NEW BERN, NC/LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – Rock-it Cargo, a Global Critical Logistics (GCL) company and a global leader in end-to-end logistics for live events, announced the acquisition of SOS Global (SOS), the North Carolina-based freight forwarder, from NEP Group. The combined company will be the largest global specialty logistics provider in the live touring, sports, and broadcast markets. The acquisition closed in January. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. SOS President Ed Reno will remain with the company, reporting directly to GCL President and CEO Daniel Rosenthal.
Reno stated, “Our team is very excited to combine forces with Rock-it. SOS brings a robust domestic network and operational capabilities designed to meet the needs of our sports and broadcast clients. Joining a larger international specialty logistics leader will be good for our customers and good for our team.”
Rock-it’s core leadership in live music touring has been enhanced recently by diversifying into sports and broadcast, film and TV production, and high net-worth goods sectors. Rock-it and its sister companies have offices in 18 countries and, in 2023, completed shipments in more than 115 countries. Rock-it leverages its network and experience to deliver end-to-end solutions for its customers in every market with the same personal touch that has permeated Rock-it since its founding in 1978 with first clients Uriah Heep and Led Zeppelin.
SOS specializes in freight forwarding and logistics services for live events, particularly in the sports and broadcast industries. They service every major US sports and news broadcaster, the most significant US professional sports leagues, and many of the largest vendors to these companies. Based in New Bern, NC, SOS prioritizes speed and control in its deliveries with additional offices across the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
“Today, we bring together two trusted brands with a combined 83 years of experience,” said Rosenthal, President and CEO of GCL. “For 38 years, customers have known they can ‘SOS’ their most valuable goods via a 24/7/365 operational hub. SOS’s legacy will be strengthened as part of Rock-it Cargo, with expanded services and global access via our unrivaled network. I have been thrilled to get to know Ed Reno and the SOS team, and I cannot wait to grow our business and serve our customers better together. Rock-it and SOS’s breadth, depth, and skills are unparalleled in global live performance touring and live sporting events.”
The acquisition aligns with GCL’s plans to strengthen Rock-it’s global position within the sports and broadcast sector and enhance its domestic capabilities in the live touring, events, film and theater categories.
