An agreement was reached today for Spanish shipping giant Boluda Corporación Marítima (Boluda Shipping) to acquire all shares in Samskip, the Reykjavík-based international shipping and logistics company, according to multiple Icelandic news outlets including Vísir, which first reported the story. Samskip confirmed the deal was signed at its office in Kjalarvogur, Reykjavík. The transaction is expected to close on 1 January 2027, pending regulatory approvals and other conditions.
According to Samskip, principal owners Ólafur Ólafsson and Ingibjörg Kristánsdóttir will depart the ownership group once the sale completes. However, CEO Ólafur Orri Ólafsson will remain in charge of Samskip’s operations and play a key role in integrating the company under its new ownership. The purchase price for the full takeover by Boluda Shipping remains confidential, Samskip stated.
Samskip employees were informed about the deal at a staff meeting held at 13:45 today, Vísir reported. Samskip described the outcome as bringing a strong and reliable backer to the company, with the objective to strengthen its position in European sea transport.
Combined network to lead in European sea freight
Samskip said the integration with Boluda Shipping would create the largest sea freight network within Europe. The combined entity will operate 32 vessels on 18 shipping routes, maintain 21 port terminals, use an extensive rail network, and deploy over 500 trucks linking markets in 28 countries. Together, the companies will have a combined annual turnover just over two billion euros and employ around 11,500 people, according to Samskip.
Samskip currently runs weekly sailings from Reykjavík to Europe, with stops at Vestmannaeyjar and the Faroe Islands, according to the company’s statement.
Background
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland, located on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay in the southwest. Vestmannaeyjar is an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast, comprising 18 islands, with Heimaey as the only inhabited island.
Sources
- Samskip in Icelandic
- Vísir (first reported) in Icelandic
- Vísir in Icelandic
- DV in Icelandic
- Viðskiptablaðið in Icelandic
- Viðskiptablaðið in Icelandic
- mbl.is in Icelandic
Image: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · licence, original (resized) Illustrative image.
