The battle for control of the Padua Interport intermodal terminal has opened between leading names in container transport. The deadline for submitting bids expired on 30 September at 1pm, closing a process launched last May by the interport authority. Two proposals were received. The first, in alphabetical order, brings together Psa Italia, part of the Singapore-based group and a world leader in container terminal and port and rail operations, with Logtainer, an Italian intermodal operator working with major shipping lines. The second bid was submitted by Rail Hub, part of the Contship group, in partnership with Medlog, part of the Msc group.
On the same day, the tender committee was appointed. It is composed of Interporto Padova’s general manager, Roberto Tosetto, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality and the Province of Padua, and Carola Pagliarin, a professor at the University of Padua specialised in public law and public contracts. The committee will assess the bids according to pre-established criteria.
The procedure has unfolded in several stages. After the publication of the international call for tenders, on 1 July a dedicated Virtual Data Room was opened, initially containing more than 2,000 documents, later expanded with 300 additional files and 350 responses to queries on tax, legal, labour, environmental and business matters. The InfoMemo, including the 2025–2028 business plan, was reviewed by 94 professionals, who together invested 1,063 hours of analysis. Six operators had accessed the platform, each providing a €300,000 guarantee in the form of a bond and bank transfer, but only two went on to submit a formal offer.
The tender foresees the establishment of Intermodal Terminal Padova Srl, to which the terminal operations will be transferred. Interporto Padova will retain 30% of the shares, with statutory safeguards including the obligation to maintain the site’s intermodal function. The company will also appoint one member to the board of directors and the president of the board of auditors. The auction base value for the 70% stake in the new company is set at €60 million.
The bids will be evaluated on the basis of the most economically advantageous offer, awarding 20 points for the financial offer, 15 for impartiality with open access to all operators, 40 for the quality of the industrial plan and 25 for financial strength and investment prospects. The assessment is expected to last around two months, after which the provisional award will still require approval from the Court of Auditors and the Antitrust Authority, as well as the endorsement of public shareholders’ governing bodies. The final closing is expected in spring 2026.
