Phoenix International SpA, an extrusion die manufacturer in Verdello, Italy, was acquired by Ambienta SGR SpA, one of Europe’s largest sustainability focused private equity investors.
“The acquisition of Phoenix International marks Ambienta’s entry in the aluminum industry, showcasing that long-term sustainable materials are transforming a number of sectors, driving energy savings and substituting less-environmental materials across industrial applications,” said Mauro Roversi, partner and chief investment officer at Ambienta. “Our goal is to further accelerate the internationalization of Phoenix and establish the firm as a market leader worldwide.”
Ambienta initiated the acquisition due to its confidence in the growth of the aluminum market, with aluminum demand more than doubling in the last 15 years. In the transport sector, aluminum alloys are used to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel efficiency and meet the increasingly stringent CO2 regulatory emission targets. One kilogram of aluminum alloys typically substitutes 1.8-2kg of steel, allowing for an average of 1.5%-2.5% reduction in fuel consumption and a corresponding decrease in CO2 emissions. In the construction industry, aluminum is increasingly preferred vs. plastic in the facades of high-rise buildings, given the metal’s durability and fire-resistant properties. These properties also drive aluminum adoption in various industrial applications, such as general engineering, power distribution, and other.
The company stated that extruded aluminum in particular is outpacing other forms of aluminum in terms of growth, thanks to its flexibility and convenience. Extrusion dies are a critical component in aluminum extrusion, while accounting for a tiny portion of extruders’ cost. Phoenix’s reference market for aluminum extrusion dies is estimated at over EUR 1 billion and forecasted to grow by 4-5% over the next five years.
Phoenix was founded in 1972 and headquartered in Verdello, Italy. The company is a market leader in Europe for the design and manufacturing of aluminum extrusion dies, with a focus on complex and technologically advanced dies. The company has eight plants in Europe, the U.S. and the Middle East, and a centralized in-house design center. Phoenix employs over 700 people serving 250 customers worldwide.
“Over the last years, Phoenix has consolidated its position as a leader in the dies market through acquisitions in Germany and the U.S. and the development of a greenfield plant in the Middle-East,” said Roberto Rusticelli, CEO of Phoenix International. “I am very excited to partner with Ambienta for the next stage of Phoenix’s growth and am very pleased that the management team had the opportunity to invest in the transaction alongside Ambienta and continue to lead the company. We are very well positioned to further consolidate our market share in Europe and expand in the U.S. and Middle East markets.”