Wedoany.com Report-Dec.27, MAIRE SpA (Milan) recently announced that its subsidiary NEXTCHEM has signed a binding agreement to fully acquire the Ballestra Group.

The Ballestra Group, a leader in the licensing, design, and engineering of process plants globally, boasts over 60 years of industry experience. Its operations span more than 120 countries, with a workforce of approximately 450 employees and multiple offices in Europe and Asia. Supported by strong intellectual property and R&D capabilities, the group operates pilot plants in Italy and Switzerland, continuously driving technological innovation in detergents, surfactants, and oleochemicals. Its products are sold under the Mazzoni brand and assembled at its own factory in Busto Arsizio, Italy, serving numerous global blue-chip clients. The group has installed over 6,400 units worldwide. In the fertilizer sector, Ballestra is a key technology provider for the production of phosphate solutions, NPK compound fertilizers, and specialty fertilizers, thanks to its advanced processes for sulfuric and phosphoric acid production. Its technology integration will complete NEXTCHEM's layout in the fertilizer industry chain.

The core value of this acquisition lies in Ballestra's advanced processes for sulfuric and phosphoric acid production. These two acids are key raw materials for phosphate solutions, NPK compound fertilizers, and specialty fertilizers. The integration of this technology will complete NEXTCHEM's portfolio in the nitrogen fertilizer sector and extend its reach across the entire fertilizer value chain, including potassium, sulfur, and phosphates. Furthermore, Ballestra's Swiss subsidiary, BUSS ChemTech, holds a significant position in the production of fluorine derivatives (such as hexafluorophosphate), a raw material widely used in solar cells, lithium-ion batteries, and the manufacturing of specialty gases related to electrification. BUSS ChemTech is also actively developing pyrolysis technology for hard-to-recycle plastic waste.

According to the agreement, the enterprise value of the Ballestra Group is set at €108.3 million, with an adjusted consolidated net cash position of €18.2 million, resulting in a final acquisition price of approximately €126.5 million. The funding will be sourced from NEXTCHEM's own cash reserves and credit facilities. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. As of the end of September 2025, Ballestra's consolidated order backlog reached €275 million, with full-year revenue estimated at around €235 million.

Alessandro Bernini, CEO of MAIRE, stated: "The acquisition of the Ballestra Group aligns with our business plan and is highly synergistic with NEXTCHEM's strategic objectives. By leveraging proprietary technologies to drive decarbonization and deepening our entry into emerging markets such as electrification and recycling, we are building a European technology platform with global impact, transforming innovation into industrial reality. The technological integration in the fertilizer sector, in particular, will significantly enhance our market competitiveness."