Banking and Finance Institutions

Ceresio Investors assists the Berti family in the sale of Sifte Berti to Planzer

11th November 2024

Edited by the Editorial Staff

Thanks to the assistance of the team led by Alessandro Santini, the historic Italian company Sifte Berti becomes part of the Swiss Planzer group, leader in transport, marking a new stage of transnational growth and enhancing the ties between the two countries

Founded in 1969, Sifte Berti SpA is one of the leading companies in Italy in the logistics sector at a national and international level, and this acquisition marks an important step in Planzer's growth strategy, which thus consolidates its presence in Italy.

“It was an honour to be able to accompany the Berti family on this new and important journey, with the certainty that the history and values of the company will be carried forward in this new chapter of entrepreneurial history” , declared ALESSANDRO SANTINI , Executive Board Member and Head of Corporate Advisory & Investment Banking of Ceresio Investors.

The operation reflects the positioning of Ceresio Investors, able to act as a bridge for investments between Italy and Switzerland thanks to its deep expertise in the Italian industrial market and the solidity and reputation that its Lugano headquarters guarantees to Swiss interlocutors.

“This operation perfectly demonstrates our ability to connect the two markets in which we operate as a Group, proposing ourselves as an advisor capable of ensuring an effective dialogue capable of generating value in complex transnational operations such as this one”, has explained GABRIEL COURT, Executive Board Member of Ceresio Investors and General Manager of Banca del Ceresio.

Ceresio Investors acted as Lead Financial Advisor and deal structuring to the selling family with the Corporate Advisory & Investment Banking team led by Alessandro Santini and composed of Pierfrancesco Ricciato, Giovanni di Grandi, Vivia Marchi and Dario La Mantia.

Studio Bolelli Sportelli de Pietri-Tonelli assisted the selling family with the tax aspects of the transaction, with the assistance of Dr. Gianluca Bolelli, Dr. Paolo de Pietri Tonelli and Dr. Simone Catarinelli. The law firm Conte Maienza e associati assisted the selling family with the legal aspects. Baker McKenzie assisted Planzer with a team led by partner Paolo Ghiglione, supported by associates Giacomo Lamperti and Anna Masut for the M&A aspects of the transaction, by counsel Mario Cigno and associate Amalia Scimè for the regulatory and environmental aspects, as well as by partner Serena Fantinelli and associate Nicolò Crespi for the labor law aspects. Leonardo De Luca (De Luca Advisory) acted as General Coordinator and Lead financial advisor & deal structuring of the buyer. SCTS Studio Tributario e Societario assisted the buyer with the tax aspects of the transaction with partner Antonio Zambon.

Ceresio Investors

Ceresio Investors represents the Swiss banking group headed by Banca del Ceresio—specializing in wealth management, securities custody, corporate and investment banking, and tax and asset consolidation—founded in 1919 in Milan by Antonio Foglia. The third generation of the Foglia family is now active in Lugano through the parent company Banca del Ceresio and Lagom Family Advisors; in Milan through Ceresio SIM, Global Selection SGR, and Eurofinleading Fiduciaria; and in London through Belgrave Capital Management. Its strong capital structure (simplified leverage ratio of 38.9%), its management reputation (CHF 8.4 billion in assets under management), and its approach to co-investment between owners and clients have always been its key distinguishing features.

Sifte Berti SpA, a family-run company, was founded in 1969 and specializes in national and international transport and integrated logistics solutions (including ADR goods), intermodal rail/road transport, air and sea freight, and customs clearance. The company, which employs around 300 people at seven locations in Italy (Lainate, Vercelli, Rome, Padua, Florence, Civitanova Marche and Caserta), offers tailor-made solutions in various areas, such as the automotive, fashion and dangerous goods sectors. «Sifte Berti» has over 40 of its own vehicles and a storage area of 200 m², which it uses to provide comprehensive warehouse logistics services.

Planzer was founded in 1936 and has been a family-run joint-stock company since 1966. Today, the logistics company employs over 6500 people, including over 400 apprentices, and operates from 72 locations in Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, France and Hong Kong. It serves both private and business customers with a wide range of services and comprehensive solutions. Sustainability is a key focus of the family-run company. For example, over 60 percent of its shipments travel a large part of their journey using environmentally friendly means such as rail.