the colossus of logistics via train is born – Corriere.it

A national champion of rail logistics to compete in the EU. The Italian railway company (CFI), announces the acquisition of the majority stake in the Foggia-based Lotras. Cfi, controlled by F2i, the main infrastructure fund manager in Italy through the F2i-Ania fund, aims to further grow in rail and intermodal transport in Italy. And he chose Lotras, a company in the province of Foggia founded in 1938, for its experience in the road-rail transport of food liquids, in particular wines, musts and derivatives from the processing of grapes. In addition, the company also operates in the transfer of containers and trailers by rail. In 2022 the company managed over 3 million hectoliters and around 850 thousand tons of goods, recording a turnover of around 26 million euros.

The operation

CFI will acquire 90% of the capital of Lotras. The remaining 10% will be held by the De Girolamo family, historical owner of the company

. Armando De Girolamo, who will maintain the position of managing director, and his son Nazario, will continue their activities in the company, thus guaranteeing full continuity. The closing of the transaction is expected within the next third quarter. The acquisition of Lotras will allow Cfi to strengthen its activity on the Adriatic axis also thanks to the new infrastructures for the development of intermodal traffic. These include the Asi-Incoronata Terminal in Foggia which will join the Fiorenzuola d’Arda and Piedimonte San Germano terminals already managed by the CFI. The transaction will also allow the creation of synergies with other logistics areas already present in the portfolio of F2i Sgr, such as port and airport terminals.

Target synergies

With this operation, explains Giacomo Di Patrizi, CEO of Cfi, our company consolidates its role as the leading independent railway operator in Italy and strengthens its ability to offer the market the best logistic and intermodal solutions, thus promoting the development of freight traffic via iron, much desired also at European level in order to fight the climate crisis. The manager underlined the potential of synergies useful for further developing links between Southern Italy, the rest of the country and Europe. This acquisition, continues Di Patrizi, is consistent with F2i’s investment philosophy, aimed at encouraging the growth of the companies in the portfolio also through external lines, with the aim of encouraging the creation of national champions. The sole director of Lotras Armando de Girolamo says: The natural evolution of the full sharing of a development strategy in the railway sector with Cfi and F2i, led us like Lotras to merge into a Group in which the experiences and our historical activities they add up to an increasingly broader offer on the market, useful for satisfying every need; The needs of customers require a complete and excellent response, with high quality and a wide range of services provided. This industrial operation will contribute to the creation of a large national and European enterprise to develop a new, large, logistics project linked to the railway, of which we are proud to become part.