21 Invest, the private equity firm led by Italian businessman Alessandro Benetton, is weighing up a potential sale of Italian eye-care company Sifi after nearly a decade of ownership, according to a report by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the matter.
21 Invest has reportedly enlisted the services of Mediobanca and Evercore Inc to explore potential interest in Sifi, with the firm expected to initiate the sale process after the summer, targeting both larger healthcare companies and private equity firms, Bloomberg’s sources said.
The sale could potentially value Sifi at up to €500m ($542m). However, Bloomberg’s sources noted that discussions are still in the preliminary stages and that there is no guarantee of a deal being finalised.
Sifi, established in 1935 by two pharmacists in Sicily, specialises in therapies and medical devices for treating eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts. Under the ownership of 21 Invest since 2015, Sifi has expanded its operations internationally, establishing a direct presence in Spain, France, Mexico and Turkey.
