SPAIN - Impala Capital and Charterhouse create world's largest natural stone company

Lisa
07 March 2006

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Funds advised by Impala Capital Partners (previously Suala Capital) and Charterhouse Capital Partners have reached an agreement with the shareholders of Grupo Levantina to create the world’s largest natural stone company. The total value of the transaction carried out by Impala Capital, Charterhouse and other shareholders was over €500m. Impala Capital and Charterhouse will jointly hold a controlling stake in the company.

Grupo Levantina operates 16 production facilities in Spain and Brazil, 72 marble and granite quarries in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Zimbabwe, India and Venezuela, and more than 30 distribution warehouses. The group has just developed an innovative natural stone product called Naturamia. In 2005 Grupo Levantina reported revenues of €340m and EBITDA of more than €70m.

In recent years the company has successfully implemented an ambitious growth plan, which has resulted in a significant market position in countries with strong growth potential, such as China, USA, Middle East, UK and new European Union countries. In 2005 exports represented 50% of revenues.

Impala Capital and Charterhouse’s acquisition aims to accelerate its internationalisation strategy, as well as strengthen the marketing strategy by introducing natural stone products in new distribution channels. The transaction was financed by BNP Paribas; advisers for the acquirers included Jones Day, Cuatrecasas, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG.