Updated:
Scan Global Logistics
Scan Global Logistics is a Copenhagen-based freight forwarder led by CEO Allan Melgaard, acquired by A.P. Moller Holding from CVC Capital Partners in 2023.
Scan Global Logistics
Scan Global Logistics was founded in Denmark in 1975 and has grown from a regional Nordic forwarder into a global logistics player. Global CEO Allan Melgaard has led the firm since 2016, when private equity firm CVC Capital Partners acquired a majority stake, ushering in an aggressive acquisition strategy. Melgaard previously held senior roles at DSV, another Danish logistics giant, giving the firm's expansion a playbook familiar to the sector — acquire, integrate, and cross-sell. The firm operates as a non-asset-based freight forwarder, arranging transport across air, ocean, and road for industrial and commercial clients. It does not own ships or planes but buys capacity from carriers and resells it with managed services, customs clearance, and supply chain visibility tools. Key sectors served include automotive, aerospace, energy, healthcare, and retail. Scan Global maintains a presence in over 50 countries, with particularly strong networks in the Nordics, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. The firm has completed more than 30 acquisitions since 2017, targeting niche specialists in perishables, project cargo, and humanitarian logistics to broaden its service mix. Headquartered in Copenhagen with a significant operational presence in Seattle, Scan Global Logistics employs over 3,500 people worldwide. The firm reported revenue of approximately $2.4 billion in 2022 (per the company, January 2023). In May 2023, CVC Capital Partners agreed to sell Scan Global Logistics to A.P. Moller Holding, the parent company of Maersk, in a deal that valued the firm at roughly $1.9 billion (per Reuters, May 2023). The transaction, which closed later in 2023, positions the company for deeper integration with one of the world's largest container shipping lines. The A.P. Moller Holding acquisition creates a distinct structural position for Scan Global Logistics. Unlike typical private-equity-backed roll-ups that are groomed for an IPO or secondary sale, the firm now sits inside an industrial family-owned conglomerate with a multi-century investment horizon. This governance shift moves the firm from a PE-value-creation timetable to an operating-company posture, where freight forwarding complements Maersk's existing logistics and inland services businesses without requiring a public-market profile.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1975
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Denmark
City
Copenhagen
Corporate office
Copenhagen, Denmark
Principals
Allan Melgaard
Global CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs day-to-day operations at Scan Global Logistics?
Allan Melgaard has served as Global CEO since 2016. He joined the firm when CVC Capital Partners acquired a majority stake and has driven its acquisition-led growth strategy. Melgaard previously held senior commercial and operational roles at DSV, one of Denmark's largest publicly traded freight forwarders.
Who owns Scan Global Logistics after the 2023 transaction?
A.P. Moller Holding — the parent company of the Maersk Group — acquired Scan Global Logistics from CVC Capital Partners in a deal announced in May 2023. A.P. Moller Holding is controlled by the Moller family, the Danish industrial dynasty behind the Maersk shipping and logistics empire. The acquisition was structured as an independent subsidiary rather than a merger into Maersk's existing logistics division.
What is Scan Global's acquisition strategy?
Since 2017, the firm has completed more than 30 acquisitions targeting niche logistics providers. The strategy focuses on adding specialized capabilities — perishables handling, humanitarian logistics, project cargo — and geographic density in under-penetrated markets. The model mirrors the consolidation playbook common among Danish freight forwarders, particularly DSV and NTG.
How does Scan Global Logistics differ from a carrier like Maersk?
Scan Global is a non-asset-based freight forwarder: it does not own ships, planes, or trucks. Instead, it buys transport capacity from carriers — including Maersk — and bundles it with customs brokerage, warehousing, and managed logistics services. This asset-light model generates fee income without the capital intensity of vessel ownership.
What geographies does the firm cover?
Scan Global operates in over 50 countries. Its strongest networks are in the Nordic region, Southeast Asia, and the Americas. The firm has used acquisitions to build density in fragmented markets, including through the purchase of Seattle-based TransGroup Worldwide in 2019, which deepened its US West Coast footprint.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: