Nextchem (Maire) acquires 100 per cent of the Ballestra Group for over 120 million
The acquisition will enable the integration of intellectual property with advanced proprietary technologies and expertise in specialty chemicals, including fluorine derivatives for lithium-ion batteries and the metals and mining industries. The acquired Spa expects consolidated revenues for the financial year 2025 to be 235 million and an estimated year-end order backlog of 315 million
Key points
Maire signed a binding agreement to acquire the entire share capital of the Ballestra Group, a leading global player in the licensing, design and engineering of processing plants and the supply of proprietary technology and equipment for the chemical industry.
L’operazione
The agreement establishes a company value of EUR 108.3 million. Based on Ballestra's consolidated net cash position as of 31 December 2024 - adjusted according to the criteria agreed in the contract and amounting to 18.2 million - the purchase price is approximately EUR 126.5 million.
The final consideration, fully due at closing, will be determined on the basis of the net financial position as updated and adjusted according to the same criteria set out in the contract. The acquisition will be financed through a combination of available cash and credit lines granted to Nextchem.
The transaction will be finalised in the first half of 2026, if the usual conditions precedent are met.
The company acquired
Founded in 1960 and based in Milan, Italy, Ballestra Spa is the head of a group of companies that includes Buss ChemTech AG (Switzerland) and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd (India). The Ballestra Group operates in more than 120 countries with around 450 employees and offices in Europe and Asia. counting on an established customer portfolio and a proven track record of more than 6,400 plants installed worldwide. It also benefits from strong intellectual property and R&D expertise, constantly supported by proprietary pilot plants in Italy and Switzerland, which serve as innovation centres for testing and scaling new technological processes. Ballestra's consolidated order book of EUR 275 million at the end of September 2025 was further strengthened in the fourth quarter and is expected to exceed EUR 315 million by the end of the year. Operating revenue 2025 is estimated at about EUR 235 million.
Ballestra has a long tradition in detergents, surfactants 1 and oleochemicals 2, for the chemical industry and major fast-moving consumer goods companies through licensing, engineering services and proprietary equipment sold under the well-known Mazzoni brand and assembled at the company's facilities in Busto Arsizio (Varese, Italy). In addition, Ballestra's chemical division specialises in advanced processes for the production of sulphuric and phosphoric acid, key components in the production of phosphate solutions, Npk (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) nutrients, and speciality fertilisers. The integration of Ballestra's phosphate-sulphur and potassium fertiliser technologies expands Nextchem's technology portfolio and completes its nitrogen fertiliser offering.
Buss ChemTech, the Swiss subsidiary of Ballestra taken over in 2021, is a world leader in fluorine derivatives and gas-liquid reaction plants. Among fluorine derivatives in particular, hexafluorophosphate is an essential element for the production of solar cells, lithium-ion batteries and specialty gases for the modernisation of electricity grids and the growing demand for electrification. The company is also active in pyrolysis technologies for hard-to-recycle plastic waste, supporting the circular economy and industry decarbonisation efforts.
The acquisition of the Ballestra Group brings a strong portfolio of proprietary technologies that further expands Nextchem's value proposition in the chemical and fertiliser sectors, adding complementary new products to its portfolio, fully covering the potash, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphate segments and supporting electrification, recycling, emissions reduction and energy efficiency, while creating cross-selling opportunities with Maire's IE&CS division, thanks to the Ballestra Group's strong track record.
