NEXTCHEM buys Ballestra Group for 126.5 million euro to strengthen its technology

MAIRE Group (MAIRE.MI) published a statement that its sustainable technology subsidiary NEXTCHEM has agreed to acquire 100% of Ballestra Group in a transaction valuing the target at an enterprise value of €108.3 million, as the Italian engineering group expands its capabilities in specialty chemicals, fertilizers, and energy transition technologies.

The deal, announced on December 24, is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary conditions. The final purchase price is estimated at about €126.5 million, adjusted for Ballestra’s net cash position, and will be funded through a mix of cash and credit facilities.

Ballestra Group comprises Ballestra S.p.A. in Italy, Buss ChemTech AG in Switzerland, and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd. in India. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Milan, the group employs about 450 people and operates in more than 120 countries, with a reported base of more than 6,400 installed plants worldwide.

The acquisition adds a broad portfolio of proprietary technologies and intellectual property to NEXTCHEM, including processes for sustainable fertilizers, bio-based detergents, fluorine derivatives, and gas–liquid reactor design. Ballestra is also known for the Mazzoni brand of proprietary equipment used in detergent and surfactant production.

MAIRE said Ballestra’s chemicals division will strengthen NEXTCHEM’s position in phosphate-, sulfur-, and potassium-based fertilizer technologies, complementing its existing nitrogen-focused offering. Ballestra’s processes support the production of phosphate-based solutions, NPK nutrients, and specialty fertilizers.

Through its Swiss subsidiary Buss ChemTech, Ballestra is also active in fluorine derivatives, including hexafluorophosphate used in lithium-ion batteries, solar cells, and specialty gases for power grid upgrades. Buss ChemTech is additionally involved in pyrolysis technologies for hard-to-recycle plastic waste, supporting circular economy and decarbonization efforts.

Ballestra reported a consolidated backlog of €275 million at the end of September 2025, which MAIRE said is expected to exceed €315 million by year-end. Full-year 2025 revenues are projected at about €235 million.

“The acquisition of Ballestra Group is consistent with the business plan already announced and a perfect strategic fit with NEXTCHEM’s purpose of enabling decarbonization through proprietary technologies,” MAIRE chief executive Alessandro Bernini said in a statement. He added that the deal would deepen access to fast-growing markets linked to electrification, recycling, and efficiency improvements.