A successful buy-and-build story in the food ingredients sector
Deal Flash: AromataGroup acquires Nactis Flavours S.A
AromataGroup, a leading Italian player in the food ingredients sector, has acquired Nactis Flavours S.A., a French producer of aromatic raw materials, ingredients and flavors for the food & beverage industry.
AromataGroup manufactures and distributes flavors, aromatic extracts and colorings for the food & beverage industry. The group has five production plants in Italy, serving over 1,500 customers across Europe. The product portfolio of natural flavors and colorings meets the growing demand for natural raw materials in the food industry. Backed by Ambienta SGR, AromataGroup started a buy-and-build project to become the main European player in natural, healthy and tasty food ingredients.
The completion of the Nactis deal took years, from beginning to completion, for many reasons that were mostly out of our control. Oaklins’ team in Italy accompanied us in this process – from the initial contact to closing – with professionalism, patience and many proactive proposals. Without their cooperation, the deal would never have happened.HANS UDO WENZEL, PRESIDENT & CEO, AROMATAGROUP, ITALY
Headquartered in Bondoufle, France, Nactis Flavours develops aromatic raw materials, flavors and ingredients for the food industry. The company operates five plants in France and Belgium, serving over 2,500 clients that range from global players and consumer goods sectors to small, artisanal producers. The combined entity will be renamed Nactarome Group. With over US$110 million in revenues in 2019 and a customer base exceeding 4,000 clients, Nactarome will be able to address clients’ needs through a comprehensive offering of natural ingredients across multiple applications.
Market trends & deal drivers
Sustainability trends are influencing the food & beverage industry, requiring producers to move away from synthetic raw materials. As the demand for natural and healthier products grows rapidly, AromataGroup’s range helps food producers to substitute synthetic raw materials with natural and healthier solutions. Health concerns are amplified by the rise in spending on processed and ready-to-eat foods. This requires food producers to respond quickly to rapid changes in consumers’ preferences, such as using transparency in labeling. With its international presence and broad product portfolio, Nactarome Group will become a benchmark in the European natural food ingredients market.
M&A Valuation aspects
The valuation of this transaction has not been disclosed. However, valuation multiples in the food ingredients space are high for both private M&A transactions and listed companies. As ingredients exert significant influence on end consumers, the acquisition of new customers by food ingredients producers faces formidable barriers. Consolidation is seen as the key growth driver to acquire new clients, as well as to achieve critical mass and international presence.
Oaklins found the best partner to develop the business
Oaklins´ food & beverage team in Italy assisted the shareholders of AromataGroup throughout the acquisition process. Oaklins had assisted AromataGroup in previous acquisitions, in line with the group’s buy-and-build strategy.
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