Context

NEXTCHEM has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of Ballestra Group from its current shareholders. The strategic rationale for the transaction is to integrate Ballestra’s world-class proprietary technology portfolio in surfactants and fertilizers, thereby expanding NEXTCHEM’s current nitrogen-based offerings into phosphate, sulfur, and potassium-based solutions. This acquisition allows MAIRE to establish a more robust European technology platform with a global reach, focusing on the decarbonization of energy-intensive industrial processes. Furthermore, the integration of Ballestra provides NEXTCHEM with immediate access to a significant consolidated backlog, which was expected to exceed €315 million by the end of 2025. The deal is expected to create substantial cross-selling opportunities with MAIRE’s sister company, Tecnimont, particularly for large-scale energy transition and material transformation projects worldwide.

Target

Founded in 1960, Ballestra Group is a global benchmark in the engineering and design of processing plants for the chemical industry. The company operates through a specialized business model encompassing three main pillars: detergents & surfactants, oleochemicals, and advanced chemicals (specifically sulfuric and phosphoric acids). Its value proposition is anchored in a vast portfolio of proprietary technologies, intellectual property, and R&D capabilities, supported by pilot plants in Italy and Switzerland. Strategically, the firm serves a blue-chip client base across 120 countries, with over 6,400 plants installed worldwide. The group integrates highly specialized affiliates, including BUSS ChemTech (Switzerland) and Ballestra India, to provide end-to-end solutions from feasibility studies to proprietary equipment assembly under the well-known Mazzoni brand.