COMEA PROCESS acquired by GROUPE VELEC

Michelin has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the entire stake of The Flexitallic Group from the private equity firm Bridgepoint. This transaction marks a strategic exit for Bridgepoint, which first partnered with the business in 2013 and guided it through a significant transformation. For Michelin, the acquisition represents another major step in its diversification strategy, adding a complementary "High-Tech Materials" platform with a strong industrial client base. Flexitallic's expertise in sealing technologies and joint integrity aligns perfectly with Michelin's competencies in high-performance materials. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. The acquisition will allow Flexitallic to leverage Michelin's global R&D and industrial capabilities to accelerate its growth in new markets.

Luxempart has acquired a 26% minority stake in Kestrel Vision for €110M. The transaction follows a competitive process involving funds such as Capza, Towerbrook, and IK Partners. The capital injection serves three purposes: a capital increase to strengthen the balance sheet, a partial cash-out for management, and the refinancing of a bridge loan provided by Caravelle for the acquisition of US-based Filtec in late 2022. Despite a valuation exceeding €500M, the majority shareholder Caravelle opted for a minority opening instead of a full exit due to current debt market constraints. The group remains backed by a €150M unitranche facility from Barings to support its external growth strategy.

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.

Prysmian (80%) and Fincantieri (20%) have agreed to acquire Xtera from private equity firm H.I.G. Capital. This acquisition allows the Italian partners to offer a complete "one-stop-shop" solution for subsea telecommunications: Prysmian provides the cables, Xtera provides the electronic repeaters and system design, and Fincantieri provides the vessels and installation capabilities. The closing is expected in Q1 2026.

The acquisition of the SomaLogic business unit by Illumina marks a significant strategic maneuver designed to consolidate leadership in the emerging multi-omics landscape. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on the integration of the target’s high-plex proteomics platform with the group’s world-leading sequencing technology. This fusion effectively creates a unified ecosystem capable of correlating genomic sequences with real-time protein expressions, providing researchers with an unprecedented "end-to-end" view of biological systems. For the seller, the operation allows for a definitive structural refocusing on its core microfluidics and mass cytometry divisions, while establishing a formidable capital position for future inorganic growth. The maneuver optimizes the group’s financial profile by offloading the intensive capital requirements of the proteomics services division and retaining a long-term royalty interest in future product developments. For the acquirer, the integration facilitates the scaling of proteomic-informed genomics, sharpening its focus on high-value applications in pharmaceutical R&D and clinical monitoring. Ultimately, the partnership solidifies the combined entity’s standing as a primary provider of multi-omic innovation, bridging the gap between sophisticated laboratory-scale diagnostics and industrialized scientific discovery standards.

The industrial group specializing in safety equipment for electrical environments has been acquired in its entirety by the founding family and employees, offering an exit route for Capza, Bpifrance, BNP Paribas, and Casra Capital. The buy-back is financed through bank debt and family equity. The exit provides a strong return for Capza, as the company doubled its size during their 5-year tenure through organic growth and 10 acquisitions.

Baglioni S.p.A. has acquired a majority stake in Aeromeccanica Stranich from private equity firm Alcedo SGR (exiting its Fund IV investment) and the owner family. The family will reinvest in the new structure via his holding and continue to support integration and international growth. Alcedo had originally invested in 2016 (acquiring 49% initially) and supported the company's growth from EUR30m to EUR60m in revenue.

Interpump Group has acquired 100% of FARMA S.r.l. The sellers are the club deal vehicle F&P4Biz (which held 74% since 2021), the founding Poma family, and management. This acquisition follows Interpump's purchase of Padoan (a tank manufacturer) in July 2025, allowing for complete product integration. The current management team, including CEO Antonio Dolgetta and COO Andrea Poma, will remain in place.

The global process technology leader has successfully finalized a definitive agreement to acquire the total share capital of the target from a UK-based private equity firm. This strategic transaction represents a definitive move to incorporate specialized "severe service" valve solutions into the group’s broader Flow Control business area. The strategic rationale for the move centers on the acquirer’s objective to broaden its technical operational depth in demanding industrial applications, including sub-sea and high-pressure chemical processing. By incorporating these technical specialists, the organization reinforces its ability to deliver lasting customer value across the entire asset lifecycle. The partnership is designed to leverage the acquirer’s extensive global network to increase service penetration within the target’s large installed base of blue-chip industrial clients. This integration facilitates the creation of a more robust mission-critical valve platform, providing the strategic depth required to navigate the rapid evolution of the energy and mining sectors. The move solidifies the group’s standing as a primary enabler of process reliability and technological modernization in the global flow control market.

Azzurra Capital and Azimut Libera Impresa acquired a 7.9% minority stake in NEXTCHEM. This transaction was executed via the vehicle Azzurra Next One, which purchased the shares from Maire Investments (the family office of the Di Amato family). The strategic rationale for this transaction is to strengthen NEXTCHEM's shareholder structure and validate its growth trajectory ahead of a planned IPO on the Milan stock exchange. The deal allows MAIRE to maintain majority control (82.1%) while institutionalizing the technology platform to accelerate its global acquisition strategy, as illustrated by the simultaneous purchase of the Ballestra Group.