Stout Advises In.Pack Machinery on Its Acquisition of Karlville Swiss

December 14, 2022

Stout announced that In.Pack Machinery (“In.Pack”), a portfolio company of Ambienta SGR SpA (“Ambienta”), has acquired Karlville Swiss. In.Pack is a leading manufacturer of packaging machinery with a unique sustainability proposition. Stout served as exclusive M&A financial advisor to In.Pack and Ambienta in connection with this transaction.

Headquartered in Balerna, Switzerland, Karlville Swiss, a fast-growing manufacturer of machines for pre-made pouches, was founded in 2018 by long-standing industry professionals Gianfranco Locatelli and Gustavo Guzzi, in partnership with Karlville US. The company quickly established itself in the market as a strong player due to its innovative offering in terms of ease of use, reduced waste, and fit with digital printing. Karlville Swiss boasts a premium customer base and a global reach with 50% of its sales in North America and the balance among Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Pouches are among the fastest-growing product categories in flexible packaging, as they substitute rigid containers in the food, pet-food, personal care, and homecare segments, allowing for up to 80% reduction in plastic usage and further significant environmental benefits across logistic value chains. Furthermore, pouches are increasingly produced in mono-layered films or laminated paper, allowing for improved recyclability – both areas in which Karlville Swiss machines have a compelling competitive positioning.

Following the acquisition, the Karlville Swiss management team will continue to lead the business, while former owner Karlville US will support In.Pack in strengthening its reach in the U.S. as a commercial partner.

"Karlville Swiss represents a strong fit with our strategy of becoming a one-stop-shop for the most demanding packaging producers globally, as they seek to embrace sustainability across their diversified product offering,” said Jerome Onoratini, Group CEO for In.Pack/HolwegWeber. “I welcome Gianfranco, Gustavo and all their team and look forward to further growing the business together.”

“We at Stout are particularly proud of having advised private equity firm Ambienta and its portfolio company In.Pack in this cross-border transaction, which has a real strategic rationale in terms of environmental sustainability and industrial fit, with a combined significant international reach,” said Giacomo Mogni, who serves as Managing Director and Co-Head of Stout’s Milan office and who led the transaction. Stout’s Mike Benson and Elliot Grove also advised on the transaction.

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