PE-backed Imprima bolts on Set

Amedeo Goria
07 November 2017

Tweet
Facebook
LinkedIn
Google plus
Send to

Imprima, owned by Italian fund manager Wise, has bought Italian textile printing business Società Europa Tessile (Set).

At completion of the transaction, the group expects to generate €160m in revenues in 2017. Following the deal, Set's management team will continue to lead the business and will also reinvest by acquiring a stake in Imprima. Furthermore, Imprima's co-CEOs Paolo Gramaglia and Chiaretto Calò will hand off their positions to the company's chair Valentina Franceschini – also a partner at Wise – and vice-chair Gianluca Boni.

The transaction is the second acquisition for the private-equity-owned group, and follows the recent purchase of Como-based printing converter B-Blossom.

According to an interview with Wise partner Valentina Franceschini by unquote" sister publication Mergermarket, the GP is looking to create a group with a €200-300m turnover before considering an exit.

Previous funding
Imprima was created by Wise when the GP acquired and merged German printing business KBC and its Italian peer Guarisco in February 2017.

Wise did the deal through its Wisequity IV fund, which hit its €215m hard-cap in March 2016 and currently has five portfolio companies.

Company
Founded in 1975, Set focuses on textile printing for the fashion industry. The business is based in Fiano Romano, near Rome, and has a production plant near Varese.

The company posted €60m in revenues in 2016, according to a statement.

People
Imprima – Valentina Franceschini (chair, co-CEO); Gianluca Boni (vice-chair, co-CEO).

Advisers
Acquirer – BonelliErede (legal); KPMG (financial due diligence); Spada Partners (tax).
Seller – NCTM (legal); CMS Adonnino Ascoli & Cavasola Scamoni (tax).