Unicon Acquisition, Inc.

Client Profile

Established in 1998 and headquartered in Marshville, North Carolina, Unicon is the country’s largest logistics services provider to the live poultry industry.  The Company offers harvesting, hauling, pest control, litter treatment, composting, and plant labor services to poultry processors located in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions.  The Company utilizes both automated and manual harvesting crews to deliver best-in-class service, reduce labor needs, and increase animal welfare and safety.

Situation

After successfully navigating the live poultry logistics industry as a manual harvester for 17 years, the Company made the strategic decision in 2015 to invest in automating the harvesting process as a means of combatting a challenging labor market.  Such decision proved to be successful as the Company experienced significant growth following the implementation of the first automated harvester in 2016.  However, the strategy also proved to be capital intensive and as a result, the Company sought a strategic or financial investor to strengthen its capital base and provide adequate liquidity to further support its growth initiatives.

Solution

SSG was retained by Unicon Acquisition, Inc. in December 2022 to assist in the exploration of strategic alternatives.  SSG conducted a comprehensive marketing process and attracted interest from multiple parties who engaged in a thorough review of the business. A private equity buyer ultimately prevailed in the process and purchased the assets through a UCC Article 9 sale, which was completed in an expedited timeframe and allowed the Company to maintain engagement with its customer base.  SSG’s ability to manage complex transactions and identify buyers in niche market segments enabled the Company to maximize the value of the assets for the stakeholders and preserve hundreds of jobs for the employees.