joining the GlobalTranz team and working together to continue growing the combined business,” said Mike Lewis, co-founder and co-CEO of Circle 8. “This strategic partnership will enable us to better serve our customers and carriers with increased market coverage, service offerings and enhanced technology.”

Ryan Phillips, co-founder and co-CEO of Circle 8, commented on the transaction, “Mesirow Financial did an excellent job of handling the transaction from start to finish. Through their expertise and sector relationships, they were able to pair Circle 8 with an ideal partner that will complement our employee-centric culture and capabilities.”

“We were honored to represent Circle 8 in this transaction,” said Rocky Pontikes, managing director of Mesirow Financial’s Investment Banking group. “The Company and GlobalTranz have a shared focus on exceptional human capital, high-quality service and best in class technology. This strategic combination will allow them to continue providing innovative solutions to their customers’ complex logistics and supply chain challenges and compete effectively against the market’s leading 3PL companies.”

The transaction represents another successful assignment within the distribution and supply chain sector completed by Mesirow Financial’s Investment Banking group. With extensive sector-specific expertise and deep long-standing relationships, Mesirow Financial's team has a proven track record of completing successful transactions.

About Circle 8 Logistics, Inc.

Founded in 2001 by Ryan Phillips and Mike Lewis, Circle 8 is a service-driven provider of third-party multimodal transportation and logistics services throughout North America. Privately held, the Company focuses on employee retention, honesty and efficiency to create a streamlined environment to better partner with its customers and carriers. To learn more, please visit circle8logistics.com.

About GlobalTranz Enterprises, Inc.

GlobalTranz is a technology company providing award-winning cloud-based multimodal Transportation Management System (TMS) products to shippers, carriers, 3PLs and brokers. GlobalTranz is leading the logistics software and services market in innovative technology that optimizes the efficiency of freight movement and matches shipper demand and carrier capacity in real-time. Leveraging its extensive independent agent network, GlobalTranz has emerged as a fast-growing market leader with a customer base of over 1 million product users and 25,000 shippers. In 2018, Transport Topics named GlobalTranz a Top 10 largest freight brokerage firm in the U.S. To learn more, please visit globaltranz.com.

About Mesirow Financial

Mesirow Financial is an independent, employee-owned firm founded in 1937. As specialists in investment, risk management and advisory services, we are committed to helping our institutional, corporate and individual clients achieve their objectives. Our professionals are inspired by an entrepreneurial desire to develop tailored solutions that deliver measurable results. To learn more, please visit mesirowfinancial.com.

Nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy an interest in any Mesirow investment vehicle(s). Mesirow Financial, Inc. is not affiliated with Circle 8 Logistics, Inc., GlobalTranz Enterprises, Inc. or their affiliates. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates. Securities offered through Mesirow Financial, Inc. member FINRA, SIPC.