Saia acquires LinkEx for $25 million

Multiregional less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier Saia recently announced it acquired Dallas-based LinkEx Inc., a diversified, asset-light 3PL.

The acquisition price was $25 million and subject, in part, to meeting growth expectations.

LinkEx was established in 2002. It has 50 employees and generated $36 million in 2014 revenue, according to Saia. It provides its dozens of shipper customers with myriad services, including supply chain design, domestic and international transportation, warehousing and final mile offerings. Saia said that LinkEx seeks to work closely with customers to develop a thorough understanding of their logistics challenges while utilizing technology design capabilities to create unique supply chain solutions.  

“The acquisition of LinkEx is a nice fit for Saia in our effort to grow our portfolio of services in the asset-light market. I am pleased to have the senior management team from LinkEx onboard and excited that they will be assuming leadership responsibilities and setting a course for the continued growth of our asset-light product offering,” said Saia President and Chief Executive Officer Rick O’Dell in a statement.

O’Dell told LM that Saia sees this deal as a great opportunity to add scale, product offering and a seasoned management team to its existing asset-light companies.

He added that Saia initially met LinkEx last summer, and furthered their relationship into the fall.

As for the benefits this deal will bring to existing Saia customers. O’Dell cited LinkEx’ broad array of service offerings that may fit the needs of some existing Saia customers, coupled with adding scale, the aforementioned talented management team, and capacity to consider additional growth opportunities in the asset-light market.