CP Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Giunti Group and Scarabelli Irrigazione, leading players active in the production, engineering and distribution of high quality irrigation solutions, on the sale to the private equity fund Aksia Group.

The business combination underlying the transaction between Giunti Group and Scarabelli Irrigazione, originated and run by CP Advisors, creates a leading industrial platform to further consolidate the market with additional and complementary add-on of other Italian excellences in the irrigation sector, some of which are already in advanced negotiations, and to accelerate the international growth of the business.

With a distinctive know-how, proprietary technology, state of art production and distribution facilities and engineering centers, the Group is a leading player in the traditional and precision irrigation sector, serving the agricultural, ornamental and sports markets, in particular in the golf, football and tennis fields. The Group is highly specialized in the production and marketing of irrigation systems, galvanized steel pipes and accessories, filtration stations, pumping stations, fertigation stations, ornamental fountains, misting and cooling systems, outdoor fire-fighting systems, electrical panels and lighting systems for green areas.

In 2021 the Group achieved revenues in excess of €30 million (+40%  vs. 2020) with over €6 million in EBITDA. In 2022, the Group continues its solid growth and expects to exceed revenues of €37 million (+25%) with solid margins, serving distributors, installers and large end users in over 60 countries.

The entry of Aksia Group into the share capital with a majority stake represents for the Group a further step in the growth strategy that envisions a build-up project, a further expansion of its product range and solutions to fully exploit their excellent and diversified technical know-how. All this will lead the Group, under the leadership of Scarabelli Irrigazione, to strengthening its commercial strategies and penetration of both domestic and international markets. Gian Carlo and Fausto Scarabelli will remain at the helm of the companies as CEOs; Pietro Giunti will be the President.

The CP Advisors team, led by Salvo Mazzotta and Marco Garro, and coordinated in the transaction by the director Giovanni Nucera, originated and managed the sale process assisting the Giunti and Scarabelli families.

“This acquisition – stated Marco Rayneri, Managing Partner of Aksia Group - has a strong strategic value as we have been interested for some time in this sector which represents a niche where the skills, solutions and quality of the products of Italian companies are globally recognized and valued. Our contribution aims to enhance, even outside the Italian territory, the specific know-how of this group. Furthermore, in light of the ever more incisive climate changes and the need to preserve the water heritage, to give a substantial and tangible contribution to the industry, has a  fundamental value for us. We have always supported the industrial and managerial approach for the management of our companies and the collaboration between Pietro Giunti, who for over forty years has been manager, founder and shareholder of important companies operating in the irrigation sector and Gian Carlo and Fausto Scarabelli, who, with undisputed skills, passion and competence, have led Scarabelli among the leaders in Italy, will be the beginning of a new success story”

The founders remain involved in the management of the companies, as well as retain a minority shareholding of the Group.

This is a significant opportunity for the history and future of Scarabelli - says Gian Carlo Scarabelli, founder and CEO of Scarabelli Irrigazione - Aksìa Group will contribute to the managerial strengthening of the Company, which together with the industrial relations’ network, will be essential to continue the development of the business that will allow us to consolidate and develop an increasingly solid presence in Italy and abroad, to seize the promising opportunities offered by the market".

Commenting on the transaction, Salvo Mazzotta, Managing Partner of CP Advisors added. “We are very pleased to have assisted the Giunti and Scarabelli families and the management team in this project and in the creation of an industrial platform which is ready to consolidate other excellences active in the sector. This is another extraordinary strategic project ideated by our team which has allowed several entrepreneurs to join forces with the support of a distinctive and well respected private equity firm, such as Aksia Group, to create a leading industrial platform which will be joined by other distinctive Italian and European players. Aksia Group has demonstrated a strong ability to fully understand the business’ potential of the project and to align the entrepreneurs’ interests into a common Group with significant synergies and growth potential, including pursuing complementary acquisitions both in Italy and abroad. We will be pleased to continue to support the Group in its acquisition strategy”