What Happened

Scan Global Logistics (SGL) has signed an agreement to acquire OIA Global, a Portland, Oregon-based provider of end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, the company announced from Copenhagen on October 28, 2026. The transaction will be the largest investment in SGL's history and will place the company among the top 20 freight forwarders in the world.

Allan Melgaard, Global CEO of Scan Global Logistics, said: "The acquisition of OIA Global marks a significant milestone for Scan Global Logistics. As our largest investment to date, it will place us among the world's top 20 freight forwarders, strengthen our position in key markets, and expand our capabilities across the supply chain. Together with OIA Global's talented people and experienced leadership team, we will create a stronger, more resilient platform for future growth."

Who Is OIA Global?

OIA Global was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company employs more than 1,200 people across more than 60 offices in over 30 countries, generating approximately $780 million in revenue in 2025.

Its capabilities span freight forwarding, customs brokerage, contract logistics, project logistics, 4PL (fourth-party logistics, meaning it manages and coordinates other logistics providers on a client's behalf rather than just operating its own network), packaging design, and materials management. OIA serves industries including retail and lifestyle, energy, industrial, healthcare, electronics, and automotive and mobility.

Why This Deal, and Why Now

The acquisition will complement SGL's existing offering while significantly strengthening its position in the United States and other strategically important markets. The combination gives customers access to a broader global network and an expanded range of supply chain solutions, aimed at making it easier to manage increasingly complex global supply chains — a priority that has only intensified given the year's repeated disruptions across ocean, air, and land freight that we've extensively tracked throughout 2026.

Jeffery Barrie, CEO of OIA Global, framed the decision around cultural alignment as much as scale: "What stood out to us about Scan Global Logistics was not only the scale of the organisation, but also the way it does business. Both companies are built on strong customer relationships, entrepreneurial thinking, and empowered local teams. These shared values provide a strong foundation for the future and make SGL the right partner for OIA Global."

SGL's own materials note that both organisations are customer-centric and entrepreneurial with a high focus on people, citing some of the industry's highest NPS scores and customer satisfaction ratings as evidence of that shared culture.

What OIA Brings That SGL Didn't Fully Have Before

OIA Global has developed a diversified business model that extends beyond traditional freight forwarding. Its established capabilities in supply chain management, customs brokerage, project logistics, and packaging solutions will complement SGL's expertise and broaden the combined company's ability to support customers across increasingly complex global supply chains.

This distinction matters: a traditional freight forwarder primarily books and manages the movement of cargo. A company with strong 4PL, packaging design, and materials management capabilities goes further — effectively taking on broader supply chain orchestration responsibilities on behalf of clients. Adding these capabilities gives SGL a more complete service offering for customers who want a single partner handling more of their end-to-end supply chain, rather than coordinating multiple specialist vendors themselves.

The Scale of the Combined Company

Scan Global Logistics itself currently operates with a global network spanning six continents, more than 5,100 employees, and over 200 offices. Adding OIA Global's 1,200+ employees and 60+ offices across 30+ countries creates a meaningfully larger combined organisation — and the stated ambition of landing among the world's top 20 freight forwarders signals SGL's broader strategic intent to compete at a larger scale against the industry's biggest names.

Deal Timeline and What's Still Pending

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals, and the companies will operate independently until closing, which is expected in the first quarter of 2027. This means customers of both companies should not expect any immediate operational changes — the two organisations remain separate entities, with separate systems and separate points of contact, until regulatory clearance is secured and the deal formally closes.

What This Means for Shippers and Customers of Both Companies

  • No immediate operational changes — plan around a Q1 2027 timeline. Since both companies will continue operating independently until closing, customers of SGL and OIA Global should not expect changes to their current points of contact, systems, or service agreements in the near term.
  • US-based shippers working with SGL should watch for expanded domestic capabilities. With OIA headquartered in Portland and the deal explicitly aimed at strengthening SGL's US presence, American shippers may eventually gain access to a broader network of US offices and domestic logistics capabilities once the acquisition closes.
  • Customers needing broader supply chain orchestration, not just freight movement, may benefit most. If your business has been managing project logistics, packaging design, or 4PL coordination through separate vendors, the combined SGL-OIA entity may eventually offer these as part of a single relationship.
  • Watch for regulatory approval developments over the coming months. As a cross-border acquisition of this scale, the deal still requires customary regulatory clearance — shippers and competing forwarders alike should monitor for any conditions or delays that could affect the expected Q1 2027 closing timeline.
  • This reflects continued consolidation among mid-to-large freight forwarders. A move explicitly aimed at reaching "top 20" global ranking signals that competitive pressure in the freight forwarding sector continues to push companies toward scale through acquisition, rather than purely organic growth — a trend worth watching if you work with multiple forwarders who may themselves become acquisition targets or acquirers.

Key Takeaways

  • Scan Global Logistics signed an agreement to acquire OIA Global, announced October 28, 2026 — the largest investment in SGL's history.
  • The deal will place SGL among the world's top 20 freight forwarders.
  • OIA Global: founded 1988, headquartered in Portland, Oregon; 1,200+ employees across 60+ offices in 30+ countries; ~$780 million revenue in 2025.
  • OIA's capabilities include freight forwarding, customs brokerage, contract logistics, project logistics, 4PL, packaging design and materials management.
  • SGL currently operates across six continents with 5,100+ employees and 200+ offices.
  • The acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen SGL's position in the United States.
  • The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals; both companies will operate independently until closing, expected in Q1 2027.
  • CEOs of both companies cited shared culture and customer-centric values, alongside scale, as key reasons for the deal.