Private equity activity is anticipated to ramp up in early 2025, driven by declining interest rates, with potential mergers and acquisitions valued at around €5 billion.
Expected €5 billion deals in Italy PE sector
Several significant deals are in the pipeline, including Namirial, owned by Ambienta, and Omnia Technologies, held by Investindustrial. Other candidates include Lutech, backed by Apax, and Genetic, controlled by CVC, as well as Forgital, Carlyle’s aerospace subsidiary, valued at €2 billion. Additionally, Arrigoni, a company specializing in technical mesh fabrics for agriculture, is also in the mix.
The Namirial deal, valued at €1 billion, is noteworthy. Established in 2000, Namirial specializes in software and digital trust services and has seen growth through acquisitions since Ambienta took control in 2020.
Lutech, an Apax subsidiary, is a major provider of IT services with a turnover of approximately €900 million and could be valued at over €1 billion. Apax acquired Lutech in 2021 when it was valued at €500 million.
Other deals
Omnia Technologies, which focuses on bottling and packaging solutions, is exploring a sale that could net Investindustrial over €1.5 billion in 2025.
CVC Capital Partners is also considering selling Genetic, a pharmaceutical company based in Fisciano, known for its products in respiratory, ophthalmic, and oncological therapies. The firm is reportedly in the process of selecting a financial advisor for the sale, with UBS and Rothschild competing for the mandate.
Genetic, which boasts a turnover of around €120 million and an EBITDA of €50 million, has seen rapid growth since its founding in 2000. It is present in over 30 European countries and has invested significantly in R&D, collaborating with various Italian universities on oncology and other therapeutic projects.
