Fiera Milano is taking a strategic step in the evolution of its business model by strengthening its position in event logistics. On 15 April 2025, the exhibition group announced a binding agreement to acquire 51% of the share capital of Expotrans, a company specialising in logistics services for trade fairs, congresses and international events. The value of the acquisition stands at 6.3 million euros, which will be paid upon completion of the transaction, scheduled within the second quarter of 2025. The agreement includes a price adjustment mechanism, mainly based on Expotrans’s net financial position. The entire amount will be financed through existing cash reserves, with no need for debt financing.
In addition to the 51% stake now being acquired, the agreement includes a put/call option on the remaining 49%, which may be exercised after the approval of the 2028 financial statements. The maximum value for the second tranche of shares has been set at 13.7 million euros, to be added to the company’s net financial position, for a total potential transaction value of up to 20 million euros. Holding 51% of the shares will allow Fiera Milano to exercise management and coordination over Expotrans, enabling full consolidation of the stake. In terms of governance and strategy, this means a full integration of logistics activities within the exhibition platform, with the aim of achieving operational efficiencies and improving the overall quality of services offered.
Fiera Milano and Expotrans have been working together for more than twenty years on the operational management of logistics flows for events hosted in the exhibition centre’s halls. Founded in 1991, Expotrans has established itself in the logistics sector, reaching a turnover of nearly 30 million euros in 2023 and employing 60 people. In 2021, the company opened an office in Singapore. In Italy, its operational network spans the country, with offices in Rome (headquarters), Milan, Bologna, Rimini, Vicenza and Parma. Its services range from trade fair shipping to the specialised transport of artworks, from logistics for special events to warehousing services, with over 4,000 square metres of dedicated storage space.