Contship and Tarros: agreement signed for the acquisition of the Tarros Group

Contship, through its subsidiary Sogemar, has signed an agreement to acquire the Tarros Group, a leading maritime transport and integrated logistics operator in the Mediterranean. 

The agreement forms part of Contship’s growth strategy, aimed at strengthening its market position and further integrating its service offering. The complementary activities and distinctive expertise of the two organisations, together with a focus on continuity, provide a solid basis for a shared vision for long-term growth. The aim is to develop a new integrated logistics platform in the Euro-Mediterranean region and create new opportunities along logistics corridors between Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa. 

Founded in 1828, the Tarros Group is now present throughout the Mediterranean, offering door-to-door transport services and coordinating an integrated logistics network. With 751 employees and an established customer base of 2,700, the Group connects Europe with countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea through a network spanning 16 countries and 31 ports, serving markets with a combined population of more than 500 million people. 

The agreement covers the acquisition of the Tarros Group as a whole, including the activities and assets that make up its integrated service offering. These include Tarros S.p.A. and its foreign subsidiaries, Terminal del Golfo S.p.A., Car Box S.r.l., Compagnia Marittima Servizi S.r.l. and Med Logistics Malta Ltd. The companies operate across maritime services, port handling and inland transport. 

Alberto Musso, Chairman and CEO of the Tarros Group, said: “I believe that, to sustain a company’s strategic growth over the long term, it is necessary to find partners who share the same vision of the future. For a long time, I have been looking for a solid partner who shares our vision for growth and our ambitions, and who would enable the Tarros Group to continue developing in today’s complex and challenging environment. The agreement with Contship aims to create a Euro-Mediterranean platform by bringing together two major operators with complementary characteristics: a strong European identity on the one hand and a long-standing presence in the Mediterranean on the other.” 

Matthieu Gasselin, CEO of Contship, said: “The agreement with Tarros is part of Contship’s development strategy, which aims to strengthen its role as an integrated logistics operator. Tarros has a long history and expertise that we greatly value. We are convinced that the complementarity between its services, Sogemar’s intermodal network and the Group’s terminals in Italy, Egypt and Morocco will enable us to expand our offering and strengthen our presence along the North-South and South-North logistics corridors between Europe and Africa, making the most of the opportunities offered by the Mediterranean. We believe this agreement will support the Group’s long-term growth, enhance our ability to provide integrated logistics solutions and create value for our customers and our people.” 

The acquisition is subject, among other things, to the necessary authorisations from the relevant authorities. Completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The parties will provide further updates on the transaction as it progresses.