Platinum acquires majority stake in canning giant F.lli Polli

Shareholding reorganisation for F.lli Polli, a leading international company in the vegetable preserves market. The US fund Platinum Equity, which will take over a majority stake in the group in order to accelerate its international expansion, which is already underway, has joined the company.

The transaction sees the significant reinvestment of the Polli family (with more than 20%), CEO Marco Fraccaroli and part of the management team, who will retain a significant qualified and strategic minority stake with the exclusive management of the company, guaranteeing continuity to a business that has enabled the Polli group to become a leading player in its reference market, confirmed by the growth path that has seen turnover double in the last five years, reaching over 190 million euro in 2023 with an Ebitda of over 23 million, thanks above all to development in international markets, with an export share of 80%. The expectation is to exceed 200 million in turnover in the last financial year.

In an effort to accelerate the path of expansion, started on international markets at the beginning of this century under the leadership of Marco Polli, the company has chosen to join forces with a financial partner such as Platinum Equity for the tuning of growth projects.

Platinum Equity will support Polli and management in a major strategic development plan, which envisages solid organic growth as well as the strengthening of the company's geographical presence in Europe and the United States. The goal is to further expand the product lines, equipping the group with new technological capabilities with major investments that will allow the creation of a global platform of reference in Made in Italy food.

'The history of Polli,' explains Manuela Polli, Managing Director of F.lli Polli, 'is characterised by constant growth in terms of results. Platinum is an important partner and together we will take the group to a new dimension of global leadership. The important path will be guided by the will to continue to satisfy our customers, in the name of innovation and sustainability, while maintaining the relationship with all stakeholders, who will be able to continue to interface with the same management". "The company is a solid platform from which to continue investing in growth both organically and through acquisitions in Europe and the US," says Filippo Rossi of Platinum Equity. Polli was supported on the financial side by Mediobanca and on the legal side by LCA. Platinum Equity was assisted by Deloitte and Clearwater, Latham & Watkins for the legal aspects and EY Tax for the tax aspects.