Walden enters exclusive negotiations with XCM Healthcare and Unitex to enter the Italian Market

The Walden Group, a major player in healthcare logistics in Europe, has entered exclusive negotiations with the Italian Marzano Family and Mr. Gaetano Colella to acquire both XCM Healthcare, logistics company and Unitex, healthcare last mile transport company. These two strategic acquisitions will allow the Walden Group to enter the Italian Market.

“I’m delighted to see our two families coming closer together. I am convinced that together with their local expertise and our European footprint, we will achieve a lot. Italy is one of Europe’s main markets and it is about time that we offer our healthcare clients a best-in-class integrated solution,” says Stéphane Baudry, Chairman of the Walden group.

Italy recently ranked as one of the leading European pharmaceutical manufacturing markets, with a high focus on biotechnology both locally and internationally.

“For us, it would be a great opportunity to carry on our family business, to ensure our company will continue its development in the Italian market, and to widen our horizons towards Europe. We would be happy to join forces with the Walden Group, a family business that shares common values with us”, says Raffaele Marzano, shareholder of Farmacia S. Caterina, family business of the Marzano Family that holds a majority stake in both XCM Healthcare and Unitex.

The Italian companies manage 2 logistics hubs situated in Milan and Napoli, one of the largest cold storage facilities in southern Italy, and a network of 24 cold transport delivery regional sites.

“The integration of XCM Healthcare and its subsidiary UNITEX into the Walden Group is a source of immense pride and satisfaction for myself, my partners, and my colleagues. With this acquisition, we will have the opportunity to consolidate our market positioning and invest in Italy, bringing advanced processes based on the highest quality of pharmaceutical warehousing and distribution services to our country. A journey that began in the summer of 2020 has rewarded us after just 3 years of hard work, making us leading providers of high-value services. I thank Stéphane Baudry for choosing us and bringing his expertise and vision for the future of the European pharmaceutical distribution business, which will bring great innovations to the Italian market,” concludes the CEO and General Manager Mr. Gaetano Colella.

Following the successful completion of the due diligence, the transaction is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, subject to review and approval by the relevant authorities.