Owned by the Pesenti family, Italmobiliare is increasing its stake in the 400-year-old pharmaceutical and beauty company. Upon closing of the transaction, Italmobiliare will control an 80% stake in the historic brand.

WHO: Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella company was founded by Dominican friars after they arrived in Florence in 1221 and settled in the Santa Maria Novella location, cultivating herbs to prepare medicines for their monastery’s infirmary. After manufacturing successful recipes such as aromatic waters and a bergamot-based fragrance for the Queen of France Catherine de’ Medici in 1533, which is still a bestseller, the apothecary opened to the public as a commercial activity in 1612. The assortment consists of more than 600 different products including body care, fragrances, candles, ambient fragrances, and liqueurs.

Italmobiliare Investment Holding is an investment group owned by the Pesenti family that makes medium/long-term investments as a strategic partner for entrepreneurs. It operates through two main segments: industrial and services for industry, and financial and private equity.

WHY: In the last two years, Italmobiliare invested more than 400 million euros in Made in Italy brands, adding to a portfolio that currently represents an aggregate turnover of around 1.6 billion euros.

DETAILS:

• Italmobiliare is investing 120 million euros to acquire an additional 60% stake in Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.
• Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is Italmobiliare’s first investment in the beauty industry. Italmobiliare took a 20% stake in the company in January 2020.
• In 2019, Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella registered a consolidated pro-forma turnover of more than 31 million euros with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of around 13 million euros.
• The brand employs more than 100 people and has distribution in 300 stores in the world.
• 61 percent of the brand’s sales are in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, 21 percent in Asia—led by South Korea and Japan—and the rest in the US.