Tikehau Capital, a global alternative asset management group, has completed the acquisition of a qualified minority stake in Ecopol, a fast-growing manufacturer of water-soluble and biodegradable films for household single-dose detergents.
Carbone, Ecopol CEO will retain the control of the Company and benefit from Tikehau Capital support to further accelerate and strengthen its development plan.
“I’m delighted to announce Tikehau Capital’s investment in Ecopol. This partnership strengthens our shareholders’ base and our ability to achieve our ambitious targets. We have grown significantly over the last three years thanks to our commitment to develop a high-quality film and to the support and trust of our clients; and we are continuing to invest in our production capacity and to strengthen our organisation and R&D team to further accelerate our growth trajectory,” says Mauro Carbone, Chief Executive Officer of Ecopol.
“We are proud to become shareholders in Ecopol and to assist the Company in its future development. Thanks to the sustainable nature of its biodegradable and water-soluble films and to the strong relationships developed with major brands, Ecopol is uniquely positioned to benefit from the expected growth in the household single-dose detergent market,” says Roberto Quagliuolo, Head of Private Equity Italy at Tikehau Capital.
Luca Bucelli, Head of Italy at Tikehau Capital, adds: “We are incredibly honored to partner with Mauro: Ecopol and Tikehau Capital deeply share common values of entrepreneurship, innovation and commitment towards a more sustainable future. We cannot wait to embark on this exciting journey with Mauro and all Ecopol employees.”
Headquartered in Chiesina Uzzanese, Tuscany, with state-of-the-art production footprint, Ecopol is today the leading European producer of PVA extruded film and one of the most dynamic and innovative operators in the global landscape of biodegradable and water-soluble films production.
The Company has experienced a strong growth with a turnover CAGR of 70 per cent over the last five years, and is positioned today among the world leaders in the production of water-soluble films used for household detergents and has developed solid relationship with several blue-chip clients.
This represents the fourth private equity deal completed by Tikehau Capital in the Italian market, following DoveVivo, Assiteca and Euro Group.
As a result of the transaction, Laurent Labatut, Tikehau Capital’s Operating Partner will enter the board of directors of Ecopol alongside Luca Bucelli and Roberto Quagliuolo. Labatut, former Chairman and CEO of DRT, is a senior top manager with strong expertise in the chemical industry and in scaling industrial companies internationally.
Ecopol was advised by Alpeggiani e Associati and Studio Tributario e Societario Deloitte, while Tikehau Capital was assisted by BonelliErede, AlixPartners and Deloitte.
