Platinum Equity to Acquire Farnese Vini

LOS ANGELES (January 10, 2020) – Platinum Equity today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Farnese Group from NB Renaissance Partners. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Pescara, Italy, Farnese markets and distributes wines from southern and central Italy. The company acquires grapes from local farmers, oversees production and markets wines under specialty labels to customers internationally.

“Farnese has an innovative business model that has delivered impressive growth over the past two decades,” said Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson. “The company has strong leadership and a well-deserved reputation for producing award-winning Italian wine.”

Farnese Founder and CEO Valentino Sciotti will continue to lead the company following the ownership transition and will be a significant shareholder in the business.

“We have created a successful global business by combining the premium vineyards and farming techniques of local growers with our own advanced production capabilities and expertise in sales and marketing,” said Mr. Sciotti. “I am proud of everything our company has accomplished and look forward to the next phase of growth and expansion.” 

Mr. Samson said Platinum Equity’s financial and operational resources will help support Farnese’s long-term ambitions.

“Farnese is an outstanding platform operating in a highly fragmented industry, and we intend to further grow the business organically and through prospective acquisitions,” Mr. Samson added.

Platinum Equity’s proposed acquisition of Farnese is the latest example of the firm’s increasing momentum in Europe and its ability to execute both large and small cap transactions. In 2019 Platinum Equity acquired Genoa, Italy-based global marine contractor De Wave Group and Pontevedra, Spain-based seafood provider Iberconsa.

The firm also previously acquired Zug, Switzerland and Chesterbrook, PA-based blood glucose monitoring company LifeScan from Johnson & Johnson for $2.1 billion and Wyndham’s European vacation rental business for $1.3 billion.

Fineurop Soditic, Equita SIM, Unicredit, Deloitte, PwC Tax and Latham & Watkins are serving as advisors to Platinum Equity on the proposed acquisition of Farnese.

About Platinum Equity
Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with more than $19 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. The firm is currently investing from Platinum Equity Capital Partners V, a $10 billion global buyout fund, and Platinum Equity Small Cap Fund, a $1.5 billion buyout fund focused on investment opportunities in the lower middle market. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations – a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O^® – acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 25 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 250 acquisitions.