FORNO D’ASOLO acquired by INVESTINDUSTRIAL & SAMMONTANA

The transaction marks the exit of private equity firm BC Partners from Forno d'Asolo Group, following a successful ownership period that began in 2018. The new owners are a consortium composed of European private equity firm Investindustrial and Italian food manufacturer Sammontana. Under BC Partners' stewardship, Forno d'Asolo underwent a significant transformation from a strong domestic company into a global leader in the frozen bakery and patisserie sector. The value creation strategy focused on several key pillars: unlocking major commercial and operational efficiencies, completing the product portfolio, diversifying sales channels, and executing a targeted international expansion into new markets including the United States, Germany, and France. A critical component of this growth was a buy-and-build strategy, which included four strategic add-on acquisitions sourced from local Italian entrepreneurs. The most transformational of these was the purchase of Bindi, a historic patisserie brand. This comprehensive strategy, combined with the professionalization of the management team, resulted in substantial organic and inorganic growth, strongly positioning the company for its next chapter under new ownership. The acquisition provides a platform for continued expansion, leveraging the company's market leadership and consolidation potential in key global markets.

In the past, the company had already been the subject of several LBOs, notably led by 21 Invest in 2014 and Bc Partners in 2018. These multiple LBO cycles illustrate the strong appeal for this type of asset.