Minneapolis, MN August 22, 2023 – Trident a private equity firm founded in 2017 specializing in acquiring U.S.-based Small Businesses, announced today a strategic investment in Priority
Courier Experts or “Priority”.
Priority, founded in 1996, is an expedited local B2B delivery provider serving customers in virtually all industries, including building products, third-party logistics, healthcare, electrical
equipment, food & beverage and automotive in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Priority’s expansive fleet of both CDL commercial vehicles and parcel vehicles and focus on
service make it a leader in the Twin Cities.
Trident is partnering with Blue Jay Capital (“Bluejay”), an operating partner with deep expertise in transportation and logistics businesses. The Bluejay team has more than 120 years of
combined management-level operating experience in the sector and specializes in executing geographic expansion strategies.
Tenney Group, an industry specialized merger and acquisition advisory firm, advised Priority’s team. President and CEO, Spencer Tenney, shared, “Trident’s strategic investment in Priority
opens up all kinds of exciting opportunities for continued growth. It’s a win for everyone involved.”
Mark Cossack, formerly President at Priority, will serve as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer. His expertise will allow him to leverage the company’s existing culture of success to
catalyze its next phase of development and expansion into new markets. Cossack is an executive board member of the Minnesota Trucking Association and a board director of the Customized
Logistics and Delivery Association.
Ted Burchell, formerly Priority’s Executive Vice President, will serve as President. As part of his expanded role, Burchell will continue to oversee sales and customer service.
“We are thrilled to have Trident and Bluejay as partners in pursuing the next frontier of growth for Priority,” said Cossack. “We will continue to build on our values and partnership with our
employees, drivers and customers in our community and beyond.”
Leveraging Bluejay’s industry insights and growth expertise, Trident aims to further enhance Priority’s local market position and expand its footprint to other cities to meet customer demand
for increasingly expedited delivery service.
“Priority has built an incredible reputation in the Twin Cities over its nearly three decades of best-in-class service,” said Eric Taylor, Founder & CEO of Trident. “We are eager to join forces
with Mark, Ted and Bluejay to build upon the strong success the company has achieved to date and to expand its services into new geographies to better serve customers.”
This investment represents the third closed platform transaction for the Trident American Dreams Fund I, and the seventh platform acquisition Trident has made since 2017.
About Trident
Trident is a leading private equity firm based in New York, New York specializing in acquiring U.S.-based small businesses across three core sectors: Healthcare, Consumer, and Industrials.
Trident primarily invests in family-owned businesses with strong reputations and a track record of success through multiple cycles. Now investing out of its inaugural Trident American Dreams
Fund I, Trident focuses on using a diverse toolkit to add value and grow businesses post-transaction close.
About Bluejay Capital
Bluejay Capital (“Bluejay”) is an operating partner actively investing in transportation and logistics businesses. The team has more than 120 years of combined operating experience in the
sector and is comprised of industry experts with a strong track record of growth and value creation.
About Priority Courier Experts
Priority Courier Experts (“Priority”) is a Minneapolis St. Paul-based same-day local B2B delivery provider. The company offers unrivaled same-day and next-day delivery services across
a diverse fleet of vehicles. Priority’s commitment to quality, flexibility, and reliability has made it a preferred choice for businesses requiring time-sensitive delivery solutions.
About Tenney Group
Tenney Group is an industry specialized M&A advisory firm that has been dedicated to transportation & logistics since 1973. For more information, go to www.thetenneygroup.com.
