Nextchem (MAIRE) completes acquisition of Ballestra Group including Mazzoni and BUSS ChemTech
- Purchase price €148.2 million, based on an enterprise value of €108.2 million and adjusted net cash of €40.0 million.
- Ballestra group brings approximately 460 employees: ~300 in Italy, 50 in Switzerland and 110 in India.
- Ballestra’s backlog stood at approximately €270 million at the end of March 2026.
- Acquisition expands technology coverage to the full NPK spectrum and adds fluorine derivatives, gas–liquid reactors and Mazzoni-branded oleochemistry solutions.
Transaction
Nextchem has completed the acquisition of Ballestra group. The purchase price of €148.2 million reflects an enterprise value of €108.2 million and adjusted net cash of €40.0 million. Funding came from cash-on-hand and dedicated bank credit facilities.
Technology and markets
Ballestra expands Nextchem’s technology platform to cover phosphate and potassium fertilizers and completes full NPK coverage. The group also brings sulfuric, phosphoric and hydrofluoric acid know‑how, fluorine-based technologies relevant to lithium‑ion batteries and photovoltaic applications, and oleochemistry solutions for detergents, surfactants and soaps under the Mazzoni brand.
Operations and assets
Ballestra operates in over 120 countries with about 6,400 plants installed historically and proprietary pilot and demonstration plants in Busto Arsizio, Milan and Basel that support R&D and scale‑up. BUSS ChemTech (Switzerland) provides gas–liquid reaction expertise and fluorine derivatives; Ballestra has operations and engineering capacity across Italy, Switzerland and India.
People and integration
The acquisition integrates roughly 460 professionals and creates cross‑selling opportunities with Tecnimont, MAIRE’s IE&CS unit. Ballestra will continue under Paolo Iengo’s leadership.
Source: Maire