The fund IGI Investimenti Sei, managed by IGI Private Equity, has completed the acquisition of the majority of Nuovaplast S.r.l., market leader in the transformation of PET for the production of high quality preforms using high efficiency and fully automated technology.
Following the operation, the investment vehicle Clio S.r.l., controlled by IGI Investimenti Sei, owns 74.7% of the share capital of Nuovaplast while the sell-side shareholder has maintained a stake of 25.3%.
Nuovaplast, based in Villa Lempa in the Abruzzi region with a workforce of 45 employees, has more than 20 years’ experience working with the mineral water, oil, milk, detergent and cosmetics industries.  Turnover in 2018 was over € 50 million.
IGI Private Equity is investing in Nuovaplast to support its plans for growth, including add-on acquisitions, as well as to accelerate the development the company has pursued in recent years.  The agreement sees Angelo Mastrandrea, Partner of IGI Private Equity, taking the reins as Chairman of the company.
The operation is the first investment made by IGI Investment Sei, the buyout fund launched in October 2018 with a € 150 million target.  The fund, which has already completed the first closing at € 100 million, pursues the same strategy of investing in leading Italian firms to support their consolidation and expansion as already seen with other IGI fund investments such as Rollon, Gruppo Fabbri Vignola and Vimec.
Matteo Cirla, MD of IGI Private Equity, has said, “We are very pleased to announce the new investment in Nuovaplast, an Italian leader managed with great vision by the entrepreneur Roberto Tomasoni.  We are also proud to have made the first investment within a few months of the launch of the new fund, IGI Sei.”
Angelo Mastrandrea adds, “Nuovaplast represents one of the best opportunities in the sector to grasp the future challenge which the PET preform sector poses for the circular economy, increasingly ecological and environmentally friendly.  The major investments made by the company in recent years make it a reference in the market and represent a solid basis for the expected future development.”
Roberto Tomasoni has said, “We are proud that IGI believes in Nuovaplast and has decided to support the business initiatives which will guarantee reaching new and challenging targets, building on what has been achieved to date.”
The fund IGI Investimenti Sei had legal assistance from Chiomenti, Di Tanno e Associati, DV Studio Legale and Golder provided due diligence, while the business analysis was provided by Goetz Partners.
The sell side had financial assistance from PwC Deals and PwC TLS were the legal and fiscal advisors.
The operation was financially assisted by Banca IFIS, Crédit Agricole and BPER Banca.
 
 

In data odierna il Gruppo FIMO, leader globale nella produzione e distribuzione di sistemi di fissaggio cavi nel settore delle telecomunicazioni, controllato dal 2015 dal fondo IGI Investimenti Cinque, gestito da IGI Private Equity, ha acquisito la società DCE srl, società con sede a Pomezia (RM), focalizzata nelle soluzioni di cablaggio e sistemi di interconnessione nel settore della telefonia fissa e mobile. Lo sviluppo delle infrastrutture telecom, sia nel settore della telefonia mobile con il consolidamento del 4G e l’arrivo del 5G, sia nel settore della telefonia fissa, con il piano di sviluppo dell’Ultra Broad Band in tutta Europa, richiedono sempre più lo sviluppo di tali soluzioni di interconnessione, con un forte orientamento verso soluzioni tailor-made. Il Gruppo FIMO aggiunge quindi un’ulteriore linea di prodotti, oltre ai componenti ed alle soluzioni di camouflage, per rinforzare ulteriormente la propria presenza sul mercato e proseguire nel processo di crescita.
Luca Tamberi, Amministratore Delegato di FIMO ha dichiarato: “Abbiamo acquisito il controllo di DCE per rafforzare il percorso di crescita attraverso un significativo allargamento della gamma di prodotto. Le competenze di Mariano Sestili, Amministratore Delegato di DCE, e del suo team, saranno fondamentali per il rafforzamento della strategia di crescita. L’acquisizione che annunciamo oggi aggiunge competenze che permetteranno a Fimo di espandere la propria offerta, e permettono al Gruppo FIMO di porsi sempre più come leader nei sistemi di installazione dei cavi e delle antenne per telecomunicazione”.
Il Gruppo FIMO è stato assistito dall’advisor finanziario K Finance. Lo studio Nctm si è occupato degli aspetti legali dell’operazione.

Rollon and its controlling holding Linear Guides Invest (“LGI”) have been acquired by The Timken Company, a world-leader in engineered bearings and power transmission products.
Rollon is a specialist in linear motion solutions founded in 1975. With more than 600 employees across its headquarters in Italy, manufacturing operations in Italy, Germany and the United States and a global presence, Rollon is an international leader in the production and sales of linear and telescopic rails and actuators for many sectors, including industrial automation, railway, aeronautics, logistics, packaging and medical.
Pan-European private equity fund Chequers Capital acquired Rollon in 2013 through LGI, alongside minority shareholders IGI Private Equity and Rollon’s management.
“With the support and strong backing of Chequers and IGI, Rollon has invested to set up a global presence through a program of geographic expansion.  At the same time, Rollon strengthened its production base and products range with the targeted acquisitions of TecnoCenter, Hegra, TMT and T-Race, allowing to offer one of the most complete range of linear motion solutions on the market. Constant investments into research and development has allowed to integrate them successfully, while achieving greater customization and functionality of products. Since the acquisition by Chequers and IGI, the Group doubled its revenues through a combination of strong organic and inorganic growth.
“Chequers and IGI are proud of the performance of the company, which has been delivered with the commitment of the entire organization, from employees to shareholders, under the strong leadership of Eraldo Bianchessi and Rudiger Knevels, Group Chairman and CEO” said Philippe Guerin and Bertrand Rabiller from Chequers and Matteo Cirla and Angelo Mastrandrea from IGI.
“We are convinced Rollon and its teams will expand further within Timken, thanks to the group strong international presence. For Rollon, this marks the beginning of a new era with important opportunities for strategic development and international market growth” said Philippe Guerin and Rudiger Knevels.
In the scope of the transaction, the Sellers (for Chequers: Bertrand Rabiller, Philippe Guerin, Vivien Le Nestour; for IGI: Matteo Cirla, Angelo Mastrandrea, Francesco Griffi) were assisted by Lazard (Michele Marocchino, Jim Conniff, Edoardo Schiavina) as Financial Advisor, by Simmons & Simmons (Andrea Accornero, Moira Gamba, Alessandro Bonazzi) and Loyens & Loeff (Imme Kam, Bastiaan Cornelisse) as Legal Advisors and by Fieldfisher (Luca Pangrazzi) as Tax Advisor. PricewaterhouseCoopers (Giovanni Tinuper, Alessandro Vitali), ERM (Giovanni Aquaro, Flavia Brusati) and DV Studio Legale (Robert Via) also advised the sellers in the transaction.

Bracchi, the transport and logistics company based in the province of Bergamo, has bought 100% of the share capital of Bas Group from a group of private shareholders.
Bracchi is the leader in the technical logistics for producers of elevators, escalators, agricultural and land moving machines as well as electromechanical components, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. In 2017 its turnover was over € 90 million with a workforce of around 220 and 4 branches in Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Germany.
Bas Group is a logistics provider for the fashion and beverage industries through the companies Logistic net, Bas Sped, Bas Express and Il Corriere. In 2017 its turnover reached nearly € 30 million and its workforce numbered 150.
This acquisition, together with international expansion and continued growth of the client portfolio, means Bracchi can expect group turnover to reach € 130 million in 2018, strengthening its leadership in technical logistics and transport services in Europe.
Bracchi is controlled by IGI Private Equity through the funds IGI Investimenti Cinque and IGI Investimenti Cinque Parallel, together with the funds Siparex Mid Cap II and Siparex Investimenti 2, by the Annoni family and the company’s managers.
Matteo Cirla, Managing Director of IGI Private Equity and Chairman of Bracchi, says “We are proud to have contributed to the growth of Bracchi alongside the management team and the partners and we believe that the addition of Bas Group will generate even better results, thanks in particular to the excellent management team and their proven ability to provide their clients with an outstanding service. IGI Private Equity continues to invest in exceptional Italian companies and consolidate with targeted acquisitions. This strategy has guided investments of the fund IGI Investimenti Cinque and will continue with the new fund IGI Investimenti Sei currently being raised and with a € 150 million target.”
Bracchi was advised by the legal firm Chiomenti, represented by the attorneys Luca Liistro, Arnaldo Cremona and Andrea Ricci for the corporate aspects and by the attorneys Gregorio Consoli and Cosimo Paszkowski for the financial aspects.
Di Tanno e Associati were the fiscal advisors to Bracchi, represented by Ottavia Alfano, Marco Sandoli, Michele Babele and Mauro Pisano.
LABS Corporate Finance, led by Andrea Bruschi and Luca Spazzadeschi, and Gianesin, Canepari & Partners, with Nicola Gianesin and Fabio Mungai, were financial advisors to the sell side, while the law firm BM&A, represented by the attorneys Massimo Zappala, Alessandro Saran and Andrea Trabucco, provided legal advice.
The financing banks BPER and Banco BPM were advised by the law firm Dentons with a team led by Alessandro Fosco Fagotto with Counsel Edoardo Galeotti and trainee Giulia Caselli Maldonado.
KPMG, led by Matteo Contini, Goetze & Partners, represented by Giovanni Calia and Golder & Associati, represented by Guido Reyneri, together with Chiomenti and Di Tanno executed the due diligence surveys for the buy side.

December 11th 2017, Group FIMO, an international leader in the manufacturing and distribution of telecom cable management products, controlled since 2015 by the fund IGI Investimenti Cinque managed by the Private Equity fund IGI SGR, has acquired Polyform SA, a French company specialized in the realization of camouflage solutions for the mobile industry. The aerial camouflage is a sector in quick expansion driven by the introduction of new technologies in the mobile sector allowing the installation of camouflage solutions in zones sensible to the landscape impact such as city centres and densely populated areas. By acquiring Polyform, Group FIMO further consolidates its market position in this business segment, where it is already active with the subsidiary Kitting Telecom, and becomes the European leader in the camouflage solutions for the mobile industry.
Mr Matteo Cirla, Managing Director of IGI Private Equity and President of FIMO, said: “We have acquired FIMO in order to support the growth of the group by strengthening the management, increasing and diversifying the product portfolio and the geographical presence. The new CEO of FIMO, Mr Luca Tamberi, has been able in a very short time to collaborate with IGI for implementing this strategy. The acquisition of Polyform is the beginning of a path of future growth and development of the group and we are confident that we will proceed with other projects allowing Group FIMO to further consolidate its presence in the cable communication and telecommunication market”.
Exclusive financial advisors to Group FIMO were K Finance and Clairfield France. The French firm Lamartine Conseil acted as legal advisor in the transaction.

Blumen Group S.p.A., the Italian market leader for the production and sales of seeds for the hobby and professional sectors as well as nutritional and plant care products, controlled by the fund IGI Investimenti Quattro (managed by IGI SGR S.p.A.) and Atlante Private Equity (managed by IMI Fondi Chiusi SGR S.p.A.), has acquired the totality of the share capital of Samen Mauser A.G., long-standing Swiss producer of seeds, bulbs and gardening products.
With the most extensive range of flower and garden seeds, as well as a vast portfolio of plant care, cosmetic and nutrition products, Blumen today is a leading made-in-Italy horticulture and gardening brand. The last few years having been particularly important for the growth of Blumen, with the consolidation of companies and brand leaders in the sector, in Italy and abroad, reaching a consolidated turnover of over € 40 million with this latest acquisition.
Samen Mauser, founded in 1820 and based in Winterthur, has a turnover of over € 6 million and a vast product portfolio which includes flower and vegetable seeds, bulbs and garden products.
“ We are proud to welcome Samen and their workforce into the Blumen family. The acquisition of Samen is a functional and logical step in the development plan of Blumen to become a European level market leader, expanding its product portfolio and making the most of commercial synergies” says Roberto Tencani, Managing Director of Blumen.
“This latest acquisition by Blumen confirms the initial investment strategy in Blumen which saw it as an ideal platform for development. It lays the foundations for a further phase of expansion and consolidation in the sector at a European level. With a turnover of more than € 40 million, Blumen is one of the principal players in Europe,” comments Angelo Mastrandrea, Partner of IGI SGR S.p.A.
For this acquisition Blumen was advised by Vitale & Co S.p.A. for the financial aspects and by the law firm DV.

Rollon continues to grow, with turnover increasing by +15% in 2017, benefiting from the development of automation and robotics worldwide and its global footprint.
Rollon, the international group based in Vimercate specializing in linear motion, automation and robotics for a wide range of industrial applications, including industrial machinery, railway, aerospace and medical – has announced the finalization of the acquisition of T RACE, an Italian manufacturer of linear and telescopic motion rails, with headquarters and a production plant in Aicurzio, Monza Brianza, and foreign branches in Germany and China.
The acquisition – the fifth since 2011, following Hegra in Germany in 2015 and TMT in Italy in 2016 – strengthens Rollon’s offering of linear motion solutions by extending its current range with complementary products such as the MONORACE linear motion rails. These will be further developed through the Group’s Research & Development and production processes. Rollon thus consolidates its positioning in the fields of automation and robotics in industrial machinery, logistics and railway applications, confirming its leading role in these sectors.
The Group expects to grow by 15% in 2017, with revenues reaching close to €100 million, thus pursuing its ongoing double-digit growth in the last 4 years. These results are in part due to a proactive strategy of expansion on international markets, accelerated since 2013, with subsidiaries in Germany, France, USA, Japan, China and India, and Representative Offices in Russia, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Rollon Group employs around 500 people worldwide, of which more than 300 in the production plant in Vimercate. The staff and R&D department of T RACE will be fully integrated into the Rollon headquarters.
The acquisition was finalized with the support of LGI (Chequers Capital) and IGI Investimenti Cinque.
“The acquisition of T RACE strengthens Rollon’s role as a global provider of linear motion solutions, in European, American and new markets” commented Eraldo Bianchessi, CEO of Rollon Group. “This new acquisition helps us improve our ability to meet the needs of customers and of a variety of markets in constant evolution“.
“The success of our strategy of expansion abroad results from our ability to offer an increasingly comprehensive range of solutions” Rudiger Knevels, General Manager of Rollon Group said. “This important acquisition will offer us new opportunities in various markers, enhancing Rollon’s position as a global Group”.
The legal firm DV Studio Legale and the tax consulting firm Fieldfisher supported Rollon S.p.A. throughout the acquisition.

The European private equity group founded more than 60 years ago in Vignola (Italy), Fabbri Group has branches in France, Germany, UK, Switzerland and recently in Russia. Fabbri is a market leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and distribution of wrapping machines and films for fresh food market. Its commercial offer is completed with a reactive and reliable service and maintenance division for its large machines installed base.
With its 500 highly qualified employees, over 170 international patents and a production based on the research and development of innovative solutions, Fabbri works closely with diversified and qualified customers throughout Europe. Fabbri Group operates with retailers and fresh food processors, with solutions covering all food sectors: meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy, fish and gastronomy. Growth will boost over the next few years, driven by the increasing of balanced diets based on vitamins and noble proteins.
Emiliano Tonelli and Mirco Dilda, Senior Manager and Partner at Argos Soditic, said: “Fabbri Group is an Italian excellence that has built an astonishing reputation in developing innovative and combined solutions. The company has a strong heritage of patents and installed machines: a leadership position in a growing market with high entry barriers, a technological leadership, a resilient and balanced revenue mix, a diversified customer base, flexible operations and a skilled and qualified management team. We look forward partnering with the company and the management team to continue to grow Fabbri’s activities, even in countries where Argos and its investors are present. We at Argos Soditic also are committed to providing additional capital aiming at supporting a resolute external growth policy in new technologies and markets. “
Elisabetta Oliveri, CEO, Fabbri Group, said: “During our partnership with IGI, Lincolnshire and Chiarva family we strengthened our company through a process of strong managerialization, increased our product portfolio, implemented operational efficiency programs and extended our geographical presence. These important results give us a solid foundation and pave the way for our ongoing development that will carry on with Argos Soditic. We are delighted to continue to develop our business with a new partner sharing our vison that the company’ strength is based on the excellence of its products and services. “
Matteo Cirla, Managing Director of IGI and Executive Manager of IGI Investimenti Quattro, added: “We would like to thank Elisabetta Oliveri and all the employees of Fabbri Vignola Group for the excellent work they have done over the years, and we wish all of them, together with the new shareholders, to carry on Fabbri’s international development.”
Equity capital for the transaction comes primarily from Argos Soditic VII fund.
The transaction has been financed by a pool of banks: Crédit Agricole Cariparma (Agent Bank), Banca IFIS, Bper Banca ed Unicredit.
Argos Soditic have been advised by: Giovannelli e Associati Studio Legale, EY, Goetzpartners, Efeso Consulting, Giovanardi Pototschnig & Associati Studio Legale, Trotter Studio Associato, Marsh e Tauw.
Lincolnshire, IGI and Stella Group have been advised by: CBA Studio Legale e Tributario, Spada Partners, KPMG e William Blair.
Banks have been advised by Studio Legale Simmons & Simmons.
The transaction has involved …

On the sell side is the fund IGI Investimenti Cinque managed by IGI Private Equity which, together with Finint, had bought 100% of the company in 2015 with the aim of relaunching product development and promoting international expansion. In 2017 Vimec forecasts a turnover of € 50 million, a strong rise compared to 2016, selling its range of products manufactured in Luzzara in 50 different countries.
With this operation, IGI Private Equity successfully completes the first divestment of its most recent fund, under management since 2013, which to date has invested 70% of its capital commitment by Italian and foreign investors in the buyouts of Vimec , Rollon, Fi.Mo.Tec and Bracchi.
“We are extremely pleased with this transaction which sees the transfer of a leading Italian company to an international industrial group which will continue the initiatives for development and growth, alongside the management of Vimec led by Giuseppe Lupo, whom we thank for the excellent work done together,” says Angelo Mastrandrea, Partner of IGI and the manager in charge of the operation.
Matteo Cirla, Managing Director of IGI, further added, “The sale of Vimec shows the robustness of IGI’s investment strategy which focuses on industrial firms representing excellence in Italian manufacturing. We are very proud of this first divestment which will generate a premium return for our investors who in 2013 put their trust in us to turn around the fund previously managed by Arca Impresa Gestioni . It also gives us a springboard to start fundraising in the next few months for the new fund IGI Investimenti Sei, which will also be dedicated to outstanding Italian manufacturing companies exporting worldwide.”

The Vimercate-based group continues its growth, consolidating its own leading position in the market of linear systems and rails.
Rollon, the international group based in Vimercate, Italy, specializing in linear motion solutions for different sectors – including industrial machines, railway, aerospace, and medical – announced that it was closing the acquisition process for the Italian company TMT, with offices in Milan and factory located in Castel San Giovanni (Piacenza). The company produces linear systems and rails, and is owned by Mondial S.p.a.
This acquisition strengthens Rollon’s range of linear motion solutions, expanding the current range of complementary products to feature on of TMT’s best product families, “Speedy Rail”, in particular. Built in aluminum alloy, Speedy Rail is a range of structural rails that are particularly resistant to wear in critical environments. Rollon consolidates its own position in the industrial machines sector and in the applications areas of the automotive, ceramics, glass and metal industries, in addition to the packaging compartment.
This was another step for Rollon in its expansion on the national and international market, after last year’s acquisitions of Tecno Center in Turin, Italy and the German company Hegra. The Vimercate-based company plans to close 2016 with 82 million euro in revenue, with growth in double digits compared to the previous year and an even larger international presence: recently, in fact, they opened a branch in Tokyo, Japan and two others in Shanghai, China and Bangalore, India, respectively. These new branches are now part of a network that includes the locations already opened in France, Germany, and the USA, in addition to offices in Russia, Brazil, and the UK. The Rollon Group employs around 450 people worldwide, of which more than 300 work at the production plant in Vimercate.
The DV Law Firm in Milan, represented by attorneys Roberto Via and Stefania Cresci, assisted Rollon S.p.A during the acquisition procedure.
“The acquisition of TMT enhances the product range of the Rollon Group, guaranteeing that our range is even more complete and able to respond to the different applications and market demands: this is an important step in our growth strategy, which reinforces Rollon as a global provider for all linear movement solutions,” said Eraldo Bianchessi, CEO of Rollon Group.

The fund IGI Investimenti Cinque, managed by IGI SGR, has acquired a majority stake in Bracchi, the European leader in high added value and specialist logistics.
Following the operation, IGI owns 64% of the share capital of Bracchi, while the Annoni family together with other managers retain a 10% stake.  The remaining 26% of the capital is held by SI2 S.p.A. and Siparex Mid Cap II FCPI.
With its company headquarters in Fara Gera D’Adda (Bergamo), and branches in Poland, Slovakia and Germany, Bracchi registered a total turnover of over € 80 million in 2015 and an EBITDA of more than € 8 million.  The company employs 160 people and provides services for firms producing lifts and elevators, agricultural machinery and electromechanical components, as well as the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
IGI is investing in Bracchi to support its plans for further international development and growth, for additional acquisitions, as well as accelerating the development of high added value logistics for new specialized industrial niches.  With the deal, Matteo Cirla becomes Chairman of Bracchi S.r.l.
This is the fourth buyout carried out by IGI through the fund IGI Investimenti Cinque, following the investments in Rollon, Fimotec and Vimec.  With the acquisition of Bracchi, the Fund is now 65% invested.
Matteo Cirla, Managing Director of IGI SGR, says, “We are extremely pleased to announce this new investment in Bracchi, a strong group which has built up a solid reputation over time, an undisputable leadership in certain market niches in Europe and an excellent level of service which is widely recognized by international clients.  We intend to support the management in the jointly agreed business plan.  Bracchi is IGI’s fourth buyout in less than 3 years and demonstrates our ability to create value for our investors.”
Matteo Carlotti, outgoing company Chairman, representing the fund APE and the other sellers, has said, “After 9 years alongside the Annoni family, during which Bracchi has increased its annual turnover from € 60 million to the current € 80 million, we are pleased to be joined by two investors of undisputed ability and we are sure they will help Bracchi consolidate and continue the growth of the last few years.”
The fund IGI Investimenti Cinque was advised by PWC, Simmons & Simmons, Di Tanno e Associati, Golder and Marsh for the due diligence processes and by Goetze & Partners for the business analysis.  Siparex was advised by Rucellai & Raffaelli Studio Legale.
The shareholders of Bracchi were assisted by Lincoln International as financial advisors and by Gatti Pavesi Bianchi and Pavia & Ansaldo as legal advisors.

The majority shareholding of Ladurner Ambiente, one of the foremost Italian environmental operators, has been acquired by Zoomlion, the Chinese construction machinery giant, and Mandarin Capital.
IGI SGR, through the fund IGI Investimenti Quattro, had invested in Ladurner in 2012 and held a 20% shareholding in the company.
Following today’s operation, IGI remains as a minority shareholder of  Ladurner.