ATOP, one of the leading manufacturers of automatic lines for the production of electric motors for various industrial applications (household appliance, power tools) and for the automotive industry, including e-mobility, was acquired by the Private Equity fund Charme and the Italian industrial group IMA, with the founders reinvesting a minority stake. Charme III, the pan-European private equity fund, in partnership with IMA, worldwide leader in the design and manufacturing of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tea and coffee, acquired 84% of ATOP while the founding shareholders reinvested retaining a 16% stake of the company’s share capital.

ATOP was advised by K Finance as financial advisor, Deloitte and Studio Legale Gattai Minoli Agostinelli & Partners as legal advisors. IMA and Charme were advised by Poggi & Associati, Legance – Avvocati Associati, AlixPartners and Ernst & Young. UniCredit financed the transaction.

Established in 1993 and headquartered in Barberino Val D’Elsa (Florence), ATOP is one of the leading players in the manufacturing of innovative machineries and automatic lines for the production of rotors and stators for electric motors. Thanks to a proprietary know-how and the continuous research for innovative technological solutions, ATOP is active in the e-mobility, automotive, household appliances and power tools industries. ATOP reached, over the last 3 years, a growth rate of more than 10%, with revenues of about Euro 48 million in 2016 and 180 employees.

Established in 1961, IMA is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacturing of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tea and coffee. The Group employs around 5,100 people, 2,600 of which based overseas, and has 38 production sites. IMA S.p.A. is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange since 1995, since 2001 in the STAR segment.

Charme Capital Partners SGR S.p.A. is the Management Company of Charme Private Equity Funds, founded in 2003 by the Montezemolo family. From offices in Milan, London and Madrid the funds invest in businesses across Europe with an enterprise value of Euro 100 million to Euro 500 million.