FS Group's Logistics Hub Finalizes Acquisition of Exploris

A major step forward to expand the network and position itself as a European player

 

Rome, 5 December 2023 – TX Logistik AG, a company controlled by Mercitalia Logistics, has finalized the acquisition of Exploris Deutschland Holding GmbH Hamburg, a European rail freight company, thus becoming the second-largest rail freight operator in Germany.

 

Following the preliminary agreement signed last July, the transaction was completed after receiving clearance from the relevant Antitrust Authorities.

 

“Our playing field does not stop at national borders but extends across Europe,” stated Carlo Palasciano, Chief International Officer of the Italian State Railways Group. “The closing of this transaction represents a major leap forward in affirming the role that the Logistics Hub is carving out as a European logistics operator. We have embarked on a growth path to increase the volumes of freight transported by rail, thanks to increasingly efficient connections both to the national network and to European rail corridors, consolidating the integration of sea-rail-road transport systems and providing a competitive alternative to road transport throughout Europe.”

 

With the closing of the agreement, the Logistics Hub is now present in 11 countries, also through Exploris’ companies, including Via Cargo, HSL Logistik and Delta Rail, strengthening FS Group’s presence in the European market and enriching traffic to and from Italy, also to the benefit of import and export services for Italian industry.

 

Exploris’ international rail connections, which are strongly oriented towards east-west freight transport, complement the TX Logistik network, which is already well-established along the north-south axis of Europe.

 

Exploris’ service network spans 8 countries (Germany, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Switzerland) with 12 direct connections. Additionally, the company provides shunting services in Germany and Poland and operates its own training center for operational staff.

 

The acquisition fits into FS Group’s strategy, through Mercitalia Logistics, to become a system operator on a European scale, adopting a structured approach that makes it possible to intercept international freight flows, expand the network, and activate new synergies. The transaction thus enables the Logistics Hub to further develop its international business, integrating the two German companies, which together have revenues of approximately €500 million and more than 1,000 employees, bringing the total number of the hub’s resources in Europe to over 6,000.

 

Thanks to this agreement, Mercitalia Logistics further strengthens its presence in Germany, the leading country in freight flows in Europe, with around 386 billion tonne-kilometers moved by rail in 2022 (source: Destatis). A nation where the market share of goods traveling by rail reaches 19%, compared to 11% in Italy and an EU average of 17%. Moreover, the countries in which Exploris operates account for 34% of Italian imports and 26% of exports.

 

FS Group considers Europe as its domestic market, where it is operational through various companies: it is active in the high-speed rail market in France with Trenitalia France and in Spain with Iryo; in Greece with Hellenic Train via urban, suburban, and medium- and long-distance routes; in Germany with Netinera, a regional passenger transport operator; in the UK with c2c and Avanti West Coast; in the Netherlands with Qbuzz, a road transport operator; and finally, in the logistics sector, with TX Logistik. Outside Europe, the Group has long been active in engineering and certification. The international strategy foresees an increase in the Group’s revenues from €1.6 billion in 2021 to approximately €5 billion by 2031.