EdiBeez, the publisher of BeBeez, BeBeez Magazine, BeBeez International, CrowdfundingBuzz and BeBeez Private Data, launched a 0.5 million euros capital increase for supporting its organic and international growth (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The company already attracted a 0.130 million soft commitment from its current shareholders and is holding talks with insitutional and private investors for a further 0.25 million. The capital increase will close in early August on the ground of a pre-money value of 1.7 million, the same post-money value as the 2022 equity crowdfunding campaign on CrowdFundMe that allowed to raise 0.4 million from Smart Capital, Giuseppe Vegas (the former chairman of Italian stock market regulator Consob); Riv Capital, the asset manager that Roberto Rivera founded; WRM Group, a private capital investment vehicle that Raffaele Mincione created; VERTEQ Capital, a private equity that Ennio Valerio Boccardi created; Fermo Marelli, the Co-Head of Alternative Credit at Azimut Capital Management; Maurizio Ria, the founder and managing partner of turnaround advisory Duke&Kay; Norman Pepe, one of the founding partners of London’s law firm iLS; Domenico Di Luccia, the founder of Di Luccia & Partners Executive Search; ACDN, a company of Alessandro Della Nina (vice president of Oaktree Capital Management) and Italian entrepreneur Arturo Casale; Fabio Malerba, business angel and board member of IBAN (Italian Business Angel Network); Michele Novelli, a partner of Digital Magics; and other entrepreneurs and finance professionals.
NYSE-listed energy giant ExxonMobil sold 70.68% of Adriatic LNG to German asset manager IKAV and VTTI (a company of which Dutch Vitol has 45%, IFM Investors owns 45% and ADNOC-Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has 10%) (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The closing may take place in 2H24 on the ground of an enterprise value of 800 million euros. Intesa Sanpaolo and Natixis financed the transaction. Rothschild assisted ExxonMobil. Mizuho Securities and Herbert Smith Freehills supported IKAV and Natixis Partners Iberia. Milan-listed Snam currently has 7.3% of Adriatic LNG, but exercised a call option and raised its holding to 22.02% after having acquired the interest of QatarEnergy in the asset. Stefano Venier is the ceo of Snam.
Milan-listed asset manager Azimut announced the signing of a binding agreement for selling its stake in Kennedy Lewis Investment Management (KLIM), an investor in event-driven credit situations, to Petershill at Goldman Sachs Asset Management for 225 million US Dollar in cash (see here a previous post by BeBeez). In 2020, Azimut paid 60 million for its 20% in KLIM. Giorgio Medda and Pietro Giuliani are the ceo and chairman of Azimut.
Tokyo-listed Sodick Co., a producer of machinery for the EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) sector, is going to subscribe a capital increase for acquiring a 9.5% of Prima Additive, a firm for 3D iron moulding that belongs to Prima Industrie, a portfolio asset of Sodick, Alpha Private Equity and Peninsula Capital (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Prima Additive currently belongs to ceo Paolo Calefati (6.24%), Prima Industrie (50.01%), DP-Cube (11.3%), Davide Peiretti (7.8%); Laserfin (10.07%); Fabio Ferrario (2.6%); Luigi Bologna (5.99%), and further minority shareholders. Prima Additive retained Scouting Capital Advisors and has sales of 4.5 million euros, an ebitda of minus 1.8 million, a net financial debt of 0.535 million, and equity of 7.4 million.
Three Hills Capital Partners (THCP) signed an agreement for selling its minority of MA Group, a producer of aeronautics components, to Paolo Graziano (see here a previous post by BeBeez). THCP retained Linklaters. Cappelli RCCD and Studio Zoppini assisted the buyer, ADVANT Nctm advised the lenders UniCredit, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro and Deutsche Bank which also financed MA’s acquisition of Tecnickrome Aeronautique and CFN Precision, two Canadian competotors. THCP acquired 25% of the asset in 20218. Graziano currently owns the majority of MA Group, a company with sales of 150 million euros and an ebitda of 23 million.
CDS Holding, the owner of 23 Italian camping villages with the brand Club del Sole that belongs to the Giondi Family, launched a 50 million euros capital increase for allowing TEC-The Equity Club to buy a 29% stake (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Sources said to BeBeez, that the transaction involves the investment of TEC worth in the region of 100 million and the reinvestment of 65 of Neuberger Berman AIFM with other co-investors. All shareholders will subscribe to this capital increase while Milan-listed NB Aurora Sicaf-Raif (which will directly receive approximately EUR 35 million), Red Circle Investments and other shareholders will receive 109 million for the sale of 40.13% of CDS Holding. The closing may may take place in May. The Giondi Family and NB Aurora retained Rothschild & Co and Credem Euromobiliare Private Banking. CDS has sales of 77.4 million, an ebitda of 20.13 million and a net financial debt of 66.2 million.
Accenture acquired Intellera Consulting from the target’s managers and Gyrus Capital (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The closing may take place in the next months. Gyrus received assistance from Equita, Rothschild & Co, PedersoliGattai, OC&C, New Deal Advisors, Chiaravalli Reail & Associati, Herbert Smith Freehills, and Studio Legale Lipani. Intellera’s manager hired Allen & Overy. Giancarlo Senatore and Andrea Gabardo are the target’s chairman and ceo.
EY acquired Milan-based competitor Bgp Management Consulting (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Luca Grivet Foiaia is EY Technology Consulting Leader. The unit aims to raise its sales from 90 million euros to 170 million and increase its human resources from 900 to 1700 professionals.
Marco Bizzarri, the former ceo of Gucci (part of Kering), acquired a minority stake in Italian fashion firm Betty Blue that may increase to up to 23% from the company’s owner Elisabetta Franchi (see here a previous post by BeBeez). On 15 April, Monday, Bizzarri will become the company’s chairman while Claudia D’Arpizio, a senior partner of Bain & Company, will join the board of directors. Bizzarri invested in Betty Blue through Nessifashion, his financial holding that will target Italian and foreing luxury and fashion firms. Betty Blue has sales of 170 million euros and a 31.8% ebit.
QuattroR acquired 50% of Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group (MZBG) through the subscription to a 90 million euros capital increase (see here a previous post by BeBeez). The fund may list the company in up to four years. Massimo Zanetti, the owner of MZBG, delisted the company from Milan market in 2021. MZBG has debts of 350 million euros with Unicredit, BNL, Intesa Sanpaolo, and other banks. QuattroR received assistance from Lazard, Molinari Agostinelli Studio Legale, Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, KPMG, and ERM. MZBG retained BakerMcKenzie while the company’s lenders received advice from Rothschild & Co and Latham & Watkins.
Brera Partners, a Zurich-based private equity that targets financial services firms, said it acquired 70% of Italian insurance broker GBSapri from Massimo Maria Bassi (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Brera co-invested with UK private equity Headway Capital Partners while Eurazeo financed the transaction. GBSapri received assistance from Kitra Advisory, KPMG, Lener & Partners, Lexia, and Andpartners. Brera Partners retained Chiomenti, PWC, LEK Consulting, and Rosedge Capital. Eurazeo appointed Ahsurst. GBSapri has a turnover in the region of 16.5 million euros, an ebitda of 1.7 million and net cash of 4.8 million. Andrew Borda, a founding partner of Brera said that GBSapri will carry on further acquisitions in Italy. Carlo Maria Bassi will replace as GBS ceo Giulio Spagnoli that will become chairman.
Bacciardi Partners, an Italian m&a and corporate finance advisor, launched its BP unit for ESG (see here a previous post by BeBeez). Lorenzo Bacciardi is the firm’s managing partner.
Giancarlo D’Ambrosio joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as equity partner (see here a previous post by BeBeez). D’Ambrosio has a consolidated experience in the private equity sector and previously worked for Latham & Watkins where he assisted Italian football team FC Internazionale Milano for the issuance of 415 million euros worth senior secured notes.
