Watco Companies names Ed McGuire Executive Vice President - Strategic Planning

Pittsburg, Kansas, July 10, 2015 - Watco Companies, LLC, announced today the appointment of Ed McGuire in the role of Executive Vice President – Strategic Planning. Ed is an experienced transportation industry investment banker who has been a key advisor to Watco over the past ten years. In his new position, he will work closely with the Watco Team to further develop and prioritize key acquisitions and other targeted organic growth opportunities that will enable Watco to continue to provide timely and cost effective solutions for Customer’s increasingly complex transportation needs. Ed will also work with Watco’s Capital Partners and Financial Team to find the most efficient and flexible capital to fund Watco’s various Customer initiatives.

“We’re excited to have Ed join the team at Watco,” said Rick Baden, Watco President. “His previous dealings with Watco give him an insight that will allow him to step in and hit the ground running. The Customer Service he has provided to our company proves that he is already a believer of the Customer First Foundation Principles and will use them as a guide to support both internal and external Customers.”

Prior to joining the Watco Team, Ed worked for 30 years in investment and corporate banking. Most recently, he was with BMO Capital Markets, where he started BMO’s Transportation and Logistics investment banking practice in 2003 and has worked closely with several railroad, trucking, barge, and logistics companies with M&A advisory, acquisition debt financing, and raising equity capital. Ed also worked for three years in BMO’s Real Estate Capital Markets group, covering various real estate opportunity funds, and REITs. Prior to BMO Capital Markets, Ed was CFO at a privately held Chicago based leasing company and worked at Banque National de Paris and Continental Illinois. Ed has his BBA and MBA from the University of Iowa and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

“Ed has been a part of the Watco Team for many years now, even though he worked for our lead bank, BMO Harris. We always felt Ed understood our needs and worked to always put them first. His talents have helped us find new acquisitions that have provided jobs and growth opportunities for many Watco Team Members and Customers. He is a great fit to help develop the strategic direction and growth of Watco,” said Rick Webb, Watco Chief Executive Officer.

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Watco Companies, L.L.C., (Watco) is a Pittsburg, Kansas based transportation solutions provider offering transportation, terminal and port, supply chain, and mechanical services for Customers throughout the nation. Watco is the owner of Watco Transportation Services, L.L.C., (WTS), one of the largest short line railroad holding companies in the U.S., with 33 short line railroads and 28 contract switching locations. The Terminal and Port Services division currently manages transload facilities, warehouses, port locations, and Greens Port Industrial Park. World-class supply chain solutions are offered through the Supply Chain Services division. The mechanical services division, through the joint venture, GBW Railcar Services, offers railcar repair at 33 locations in the U.S. and Canada. More information about Watco and its subsidiaries can be found at www.watcocompanies.com.