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As Sowell & Co. grew from its core Real Estate Business, it invested in the controlling interests of a variety of operating companies.
This diverse representation of former holdings shows how the corporate group can create profits in a wide range of industries.
Tarrant Aggregates Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas.
A major independent sand and gravel operator in North Texas. |
Pirkle Refrigerated Freight Lines
Madison, Wisconsin
One of the top 5 refrigerated freight carriers in the U.S., consisting of almost 400 trucks and refrigerated trailers hauling units coast to coast. |
Todd Shipyards
Jersey City, New Jersey
One of the largest shipbuilders in America; formerly a Fortune 500 company. Sowell & Co. purchased, at a deep discount, a majority interest in the debt obligations of the company, because of an anticipated bankruptcy. Once in bankruptcy, Sowell & Co. took board positions and oversaw operations and a partial liquidation. Sowell & Co. realized a 300% gain on investment. |
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 Poser
Poser®, acquired by the Sowell & Co. in 1989 and sold in 1998, is one of the largest custom manufacturers of print-related products sold to independent distributors in the United States.
The company has a broad customer base, more than 7,000 independent distributors concentrated in the Sunbelt and U.S. West Coast. At the time of its sale in 1998, Poser had progressed from five plants to 18 plants. Revenues and operating cash flow more than tripled, with revenues growing from $30 million to $100 million.
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 Independent Environmental Services, Inc.
Founded in 1995, IESI has grown from a 2-truck hauling company, to the 10th largest solid waste company in the United States.
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 Inovar Packaging Group, Inc.
Inovar Packaging Group, purchased by Sowell & Co. in 1990, is a force in the flexible packaging industry. The acquisition of Craftmark Labels occurred in late 1999. |
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 Union Industrial Gas Supply
Once an industry dominated by approximately 5,000 independent distributors, supplying gases and related equipment to the manufacturing, medical and electronic sectors. Today the industrial gases industry is controlled by a relative handful of major international companies, several of which are themselves consolidating.
By combining individual operations under one management team and financial structure, Sowell & Co. added strength and stability to these companies.
Sowell & Co. has entered the industrial gases arena during an exciting time of change, allowing the company to make a positive impact on the industry.
Union's distribution locations in California, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida form solid relationships with heavy industry in those locations.
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Metrofinanciera
Metrofinanciera is a single-family mortgage company lending and servicing new construction home loans in Mexico. Its home office is in Monterrey with 14 offices throughout northern Mexico and Mexico City. Metrofinanciera is a major originator of Fondo de Operacion y Financiamento Bancario a La Vivienda (FOVI) loans, the equivalent of FHA loans in the United States. |
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 Stiva
Based in Monterrey, Mexico, Stiva is an industrial warehouse developer. Sowell & Co. was a partner with Stiva in warehouses in its Airport and Barragon industrial parks. Virtually all of Stiva's tenants are U.S. Fortune 1000 companies. All financial and contractual aspects of tenancy are in U.S. currency, English language and U.S. law.
Quality developments of Stiva in Monterrey, Mexico capitalize on their U.S. trade relationships. Sowell & Co. sold its ownership stake in these ventures in 2006.
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Great American Clubs, Inc.
In late 1981, Sowell & Co. purchased Great Southwest Golf Club, 180 acres in the Great Southwest Industrial Park. Existing deed restrictions would have held the property to its use as a golf course for seven subsequent years. But later that year, the company arranged for a partial release of the land and sale that paid back the original investment, allowing the company to retain the golf course and grow into the golf course business at minimal cost. Employing reliable cost management principles, the company nurtured the golf club into a solid performer. This began a tradition of flourishing success and led to the formation of Great American Clubs, Inc. In 1995, Great American Clubs was sold to a publicly held corporation, yielding a substantial profit. |
 Great Southwest Golf Club
Grand Prairie, Texas
This 18-hole golf course, highly ranked in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, was the flagship of Great American Clubs.
The timing of this acquisition caused it to become the seed of a division that would yield tremendous growth. |
Pinery Country Club
Denver, Colorado
This full-service country club, with 27 holes of golf, was purchased in November, 1987. Sowell & Co. recognized that the deflating market in Denver was in the beginning phases of a turn for the positive. |
Oakridge Country Club
Garland, Texas
In August of 1988, Oakridge was acquired. Its run-down condition was reflected in the morale of its members. Great American refurbished the clubhouse and upgraded the 18-hole course. |
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Diamond Oaks Country Club
Fort Worth, Texas
On the same day Oakridge was purchased, Great American bought Diamond Oaks, an 18-hole golf course. Over the next several years, the company put the club's cash flow to work for improvements to the course and clubhouse.
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Woodhaven Country Club
Fort Worth, Texas
Purchased in 1989, this successful 18-hole country club was the last property purchased by Great American before the clubs were sold in January, 1995. |
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Meristar
Meristar (formerly American General Hospitality) is the largest independent, non-branded hotel management company in the world. Officially formed in 1998, Meristar's roots reach back to 1981 and the founding of American General Hospitality. Sowell & Co.'s involvement in this venture began in 1998, when it bought the majority interest in the management company, American General Hospitality Corp.
During the banking and S&L crisis of the 1980's, Sowell & Co. predicted that the many hotel foreclosures would foster explosive management demand and that a turnaround in the industry was near. The company grew from managing 1,696 rooms at acquisition to 42,466 rooms in 1998. Managing properties with combined revenue in excess of $1 billion. American General was merged and today operates as Interstate Hotels.
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Seelbach Hilton
Built in 1905, the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, Kentucky, is a 312- room hotel landmark. |
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Sheraton Brookhollow Houston
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