FLEX COMPOSITE GROUP acquired by MICHELIN

Mellby Gård AB crossed the 30% mandatory bid threshold in August 2023, a maneuver designed to fundamentally transition its role from the largest shareholder to the controlling parent of Duni Group. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on a "long-term conviction" play, merging the target's industry-leading technical operational depth in circular dining solutions with the group’s established reputation as a stable, decentralized partner. This structural alignment provides the organization with the strategic certainty required to execute a multi-year transition toward reusable packaging and bio-based materials.

Apollo Global Management, alongside a minority investment from Irenic Capital Management, has finalized the acquisition of Arconic Corporation, transitioning the entity to private ownership. The strategic rationale for this transaction centers on a "long-term-value" play, merging the target's industry-leading metallurgical capabilities with the acquirer's extensive experience in the aluminum fabrication sector. This fusion effectively provides the organization with the strategic backing required to pursue a definitive structural transformation, focusing on state-of-the-art process controls and the modernization of key machine centers. This operation allows the group to execute a definitive structural upgrade of its manufacturing facilities, specifically targeting the North American rolled products market. By incorporating the sponsor's operational discipline, the organization can now provide a more robust and integrated solution set for aerospace and ground transportation customers.

AGIC Capital acquired a majority stake in Pure Trade from Sparring Capital, which had held the investment since February 2020. During Sparring's holding period, the group demonstrated strong resilience through the Covid crisis and expanded its global footprint with offices in Paris, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and New York. The transaction is designed to support the next phase of international development, particularly in the US and Asia, as the group targets €90M in revenue for 2023. CEO and Founder Stefane Ladous, along with the existing management team, reinvested in the transaction to drive continued growth.

Trajan acquired a majority stake of less than 60% in Essences & Parfums to facilitate the founders' retirement and the company's succession. The founders rejected acquisition offers from corporate groups to preserve the brand's independence, opting instead for a financial partnership. The deal was structured as a competitive process involving several sponsors: Bpifrance and Smalt Capital acquired approximately 20% of the capital, the founders retained about 20%, and the new management team took a stake of less than 10%. The acquisition was financed via a two-tranche senior debt package and a lease-back arrangement for the company's real estate. The strategic plan focuses on ensuring a smooth leadership transition while exploring organic growth opportunities and potential build-ups to strengthen the group's international presence.

The acquisition of Tapì by Stirling Square Capital Partners marks a significant milestone in the company's history, as it transitions from Wise Equity's ownership to a new phase of growth and development. The strategic rationale behind the deal is rooted in Stirling Square's recognition of Tapì's market-leading position in the luxury closures market and its potential for further expansion. With its strong brand reputation, innovative products, and global customer base, Tapì is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for premium and luxury packaging solutions. Stirling Square's investment will support Tapì's continued growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, as the company seeks to consolidate its position in the global market. The deal also reflects the increasing importance of sustainability and ESG considerations in the packaging industry, as Tapì's commitment to environmental responsibility and social accountability aligns with Stirling Square's values and investment philosophy.

Aimia Inc. acquired a majority stake (~94%) in Giovanni Bozzetto S.p.A. from Chequers Capital and other minority shareholders. The transaction was a partnership with Paladin Private Equity, which received an option to acquire up to 19.9% of the equity. The strategic goal was to leverage Bozzetto’s ESG leadership to expand into the Americas and Asia through organic growth and accretive M&A.

Holcim has successfully entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Duro-Last, a move that establishes the group as a dominant force in the North American commercial roofing market. This strategic transaction marks a significant acceleration of the group’s "Strategy 2025," aimed at expanding its Solutions & Products division to represent 30% of total group sales. The strategic rationale centers on the integration of a highly profitable, high-growth platform that complements the group’s existing building envelope portfolio through proprietary thermoplastic technology and custom-made roofing solutions. By incorporating the target’s specialized R&D capabilities and manufacturing infrastructure, the group significantly strengthens its leadership in sustainability, particularly through advanced recycling and energy-efficient roofing systems. The partnership is designed to generate substantial industrial synergies by leveraging the group’s global distribution power and the target’s strong customer relationships in the US. This integration allows for a comprehensive end-to-end service offering in the lucrative commercial refurbishment and green building sectors. This move reinforces the group’s standing as a primary consolidator in the high-margin North American industrial construction landscape.

Motion Equity Partners acquired a majority stake in Tournaire alongside the founding family to accelerate the group's global development and industrial modernization. The strategic rationale is built on two pillars: geographical expansion into new high-growth markets and the capitalization on the environmental trend favoring aluminum as a sustainable, recyclable alternative to plastic packaging. Motion intends to leverage Tournaire's unique product range to capture market share in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical sectors while implementing an ambitious buy-and-build strategy to consolidate the specialized technical packaging market in Europe and North America.

Turpaz Industries, acting through its wholly owned subsidiary Turpaz USA, has executed a definitive agreement to acquire an 81% majority stake in Klabin Fragrances. The deal structure incorporates performance-based adjustments for the 2022 fiscal year and includes a put/call option mechanism for the remaining 19% equity interest, exercisable for a one-year period beginning January 1, 2026. The acquisition is financed through a combination of independent corporate resources and external bank financing. This transaction serves as a highly synergistic platform investment designed to significantly scale the North American footprint of the buyer. The acquisition perfectly aligns with a broader sector consolidation strategy, allowing the parties to merge their existing US operations to maximize manufacturing efficiencies at the New Jersey facility. Combining resources will unlock substantial procurement synergies and deepen the value-add product offering available to the joint customer base. This deal acts as a strong signal for ongoing cross-border sector consolidation within the specialty chemicals and fragrance ecosystem, where well-capitalized global players actively deploy dry powder to capture specialized regional assets. It underscores the market appetite for value-accretive bolt-on acquisitions that immediately enhance regional manufacturing capacity.

The executive team of Safic-Alcan successfully organized a new Management Buyout (MBO) to reorganize its capital and reinforce management control. The transaction values the group above €1.0 billion, a significant milestone following a period of record growth. The deal marks a leadership transition, with Yann Lissillour succeeding Martial Lecat as CEO. A key feature of this transaction is the expansion of the employee shareholder base, with the goal of having over 500 employees holding equity. The financial sponsors provided a mix of equity and bond financing (obligations) to allow the management team to "re-lever" and strengthen their majority position. This structure ensures Safic-Alcan remains an independent, management-controlled entity while securing the resources for continued international development.