In a press event held on January 4, 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared the government's plan to privatize shares of Ferrovie dello Stato (State Railways) and Poste Italiane, stating that "the State must control what is strategic, but this does not mean it should not open up to the market." Meloni did not provide further details about the timing and method of this privatization. Poste Italiane already includes private investor participation, but the public sector still holds 29.26% through the Ministry of Finance and 35% through Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (controlled by the Ministry of Finance). The sale would thus involve these two entities.
The situation with the railways is more complex, as all companies within the FS Group are entirely public. The group is articulated, and it remains unclear what the government intends to sell and what shares it plans to retain. "Il Sole 24 Ore" report estimates suggesting that the sale of up to 49% of FS and less than 30% of Poste could generate between 4.7 and 6.7 billion euros for the State.
At this stage, it's uncertain who would be interested in these acquisitions. In both cases, FS and Poste, the freigth transport and logistics sectors are involved, potentially attracting major industry players, given the significant figures involved. However, another high-value asset is on the market: DB Schenker, for which the German government has initiated a preliminary step towards privatization. If both operations are completed, they could significantly alter the landscape of European logistics.
