SOLINA GROUP acquired by ASTORG
Context
Astorg has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Solina from Ardian in a transaction valuing the company at approximately EUR1.7 billion. This deal marks Solina's sixth LBO, highlighting its consistent growth trajectory under private equity ownership. Astorg secured the deal through a pre-emptive offer, beating out other interested funds and industrial players. Under Ardian's ownership (since 2015), Solina nearly doubled its size through organic growth and nine build-up acquisitions, expanding beyond its core markets (France, Benelux, Scandinavia) into the UK, Spain, and Canada. The management team reinvests alongside Astorg to drive the next phase of growth.
Previously, the company had already undergone several LBOs, notably led by Ik Partners in 2011 and Ardian in 2015. This succession of buyouts, combined with an active build-up strategy, highlights the strong attractiveness of the company's business model.
SOLINA GROUP, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2020, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the AgriFood sector (10.9x).
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
Headquartered in Brittany, France, Solina is a leading European producer of savory ingredients for the food industry. The group designs and manufactures customized ingredient solutions (seasonings, marinades, coatings, sauces) for clients ranging from local butchers and food service providers to major multinational food manufacturers (e.g., PepsiCo). At the time of the deal, Solina operated 25 production sites and R&D centers across Europe and Canada, employed 2,250 people, and served over 18,000 customers. The company is known for its "culinary" approach to Corporate ingredients.
Ent. Value
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Multiples
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Historical Financials (EUR)
Other operations with SOLINA GROUP
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2015 | ARDIAN | SOLINA GROUP | FRANCE | Food Processing | Ardian has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Solina Group from IK Investment Partners. This transaction marks the fifth Leveraged Buyout (LBO) in the company's history, highlighting its consistent cash flow generation and attractiveness to financial sponsors |
| 05/2015 | SOLINA GROUP | PAULIG GROUP - Corporate FLAVORING DIVISION | FINLAND | Food Processing | Solina Group continues its aggressive external growth strategy by acquiring the "Industrial Flavoring" division of the Finnish Paulig Group. This transaction includes the subsidiaries Lihel Oy (Finland), Nordfalks AS (Estonia), and Nordfalks Industrie AB (Sweden) |
| 02/2014 | SOLINA GROUP | SFK FOOD | DENMARK | Food Processing | Solina Group has acquired the Danish company SFK Food from the private equity fund Odin Equity. This strategic acquisition significantly strengthens Solina's footprint in Northern Europe (Scandinavia), complementing its existing leadership in France and the Benelux |
| 07/2011 | IK PARTNERS | SOLINA GROUP | FRANCE | Food Processing | IK Investment Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Savena from French private equity funds Cerea Capital and Azulis Capital. This transaction marks the beginning of a major consolidation phase for the company (which would later merge with SFK to become Solina) |
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b EUR
Revenue range: 450M - 900M EUR
EBITDA range: 100M - 200M EUR
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Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Acquirer: astorg