IRCA
Acquired by
ADVENT INTERNATIONAL
IRCA acquired by ADVENT INTERNATIONAL
Context
Advent International has acquired IRCA in a secondary buyout from The Carlyle Group, marking a significant transaction in the European food ingredients sector. Carlyle, which acquired a majority stake in 2017 and later increased its ownership, successfully executed a value creation strategy focused on internationalization and strategic acquisitions. During its ownership, Carlyle transformed IRCA from a primarily domestic Italian player into a leading European manufacturer with a growing presence in the United States. This was achieved through organic growth, investment in product innovation, and the key acquisition of Dobla, which expanded IRCA's product portfolio and global footprint. The transaction demonstrates the continued appetite of private equity for high-quality, resilient assets with strong market positions. Advent identified IRCA as a leader in a structurally growing and fragmented market. Advent's investment thesis is centered on continuing this growth trajectory by leveraging IRCA as a platform for further consolidation through meaningful acquisitions. The firm plans to partner with IRCA's existing management team to scale the business globally, expand into adjacent high-value product categories, and further penetrate key international markets. This deal underscores investor confidence in the B2B food ingredients space, which benefits from strong pricing power and consistent demand from professional end-markets.
IRCA, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2022, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the AgriFood sector (10.6x).
Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.
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Target
Irca is a leading Italian and European manufacturer of semi-finished ingredients and food products for the artisanal pastry, baking, and ice-cream sectors. Established in 1919 in Gallarate, Italy, by the Nobili family, the company has built a strong reputation for the quality and breadth of its product offering. Its portfolio consists of nearly 1,800 product lines, catering to a diverse customer base that includes industrial food companies, large-scale retail bakeries, and traditional artisanal pastry shops and bakeries. In 2014, the company strategically expanded into the artisanal ice-cream ingredients market with the launch of its Joy Gelato brand. Operationally, Irca is headquartered in Gallarate (Varese) and, as of 2017, employed 300 people across three production plants in the Lombardy region, with an additional facility under construction at that time. The company has a significant international footprint, distributing its products in approximately 70 countries through a well-established network of long-standing distributors. International sales have historically represented a substantial and growing portion of the company's total business.
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Historical Financials (EUR)
Other operations with IRCA
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/2017 | THE CARLYLE GROUP | IRCA | ITALY | Food Processing | Irca is a leading Italian and European manufacturer of semi-finished ingredients and food products for the artisanal pastry, baking, and ice-cream sectors. Established in 1919 in Gallarate, Italy, by the Nobili family, the company has built a strong reputation for the quality and breadth of its product offering. Its portfolio consists of nearly 1,800 product lines, catering to a diverse customer base that includes industrial food companies, large-scale retail bakeries, and traditional artisanal pastry shops and bakeries. In 2014, the company strategically expanded into the artisanal ice-cream ingredients market with the launch of its Joy Gelato brand. Operationally, Irca is headquartered in Gallarate (Varese) and, as of 2017, employed 300 people across three production plants in the Lombardy region, with an additional facility under construction at that time. The company has a significant international footprint, distributing its products in approximately 70 countries through a well-established network of long-standing distributors. International sales have historically represented a substantial and growing portion of the company's total business. |
| 07/2015 | ARDIAN | IRCA | ITALY | Food Processing | Irca is a leading Italian and European manufacturer of semi-finished ingredients and food products for the artisanal pastry, baking, and ice-cream sectors. Established in 1919 in Gallarate, Italy, by the Nobili family, the company has built a strong reputation for the quality and breadth of its product offering. Its portfolio consists of nearly 1,800 product lines, catering to a diverse customer base that includes industrial food companies, large-scale retail bakeries, and traditional artisanal pastry shops and bakeries. In 2014, the company strategically expanded into the artisanal ice-cream ingredients market with the launch of its Joy Gelato brand. Operationally, Irca is headquartered in Gallarate (Varese) and, as of 2017, employed 300 people across three production plants in the Lombardy region, with an additional facility under construction at that time. The company has a significant international footprint, distributing its products in approximately 70 countries through a well-established network of long-standing distributors. International sales have historically represented a substantial and growing portion of the company's total business. |
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b EUR
Revenue range: 250M - 500M EUR
EBITDA range: 50M - 100M EUR
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Authors: mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Target: irca
Acquirer: advent international