The private investment firm B.Group, together with a pool of entrepreneurs with proven industrial experience, acquires a majority stake in IFP Europe, the leader in the Italian market for green industrial washing machines, to accelerate the growth of this Italian success story in international markets.
Galliera Veneta (Padua), Italy, June 23, 2022.
B.Group and a pool of entrepreneurs today acquired 70% of the capital of IFP Europe.
Alongside B.Group, IFP Europe’s new shareholders include several entrepreneurs with successful track records in international industrial groups, among them Franco Stefani (Gruppo System, Modula), Giancarlo De Martis (formerly of Coesia), the Vitali-Manfroni family (FINDI) and the Domenichini family (GDTRE).
The new shareholders join founding partner Giacomo Sabadin and current partner Fabio Pontarolo, who hold a 30% stake and will remain central to the company’s future management.
In particular, Giacomo Sabadin will serve as CEO with full responsibility for day-to-day management, while Fabio Pontarolo will take on the role of International Sales Manager.
The new shareholders plan a strong focus on international expansion (currently 25% of revenue), building on the existing industrial and entrepreneurial assets and investing in the sales and production structure. They also aim to grow through targeted acquisitions in complementary business segments and regions, with the ambitious goal of turning IFP Europe into a solid “pocket multinational”.
IFP Europe s.r.l., founded in 2010, is an Italian company based in Galliera Veneta, near Padua, that designs, manufactures and sells machines for cleaning industrial components. Its innovative technology uses modified alcohols and hydrocarbons under vacuum, is fully automated and environmentally sustainable, and completely eliminates process waste. Within a few years, IFP Europe has become a leader in the Italian industrial washing machine market and one of the main players in Europe, consolidating its technological lead, continuing to introduce new types of machines and winning high-profile customers.
B.Group S.p.A. is an entrepreneur-led private investment firm and part of Mais, the family office of Isabella Seràgnoli. It invests directly in selected small and medium-sized enterprises with a high level of innovation and a strong international focus, boosting their development and growth by providing patient long-term capital, expertise, methodologies and a network of international relationships, with a strong commitment to sustainability. By supporting outstanding businesses in Italy’s industrial regions, it helps increase the social impact of Italian enterprise.