PRIMERAIL acquired by DFDS

The acquisition of primeRail by DFDS A/S executes a strategic expansion into rail freight solutions across European intermodal corridors. Announced on May 10, 2022, the transaction brings primeRail into the corporate ownership of DFDS A/S, cementing an operational relationship initiated in 2020 through the joint launch of the Intermodal Transport Competence Center in Cologne. Following the closing of the agreement, DFDS A/S establishes a dedicated Rail business area within its corporate structure to consolidate the operational capabilities of primeRail with its existing intermodal transport activities. The newly established Rail division is organized within the Mediterranean business unit of DFDS A/S, with founder and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Zilles appointed to lead the combined rail operations. Strategically, the integration thesis articulated by Peder Gellert Pedersen, Executive Vice President and Head of the Ferry Division at DFDS A/S, focuses on connecting maritime port terminals directly to inland rail hubs. This rail connectivity allows DFDS A/S to offer seamless multimodal transport solutions, reducing carbon emissions across freight routes by transferring trailers and containers from road haulage to electrified rail corridors. The buyout of primeRail forms part of a sustained programmatic M&A roadmap executed by DFDS A/S, following previous logistics platform transactions including the acquisitions of HSF Logistics Group and ICT Logistics. Operational integration between the corporate freight ferry routes and the railway lines operated by primeRail is scheduled to complete within the 2022 calendar year, providing corporate shippers with end-to-end multimodal transport solutions across continental Europe.

By taking control of Primerail, Dfds continues its expansion strategy. Previously, the group had completed 2 acquisitions, including Ict Logistics in 2021.