The Suddath Companies Acquires Horizon Moving Systems

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 01, 2013) – Suddath Relocation Systems, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, announces the acquisition of Horizon Moving Systems, an Arizona-based moving company. Suddath^® is expanding its service centers to include Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff. Horizon’s existing service centers in Sierra Vista and Yuma remain unaffected by this acquisition.

“We have added a well-established presence in the Southwest, which will enhance our footprint and increase service capabilities for our customers,” said Barry S. Vaughn, chief executive officer of The Suddath Companies. “It also gives us the opportunity to introduce our expansive office moving, logistics and specialty services to Arizona. This is the third acquisition for our van line over the past three years, which demonstrates our commitment to strategic expansion in an effort to serve our ever-growing global customer base.”

Suddath and Horizon will begin immediate integration efforts. Effective today, the former Horizon Moving Systems will begin operating as Suddath Relocation Systems of Arizona LLC. Although under a new name, daily operations will continue with business as usual.

Michael J. Brannigan, executive vice president and chief operating officer for The Suddath Companies, will provide leadership and operational oversight moving forward. He will work closely with Richard J. Eschbacher, senior vice president for Suddath, who oversees the now eight Western locations. Bruce Dusenberry, former president of Horizon, remains on board and will play a key consultative role during the integration of the two companies.

“Our presence in Arizona will allow Suddath to offer broader and more sophisticated asset and non-asset based solutions to our existing global network,” said Brannigan. “By operating in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff, we have increased our national infrastructure to 22 locations, allowing us to serve more customers looking for traditional and value-added services.”

“Suddath and Horizon have both enjoyed great success as family-owned businesses for more than 90 years. We are proud to become part of The Suddath Companies, where delivering excellence in customer service holds the same importance that it has for Horizon,” said Bruce Dusenberry, president and CEO of Horizon Moving Systems. “We are pleased to continue our long history of quality and service as part of this great company.”

Both The Suddath Companies and Horizon Moving Systems share modest beginnings as family-owned businesses in Jacksonville, Florida and Tucson, Arizona, respectively. For 90 years, the Dusenberry family owned and operated Horizon Moving Systems, which started as a small moving company transporting local commodities. Similarly, Carl Suddath began his moving business 94 years ago with two mules and one moving van.