Provider of “clean label” solutions to industrial bakeries and other customers to replace synthetic preservatives with natural ingredients for preservation, taste and nutritional value enhancement of bakery products.

Objective

As a result of the simultaneous acquisition of Millbo (Italy) and its first customer BioNaturals (US), create a global player active in the compelling niche of natural ingredients for industrial bakery, which is expected to grow double-digit over the next years on the back of clearly identified trends (clean label, increased focus on natural / healthier food / etc.). Partner with experienced entrepreneurs, while supporting the transition from a family-run business to an independent and well-managed organization and preserving the company’s R&D DNA, which is reflected in its superior profitability and cash flow generation profile.

ENTRY
Dec 2020
TREND

Increasing Market Cycle Risk; Sustainability

COUNTRY

Italy

SECTOR

Consumer; Niche Industrials

The Team

Riccardo Collini - Apheon Team
Riccardo Collini
Partner | 
Italy
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Fabrizio Bertozzi - Apheon Team
Fabrizio Bertozzi
Director | 
Italy
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Emanuele Lembo - Apheon Team
Emanuele Lembo
Senior Partner | 
Italy, Spain
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Alessia Negri - Apheon Team
Alessia Negri
Principal | 
Italy
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Related News

Our manifesto: contributing to the development of sustainable finance

Sustainability generates long-term and higher value

Apheon’s ambition is to contribute to the development of sustainable finance by placing sustainability at the core of its strategy and demonstrating by example that it delivers higher and better value for portfolio companies and investors.
 
We are convinced that businesses that respect the planet, that look after their employees and that support their communities will in turn attract the best talent, differentiate themselves from their competition and ultimately emerge as the strongest in the future.

A holistic and collective approach

To succeed with this strategy, Apheon believes a holistic and collective approach is fundamental.

Holistic: it is essential that all aspects of ESG are equally and continuously supported. This is why we are active at every stage of the investment cycle by applying proprietarily developed methodologies and initiatives which are built on 5 priorities covering the broad ESG spectrum:

  • Sustainable revenues (strategy): increasing, when applicable, the share of revenues which directly benefit the environment and/or society

  • Carbon (environment): reducing emissions

  • Talent (social): creating a positive working environment which will attract, develop and retain the best talent

  • Youth, diversity and inclusion (societal): fostering a more inclusive society

  • Transparency (governance): reporting on metrics transparently, and being transparent on potential obstacles
Collective: we believe that it is only through collective action that we can create significant impact. This is why it is our intention to pull together Apheon’s entire ecosystem to undertake our ESG initiatives. This includes mobilizing our employees, portfolio companies, investors, external experts, charitable organizations, public institutions and peers. At this time of global transition, we believe that sustainable finance plays a key role in advancing towards a sustainable planet and society. Financial players, in particular private equity firms such as Apheon, are in a position to drive forward action by leveraging their business model of transforming companies. Apheon is keen to play such role and to move forward every day with humility but also conviction.