Cargo Services, Inc. Acquired by OIA Global

Logisyn Advisors is pleased to announce our role as the sell-side advisor to Cargo Services, Inc. (CSI), an Indianapolis-based provider of comprehensive freight and logistics solutions, in its successful acquisition by OIA Global. Founded in 1992, Cargo Services, Inc has spent over three decades building a full-service freight operation for customized freight solutions, including air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, domestic trucking, and truck brokerage services.

Cargo Services’ deep roots in the Indianapolis business community and its commitment to personalized service have made it a cornerstone of the regional logistics landscape. Having known the Para family in the industry for many years, CSI’s ownership, when evaluating strategic options to continue the company’s legacy, engaged with Logisyn's Mark Para and Marijan Ljubic to identify a partner who shared their values and commitment to their team.

“Our experience with Logisyn was excellent. Mark, Marijan, and the Logisyn team took control from the start. They worked with us to provide the right information to gain positive interest from a good group of prospective buyers. We interviewed several buyers, including a few from Europe. Logisyn’s experience in negotiations really paid off with the offers we received. The due diligence phase was tough, but Matt at Logisyn coached us through the process. In the end, we got the best company that fit our culture and people with a fantastic result. Logisyn’s experience in international freight forwarding and customs brokerage was a major benefit throughout the process, guiding us to the best possible outcome.”  - John Rowe, Managing Director, Cargo Services, Inc.

During the buyer identification process, the Logisyn team was focused on finding a partner with the scale, infrastructure, and cultural alignment to support Cargo Services, Inc.’s continued growth. As a global logistics provider with a proven track record of integrating founder-owned businesses and empowering regional teams to thrive within a larger platform, OIA Global emerged as the clear choice.

Based in Portland, Oregon, OIA Global is an end-to-end supply chain solutions provider offering a broad range of services to a diverse customer base, including international freight forwarding and customs brokerage, contract logistics, project logistics, and 4PL supply chain orchestration. OIA’s parent company, Lacy Diversified Industries, is an Indianapolis-based family office with over a century of experience in distribution and logistics, giving the combined organization a meaningful and longstanding connection to the Midwest market and further cementing the synergies of this partnership.

“The acquisition of Cargo Services, Inc. (CSI), a leading freight forwarding and customs brokerage firm based in Indianapolis, marks our second transaction with Logisyn as sell-side advisor. John Rowe and Steve Fugate built CSI into a company with a strong reputation for service excellence and customer trust, and we see significant opportunity to expand OIA’s presence across the U.S. Midwest through this partnership. As with our first deal together, the acquisition of JF Moran (JFM), one of the oldest, most-trusted brands in U.S. customs brokerage, the Logisyn team brought the same level of professionalism and rigor that makes for a smooth and successful transaction.”  - Brandon Morris, VP of Corporate Strategy, OIA Global

The addition of CSI gives OIA Global a direct presence in Indianapolis and advances the company’s strategy of expanding its owned network in key domestic markets. CSI’s local market knowledge and operational expertise represent a durable competitive advantage that OIA Global intends to build upon. The company will continue to operate from its Indianapolis base, and the alignment of management philosophies between the two organizations is expected to support a smooth transition for employees and customers alike.

“John Rowe, Steve Fugate, and Jefferson Clay are a class act. Their company, employees, and customer-centric focus are why they’ve become the largest freight forwarder in Indianapolis. We’re extremely proud to have represented and become the conduit for what will be a tremendously fruitful partnership between OIA/Lacy Diversified and Cargo Services.”  - Mark Para, Managing Director, Logisyn Advisors

This transaction is a testament to what happens when the right buyer and seller find each other. These are two organizations that built their businesses on trust, hard work, and a genuine care for their people. Logisyn Advisors is proud to have guided Cargo Services, Inc. through this process and to have found in OIA Global a partner truly worthy of the CSI team’s legacy.