Abenex, a long-standing European private equity fund, B-Corp certified and specialized in growth and buyout transactions, announces the acquisition of the majority of Zato S.p.A., an Italian company headquartered in Brescia, and leader in the design and development of solutions for the recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The sellers are LBO France and the founder, Valerio Zanaglio. Valerio Zanaglio and Alessandra Bresciani reinvest in the transaction.
Founded in 1999, Zato has established itself as a global benchmark in the circular economy thanks to a product portfolio that includes shredders, hammermills and shears. Based on a strategy focused on technological innovation and internationalization, Zato achieved revenues of approximately €50 million, showing strong growth. Leveraging proprietary IoT / predictive maintenance processes, Zato has been able to deliver cutting-edge solutions for the metal recycling industry. With a presence in more than 50 countries, a commercial subsidiary in the United States, and over 90% of revenues generated internationally, the group stands as a technological excellence in its sector. Zato is globally recognized for its strong drive for innovation, in-house engineering capabilities, the quality of its products and after-sales service, an increasing commitment to ESG and circular economy topics.
With this transaction, Abenex intends to support Zato in a new phase of development, with the aim of further strengthening its presence on international markets and accelerating the technological innovation of its solutions.
“We are proud to embark on this new chapter with Abenex, a partner who shares our industrial values, our strategic vision, and our DNA strongly rooted in ESG. Together, we will further consolidate Zato’s position as a global leader in sustainable solutions for metal recycling,” said Valerio Zanaglio, founder of Zato.
“Zato is an example of Italian industrial excellence, with a unique positioning in a strategic and fundamental niche of the circular economy, supported by very solid market drivers. This investment is perfectly aligned with Abenex’s strategy and approach to sustainable development. We will support Valerio Zanaglio and the management team in growing the company, building on the existing platform and further contributing to its international expansion,” stated Antonio Catalli, Managing Director at Abenex Italy.
“We are committed to fully supporting Zato’s team in the next growth phase, enabling it to further strengthen its position as a leader in the circular economy segment,” said Jacopo Asinari di Bernezzo, Principal at Abenex.
The transaction was financed by a pool of banks including Banco BPM, Banca IMI, Deutsche Bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, and Banca Sella. Generali Asset Management also participated in the financing.
Zato is the second investment of the Abenex VI fund in Italy, after Di Marco.
Abenex’s advisors
- Legal: Gitti and Partners (Vincenzo Giannantonio, Domenico Patruno, Giovanna Vecchio, Antonino di Salvo)
- Debt Advisory: Lincoln International (Daniele Candiani, Matteo Cupello, Davide Scroccaro, Beatrice Viale Marchino)
- Tax DD and Structuring: PwC (Alessandro Campione, Federico Hilpold, Sara Zanella)
- Financial DD: New Deal Advisors / Eight International (Guido Pelissero, Andrea Quintiliani, Marcello Pettinati)
- Commercial DD: EY-Parthenon (Nicola Cavallo, Niccolo della Rovere, Carlo Savarese)
- ESG DD: PwC (Massimo Leonardo, Stefano Decadri)
