UPS to acquire Italian healthcare logistics company

UPS is to acquire Italian pharmaceutical logistics company Pieffe Depositi to strengthen its presence in the healthcare sector. The deal for an undisclosed amount will bring UPS two major healthcare distribution facilities, in Milan and in Rome, offering nearly 753,000 square feet in combined space.

The sites, which have the potential for expansion, boast 12 cold storage areas between them.

UPS now has 4m square feet of capacity in its global healthcare network of 30 sites worldwide, and this year opened five new dedicated facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

The network includes temperature-sensitive handling capabilities, pharmaceutical labs, monitoring and security systems to allow healthcare companies to meet stringent regulatory requirements for their supply chains.

UPS Europe president Jim Barber said Pieffe, a family-owned business with 35 years experience in pharmaceutical logistics, was a “perfect fit” for UPS.

He said: “The company shares UPS’s focus on high-quality service and compliance, as well as our deep-rooted culture of precision and innovation. Pieffe will make a valuable addition to UPS’s European healthcare network.”

Pieffe Group includes Pieffe Depositi and Pieffe Nord, based respectively outside Rome and Milan, with clients including Allergan, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer among others.

Federico Peruzzi, president at Pieffe, said joining UPS was a “tremendous development” for his company, staff and customers.

“UPS’s reowned quality standards combined with its specialised global healthcare network will enable us to sustain the growth and momentum we’ve built up over more than 35 years, while ensuring our customers continue to experience excellent levels of service,” he said.