Taos sold to global logistics company

Madison defense business expects no operation changes

Thursday, October 05, 2006

By GINA HANNAH

Times Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com

Taos Industries, a Madison-based defense contractor, has been sold to a global logistics firm, Taos' president said Wednesday.

PWC Logistics Services Inc. of Alexandria, Va., a leader in defense and government logistics, purchased Taos on Sept. 29, said John Hamilton, president of Taos. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hamilton said the acquisition will not result in any changes in how the local firm operates.

"The plan is to go forward completely with the management team," he said. "We've grown very rapidly in the last couple of years. This was an opportunity to increase our global reach."

Taos will become a subsidiary of PWC; Hamilton said no management changes are expected.

"We're not changing our name or our customer base, we're just expanding on the business we have," said Hamilton.

PWC Logistics Services is a member of the PWC Logistics group of companies based in Kuwait. The company has 450 offices located in more than 100 countries.

Taos supplies commercial and military spare parts and systems from around the world to U.S. federal and state government customers. The company was founded in 1991 by David Hogan, former chief of foreign intelligence for the Army Missile Command. The company won the Small Business of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County in June 2003.

Sons Craig and Steven, who joined the firm as president and chief financial officer, respectively, were killed in a private plane crash in January 2005. Hamilton, who took the helm of the company after the crash, was named Executive of the Year by the chamber in 2005.

David Hogan will retire as chairman and chief executive officer, and Hamilton will become chairman, Hamilton said.

Taos has 34 employees, and expects to grow.

"Everybody's excited about it," Hamilton said. "This is something that benefits the family that owned the company."

He noted that PWC is the second-largest provider to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, or DLA. In August, DLA renewed its contract with PWC to provide warehousing and distribution services in Kuwait, a project worth up to $180 million.

Retired Gen. Dan Mongeon, president of PWC Logistics Services, Inc., called the acquisition "an important step in broadening the PWC Logistics defense & government services portfolio to include a well-established provider of procurement services and parts sourcing.

"A key component of PWC Logistics' global supply chain strategy is integrating more, high-value services into its core service offerings. We welcome the addition of Taos Industries as a very positive and value-added extension of PWC Logistics' global supply chain services."



Taos sold to global logistics company Madison defense business expects no operation changes Thursday, October 05, 2006 By GINA HANNAH Times Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com Taos Industries, a Madison-based defense contractor, has been sold to a global logistics firm, Taos' president said Wednesday. PWC Logistics Services Inc. of Alexandria, Va., a leader in defense and government logistics, purchased Taos on Sept. 29, said John Hamilton, president of Taos. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hamilton said the acquisition will not result in any changes in how the local firm operates. "The plan is to go forward completely with the management team," he said. "We've grown very rapidly in the last couple of years. This was an opportunity to increase our global reach." Taos will become a subsidiary of PWC; Hamilton said no management changes are expected. "We're not changing our name or our customer base, we're just expanding on the business we have," said Hamilton. PWC Logistics Services is a member of the PWC Logistics group of companies based in Kuwait. The company has 450 offices located in more than 100 countries. Taos supplies commercial and military spare parts and systems from around the world to U.S. federal and state government customers. The company was founded in 1991 by David Hogan, former chief of foreign intelligence for the Army Missile Command. The company won the Small Business of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County in June 2003. Sons Craig and Steven, who joined the firm as president and chief financial officer, respectively, were killed in a private plane crash in January 2005. Hamilton, who took the helm of the company after the crash, was named Executive of the Year by the chamber in 2005. David Hogan will retire as chairman and chief executive officer, and Hamilton will become chairman, Hamilton said. Taos has 34 employees, and expects to grow. "Everybody's excited about it," Hamilton said. "This is something that benefits the family that owned the company." He noted that PWC is the second-largest provider to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, or DLA. In August, DLA renewed its contract with PWC to provide warehousing and distribution services in Kuwait, a project worth up to $180 million. Retired Gen. Dan Mongeon, president of PWC Logistics Services, Inc., called the acquisition "an important step in broadening the PWC Logistics defense & government services portfolio to include a well-established provider of procurement services and parts sourcing. "A key component of PWC Logistics' global supply chain strategy is integrating more, high-value services into its core service offerings. We welcome the addition of Taos Industries as a very positive and value-added extension of PWC Logistics' global supply chain services." © 2006 The Huntsville Times © 2006 al.com All Rights Reserved.