Both family-owned transport companies have been closely collaborating for years. Now Dachser has announced that it will acquire 80% of the distribution and logistics business from Fercam, based in South Tyrol, Italy. The joint venture, named “Dachser & Fercam Italia S.r.l.”, will commence operations at the beginning of 2024. The move is still subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
As soon as the controllers have given their okay, Fercam will detach both divisions from parent, Fercam AG, and integrate them into the new JV. The two units, which employ 920 people at 43 locations in Italy, generated some EUR 400 million in revenue in 2022. The JV will be headed by Fercam executive, Gianfranco Brillante, who will report to Alexander Tonn, COO Road Logistics at Dachser.
Reaction to market pressure
Even though both companies have been cooperating closely for years, the current merger is not a love match, but rather a result of intensified competition due to an increasing concentration
process in the European and international transport industry.
This is emphasized by Thomas Baumgartner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Fercam, following the inking of the deal: “Dachser is a dynamically growing, family-owned company with similar
goals and short decision-making channels, making it an outstanding and reliable partner for us for all European transports. Over the course of our partnership, however, conditions have changed
considerably, with market share concentrated among only a few European and global players. That’s why we decided to launch a joint venture exclusively for groupage and contract logistics. It´s a
win-win situation for both sides.”
And Hannes Baumgartner, Managing Director of Fercam, adds to this: “Being a part of Dachser’s European network opens up additional opportunities for growth, particularly in exports. That
creates security and stability for the future.”
Fercam AG stays independent
Founded in 1949, the Bolzano-headquartered company initially focused on its core business: rail and road transportation. This combination has also led to the agent’s brand name: FERrovia-CAMio
(RAIL & TRUCK). With the takeover of the company by the Baumgartner family in 1963, the agent expanded its geographical reach step by step and established new business areas such as Fercam
Air & Ocean or Fercam Special Services. The management emphasizes that Fercam AG will not become part of the new joint venture. Instead, the logistics company plans to promote further growth
and internationalization of the above-mentioned divisions in the future, including overseas.
The takeover of Fercam’s groupage and contract logistics business is the third major acquisition that Dachser has made to expand its transport and logistics network in Europe, following Graveleau
(France, 1999), and Azkar (Spain, 2013). “With this acquisition, we are closing the last remaining gap and rounding off our own groupage and contract logistics network in the major
continental European markets,” explains Burkhard Eling, CEO of Dachser.
No duplication of structures
The executive went on to say: “Our focus remains on growing organically and sustainably. In addition, this year we’ve strengthened our presence in key markets such as Benelux, Australia,
Japan, and now Italy through targeted acquisitions.”
Dachser’s European Logistics business line did not previously run any stations of its own in Italy. Hence, the joint venture will not duplicate any structures. All employees of Fercam’s
Distribution and Logistics divisions will work for Dachser & Fercam Italia. “Dachser’s acquisition of shares in these two divisions is also a symbol of the company’s commitment to make
additional, sustainable investments in its Italian locations,” assures the management.
In the Food Logistics business line, which handles the transport and storage of chilled and non chilled food, Dachser has been represented in Italy since 2017, with three locations and around 270
employees.
Heiner Siegmund
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