BOLOGNA , Italy – BC Partners will team up with the largest shareholder in Italy’s IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA to acquire the machinery maker and take it private, in a deal valuing the company at about 2.9 billion euros ($3.4 billion) that marks one of private equity’s largest moves on a European listed company since the coronavirus crisis began.
The statement issued by BC Partners reads as follows:
The Board of Directors of IMA S.p.A. (“IMA”) announces that it has been advised by its controlling shareholder, So.Fi.M.A. Società Finanziaria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (“SOFIMA”) that the shareholders of SOFIMA have, as of today, reached an agreement to sell approximately 20% of their shareholding in SOFIMA, to funds advised by BC Partners LLP (“BC Partners”), a leading international investment firm.
SOFIMA owns approximately 51.6% of the share capital and approximately 67% of the voting rights of IMA, a world leader in the design and manufacturing of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tea, coffee and foods, and a material presence in electric motor production processes. The Transaction is subject to customary regulatory conditions, including antitrust clearances. The parties currently anticipate that the Transaction will close in November 2020.
Alberto Vacchi, Chairman of IMA, said, “The transaction is a great outcome for the company and its employees who will benefit greatly from having BC Partners as a partner in the next phase of IMA’s development as an innovator. In the process of finding the best partner to work with SOFIMA and IMA, it was important to find a party that would allow IMA to remain independent, with continuity for management and employees, and accelerate its growth strategy as a leading global consolidator in the processing and packaging industry. I am very pleased to be working together with BC Partners in accelerating IMA’s global expansion in our current strategic sectors and new areas. I believe it will benefit IMA to begin this new phase of our growth from a position of strength, with an entirely digital-oriented design, to meet the demands of the new generation.”
Stefano Ferraresi, Partner of BC Partners, said, “IMA is a great example of an Italian company that has achieved a position of global leadership thanks to its engineering know-how, investment in research, and strong local supply chain network. The business has many of the characteristics we look for in a BC Partners’ investment: a sector leader, a strong management team and multiple value creation levers. We are honoured to have been chosen as SOFIMA’s partner and look forward to supporting Alberto Vacchi and his excellent management team in their continued expansion of the group, both organically and through acquisitions.”
Following the closing of the Transaction, SOFIMA (and the selling shareholders and BC Partners) will be required to launch a mandatory tender offer (the “MTO”) to acquire all the remaining outstanding share capital of IMA (currently representing approximately 48.4%).
The purchase price of the MTO will be 68.00 euros per share (inclusive of dividend) (the “MTO Price”), which represents a premium of 26.3% and 20.8% over the average trading price of IMA’s shares over the past month and six (6) months, respectively. In the event that prior to closing of the Transaction or the MTO a distribution of the 2019 dividend of IMA were to occur, the MTO Price will be reduced by the amount of such dividend distribution.
The goal of the MTO is to achieve a delisting from the Milan Stock Exchange, which may also be achieved through a merger of IMA into the special purpose vehicle which will be launching the MTO.
BC Partners will have a significant representation on the board of directors and a series of governance rights. Following the MTO, BC Partners may increase its ownership up to approximately 45% of SOFIMA’s share capital. The current SOFIMA shareholders will remain owners of approximately 55% of the shares of SOFIMA.
The Transaction values the Equity of IMA at 2.93 billion euros.
The financing of the transaction was arranged by J.P. Morgan, BNP PARIBAS, UniCredit Corporate & Investment Banking, Mediobanca and Morgan Stanley.
BC Partners is advised by White & Case LLP as legal advisor, PricewaterhouseCooper as financial advisor, and Facchini Rossi Michelutti and Tremonti, Romagnoli Piccardi e Associati as tax advisors. The shareholders of SOFIMA are advised by advisor Poggi & Associati (which acted also as tax advisor) and NCTM Studio Legale as legal advisor.
Preliminary financial information for the first half of 2020
Based on preliminary data, which are still under review by Ernst&Young and to the final approval of the board of IMA at the next regularly-scheduled board meeting on August 5, 2020, IMA expects the following results for the first six months of 2020: revenues equal to 636,4 million euros (compared to 694 million euros on June 30, 2019), EBITDA (before non-recurring charges) equal to 78.1 million euros (compared to 92.3 million euros on June 30, 2019), net financial indebtedness equal to 667.1 million euros (compared to 377.3 million euros on June 30, 2019), and an order book of 914.6 million (compared to 985.5 million euros on June 30, 2019).
Ima confirms FY 2020 forecast and business plan consensus for 2021-2022
Based on current trading and on the current order book (including preliminary half year results), the board of directors of IMA which met today confirmed the 2020 full year forecast announced on May 12, 2020.
Based on information currently available, the Board of Directors maintains that 2020 full year results should not be significantly lower than the prior forecast, expecting a reduction of EBITDA of not more than 10%.
Based on IMA’s current business plan and assumptions and a review and analysis of current consensus guidance for 2021 and 2022, the board of directors of IMA which met today estimates that our Revenues and EBITDA for the full year 2021 and 2022 will be substantially in line with current public consensus expectations of market research performed by analysts covering IMA. As stated in publicly available sources, market research estimates for 2021 Revenues range from 1.570 billion euros to 1.758 billion euros and for 2021 EBITDA range from 254 million euros to 312 million euros, and market research estimates for 2022 Revenues range from 1.659 billion euros to 1.818 billion euros and for 2022 EBITDA range from 293 million euros to 348 million euros.
2020 Calendar of company events
Pursuant to art. 2.6.2, para 1 b), of the Regulations for Markets organizated and run by Borsa Italiana S.p.A., we communicate that the todays’ Board of Directors of IMA has also approved to modify the calendar of IMA company events for 2020, anticipating at 5 August the approval of Half-Year Financial Report at 30 June 2020. The calendar of the company events for 2020 is available on the website www.ima.it, in the Investor Relations section (Events).
The manager responsible for the preparation of the Company’s accounting documents, Sergio Marzo, declares in accordance with article 154 bis, paragraph 2 of the Consolidated Financial Act that the accounting information contained in this press release coincides with the books of accounts, the accounting entries and the supporting documentation.
