INVESTINDUSTRIAL takes majority stake in ARTSANA

Private equity sponsor Investindustrial, led by Andrea Bonomi, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire a 60% controlling equity stake in Artsana Group. Structured to ensure seamless operational continuity, the founding Catelli family (previously the sole owners of the business) will roll over a significant portion of their equity to retain a 40% minority position. Furthermore, Michele Catelli will remain Chairman of the board, and Claudio De Conto will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer. The leveraged buyout is supported by a debt financing package provided by UniCredit (acting as global coordinator and mandated lead arranger), alongside BNP Paribas and Natixis as mandated lead arrangers. The sell-side was advised by Lazard, while the acquirer was advised by UniCredit (financial), PWC (financial due diligence), and Bain & Co (commercial due diligence). The strategic partnership is explicitly designed to accelerate Artsana's ambitious international expansion and growth trajectory. By injecting significant human and financial capital, Investindustrial intends to propel the company toward new corporate milestones while preserving a heavy emphasis on R&D to drive continuous product innovation. Additionally, the sponsor will assess the future strategic direction of Artsana's existing joint venture with Italian toy manufacturer Giochi Preziosi, which operates prominent retail networks including Toy Center, Bimbo Store, and Prénatal.