Axa Private Equity has acquired a 51.8 per cent share in the Rollon Group, a linear motion manufacturer based in Vimercate, northern Italy.

Rollon provides linear guides and actuators used in machine design applications for railways and other industries, including plant assembly, packaging design, transportation, manufacturing and medical device development.

Axa Private Equity aims to help Rollon develop its business internationally.

Rollon’s management team has invested alongside Axa Private Equity in the transaction, acquiring a stake of around five per cent, and Consilium SGR, an Italian independent private equity player, has acquired a minority stake in the company through its Consilium Private Equity Fund.

Paolo Bergonzini, managing director and head of the LBO small cap Italian team at Axa Private Equity, says: “We are proud to announce our investment in this leading linear motion company, which has the high potential for growth both in Italy and in Europe.”

Eraldo Bianchessi, the Rollon Group’s chief executive, says: “I am very happy to welcome Axa Private Equity as a new majority shareholder. It will be able to assist us significantly in our further development, thanks to its organisation and strong international network.”