MML Capital successfully exits international group Nactis Flavours

January, 2020

MML Capital successfully exits international group Nactis Flavours

MML Capital has sold its 30% stake in Nactis Flavours to the European group Aromata. MML invested to support the international growth of Nactis and as a result today Nactis makes 40% of its turnover outside of France.

Nactis is one of the leading French players in the flavours market. Nactis was created in 1996 by its founding chairman Hervé Lecesne and is specialized in the manufacturing and the distribution of natural flavour ingredients for the food industry. Nactis product range includes flavours, aromatic and functional ingredients as well as raw material flavours. Its products are sold to more than 2,500 agri-food clients across 80 countries.

Nactis went on to make two European acquisitions – the savoury activity of Robertet in the Benelux, and the aromatic raw materials activity of PCAS. MML’s exit delivered the firm a 2.2x return on its investment.

Hervé Lecesne remains with the enlarged group Nactis & AromataGroup backed by Ambienta SGR Private Equity, renamed Nactarome and led by Hans-Udo Wenzel. AromataGroup, headquartered in Bresso (Italy), is a leading player in the manufacturing of flavours and colors for applications in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetics industries.

Henry-Louis Mérieux, Managing Partner at MML Capital:

“MML congratulates Hervé Lecesne on the development of the Group made over the past 20 years and the exciting prospects for the business within a market leading European group alongside AromataGroup.”

Hervé Lecesne, Founder of Nactis Flavours and President of Nactarome, said:

“We are very excited to join forces with AromataGroup and IPAM under the new holding Nactarome: a new, ambitious project, in which Nactis and its staff look forward to important future growth and professional development.”

Hans-Udo Wenzel, Founder of AromataGroup and Executive Chairman of Nactarome, stated:

“My Italian colleagues and myself are impressed by the skills and competence of the Nactis team: together, we will create an innovative player to delight existing and new customers in the European food and beverage industry.”

Nactis Flavours

Hervé Lecesne, Bernard Roux

Sellers

MML Capital (Henry-Louis Mérieux, Louis de Montille, Anne-Claire Lainé, Astrid Vié)

Buyers

AromataGroup (Hans-Udo Wenzel), Ambienta SGR (Mauro Reversi)

Lawyers

MML Capital – Latournerie Wolfrom Avocats (Christian Wolfrom, Anne-Cécile Deville)
Nactis Flavours – Bignon Lebray (Jacques Goyet, Louis Vallet)
AromataGroup – De Pardieu Brocas Maffei (Rodrigue Tchouale, Nelly Achille)

Press contact:

MML Capital / Henry-Louis Mérieux / Tel. : +33 1 53 53 14 88 / hlmerieux@mmlcapital.com