New add-on for Industry 4.0 Fund: SKA buys Avitech

The Quadrivio Group private equity fund acquires a majority stake in Avitech S.r.l., an Italian company leading in the design and manufacture of poultry farm systems

Quadrivio Group has acquired 60% of Avitech S.r.l. ‒ an Italian leader in the design and production of poultry farming systems ‒ through SKA, the group's company specialized in poultry plants and equipment.

SKA was bought in 2022 by Industry 4.0 Fund, the Quadrivio Group private equity vehicle investing in digital transition and technological innovation for SMEs. The fund currently has five other companies in its portfolio: F&DE Group, a leader in outsourced hotel catering services; Rototech, an Italian company that designs and produces plastic parts for the industrial, construction and farming sectors; Texbond, one of the main European manufacturers of nonwoven fabrics for the medical and hygiene fields; Soft N.W., specialized in producing and distributing nonwovens for the construction and agriculture industries; and lastly Twist, a firm specialized in sales of reconditioned smartphones, tablets, notebooks, PCs and smartwatches. Industry 4.0 Fund completed its first exit operation in 2023, selling EPI, which manages the official online and brick & mortar stores for the most prominent Italian football clubs and other important international-level teams.

Avitech S.r.l. produces facilities for hen-egg farming, with both conventional installations and alternative cage-free solutions, pullet-rearing systems, and egg conveyor equipment. The company manages the whole manufacturing process, from design to development through to installation, offering a broad range of services aimed at delivering to the end customer a highly customized product complying with all animal welfare regulations.

Avitech is on track to close 2025 on a turnover of €8 million and a double-digit profit margin. This acquisition will enable SKA to offer a complete product range in the hen-egg farming sector, with the scope to further penetrate certain specific markets and expand the company's know-how in this important sector.

SKA also bought another add on in November 2023: ISA, which manufactures steel structures for farming and animal-husbandry uses.

Roberto Crapelli, Managing Partner of Quadrivio Group, stated: "Quadrivio and SKA's management have worked very hard to achieve this new buy and build operation, which will ensure an acceleration in value creation for the portfolio company, SKA. The operation fits perfectly with the SKA business model as it enables expansion of the product range offered to customers and means precious know-how can be added into the entire production chain."

Massimo Ubiali, CEO of SKA, added: "The Avitech acquisition takes the SKA group to consolidate its leading position in the supply of poultry farming facilities and systems. The new acquisition will also enable significant expansion of the product range specific to egg farming, allowing the group to penetrate markets and reach clients that are currently inaccessible. I'm particularly pleased that people with over 20 years' experience in the technical and commercial areas will be joining the SKA team ‒ they will significantly contribute to the entire group's development. The investments made in the manufacturing process in recent years mean we will be able to internalize production of the Avitech range, achieving industrial synergies and top-level quality on the market. Today, the SKA group stands as offering the broadest range of poultry farming products, manufactured at its own plants."

Floriano Zappettini  and  Mauro Bellini, respectively Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, are also satisfied with the operation and state: “This operation excites and motivates us further. The common objectives will fuel and accelerate the growth of the Group and the companies involved.” 
Both will remain within the Management, contributing to carrying forward, thanks to their many years of experience, the industrial development objectives set.

The SKA and Industry 4.0 Fund teams were supported for the legal due diligence and in defining the contractual aspects by Fivers Studio Legale. The financial due diligence and tax due diligence were carried out by MAC-LAB, while the labour law due diligence was conducted by Geco & Associati. The sellers were assisted by Studio Associato Piccinelli & C. of Brescia.