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International container company Samskip has made its third acquisition this year, buying the reefer logistics business Icepak. A spokesman says it already shares sites with Icepak and was impressed with the company's management. Icepak has been operating for the past 15 years under the ownership of Debbie Woodliffe, Holly Cable and Paul Dean it now has offices in Basildon, as well as New Jersey and Seattle in the US  and Sydney in Australia.

Woodliffe says: "We are confident we have found the right partner in Samskip which, with its strong network, will bring exciting opportunities and value to our existing partners and customers." Samskip, like other Icelandic transport companies, has revealed its acquisitive side this year the Icepak announcement follows its purchase of the Scottish freight forwarder Saltire Integrated Shipping in February and the door-to-door delivery division of Delphis Team Lines in June.

Samskip is split into a reefer logistics and multimodal container divisions the spokesman says both divisions have benefited from these deals - and further acquisitions have not been ruled out.

Samskip Reefer & Forwarding Logistics CEO Peder Winther adds: "Icepak will strengthen our global footprint and assist with our overall development plans, particularly within the US, Australia, Asian, South American and UK markets." He doesn't expect any job losses, "only expansion".