FORUM Family Office acquires majority stake in B+B International, provider of software and hardware solutions for packaging companies.
FORUM Family Office ("FORUM") has acquired a majority stake in B+B International S.r.l. ("BBI") , based in Montebelluna, Italy. The transaction establishes a partnership with the four existing shareholders, who will remain active both as shareholders and managers.
BBI was founded in 1993 by Luciano Bortolini and Enrico Basso and today employs around 65 people with a turnover of around € 18 million. BBI serves around 500 customers in Italy.
The company offers a solution package consisting of software and hardware for customers with folding carton and corrugated board operations . The solutions offered combine the proprietary ERP software "Packway" with CAD systems from Esko and cutting tables from Kongsberg.
As always, FORUM's investment ensures continuity: the company's management, employees and headquarters remain unchanged. The same applies to the strategy of offering a solution package of software and hardware for higher productivity, with Kongsberg and Esko remaining key partners.
In addition, FORUM will use its network and experience to support BBI in the long-term growth of its business and in accelerating its internationalization : Industry consolidation at customer level has created large, international groups that require international solution partners that meet their size and requirements.
Luciano Bortolini (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Davide Dal Col (CEO), Enrico Basso (CTO) and Andrea Tizian (COO) will remain shareholders and managers.
Davide's comments on this transaction:
"The opportunity to work with Forum is of strategic importance to us, as it allows us to continue to put the customer at the center of our strategy. The partnership creates the opportunity to continue long-term projects for product innovation and internationalization. We can make use of FORUM's organization, expertise and network. The opportunity to work with an honest, consistent and entrepreneurial investor was the decisive factor in choosing FORUM after careful consideration of several alternatives."
FORUM invests the assets of a Munich family in medium-sized family businesses throughout Europe. FORUM's investment principles are: "sustainable, decentralized and entrepreneurial". These principles define "family equity" as an alternative to private equity — FORUM's approach to succession in family businesses. BBI is FORUM's fifth acquisition in the Italian software sector.
