Clairfield advises the De Girolamo family on the sale of Lotras Srl to CFI

The De Girolamo family will remain as minority shareholders and will continue to oversee the business through its sole director, Armando, and his son, Nazario. This ensures the ongoing success of a journey that began in the 1990s and culminated in the redevelopment of the Incoronata (Foggia) terminal, establishing Lotras as a prominent player in the field of multimodal transport services, particularly along the Adriatic axis.

Lotras is the foremost national operator in the transportation of grape derivatives and other liquid foodstuffs with a fleet of over 200 owned wagons. Furthermore, the company provides intermodal transport services, including the innovative “rolling highway” for semi-trailers, diverting the transport of thousands of tons of cargo from road to rail. This commitment to sustainable modes of transportation has been one of the cornerstones of Armando De Girolamo and his family’s entrepreneurial activities.

Additionally, Lotras holds the concession for the Incoronata railway terminal (Foggia) and manages the Villa Selva terminal (Forlì Cesena), positioning the company uniquely along the vital Adriatic axis. This strategic location enables efficient management of the flow of goods between Southern Italy and Northern Italy and Europe in both directions.

CFI, with 92.5% ownership held by Italy’s premier infrastructure fund manager, F2i, is a leading player in Italy’s rail and intermodal transport sector. Founded in 2007, CFI operates approximately 170 trains each week, providing extensive coverage throughout Italy. Over the years, the company has become renowned for its specialised services catering to the steel, agrifood, and automotive industries.

The deal with CFI, leveraging the entrepreneurial and managerial support of the De Girolamo family, aims to create an integrated entity dedicated to advancing rail freight transport in both Italy and Europe. This endeavor capitalises on operational synergies with the railway company while expanding the range of intermodal transport solutions generated by the interaction between the railway terminals managed by Lotras, including Incoronata (FG) and Villa Selva (FC), with those managed by CFI, such as Fiorenzuola (PC) and Piedimonte (Frosinone). Furthermore, it presents opportunities for engagement with port and airport terminals under the purview of F2i and its subsidiary companies.

Clairfield International acted as exclusive financial advisor to De Girolamo Family.