SK Capital to acquire majority stake in Ecopol

Ecopol, a Chiesina Uzzanese, Italy-based developer and producer of water-soluble and biodegradable films for household detergent products has announced it has signed what it called a "strategic investment" with affiliates of private investment company SK Partners. The transaction, in which the investment company acquires a majority interest in Ecopol, will support Ecopol’s further ambitions for rapid growth and the expansion of its production footprint into the U.S. Specific financial details were not disclosed.

Ecopol CEO and controlling shareholder Mauro Carbone will retain his position within the company, as well as his status as the largest individual shareholder. Existing investor global alternative asset management group Tikehau Capital, which acquired its holding in June 2021, will also keep its minority stake.

“Mauro has laid the foundation for the next chapter of Ecopol’s journey and with its new partner SK Capital, we expect Ecopol to accelerate its expansion. We look forward to continuing to support the business as an ongoing minority shareholder,” said Roberto Quagliuolo and Luca Bucelli, head and co-head of Private Equity Italy at Tikehau Capital.

Ecopol’s water-soluble and biodegradable films and delivery systems are widely used in unit-dose applications for both automatic dishwashing and laundry detergents. They have also found application in the specialty engineered stone and construction markets. The company’s rapid growth over the past years is expected to continue, as demand for its films, which enable significant reductions in carbon emissions, plastic packaging, and water usage across their supply chains, continues to soar.

Ecopol has invested over 70 million euros since 2019 in new capacity and capabilities, including installing the world’s largest solution cast PVOH film line to serve laundry applications and a new production facility in Griffin, Ga.,  to better serve its global customer base.

Mauro Carbone said that SK Capital was the "perfect partner for Ecopol given its differentiated industry expertise, strong experience in the North American market."

“Our organizations share the same core values and commitment to a more sustainable future that have defined Ecopol’s success to date. ... We are fully aligned with SK Capital in our strategic vision to build Ecopol into the leading global provider of biodegradable film solutions.”

“We are incredibly privileged to be partnering with Mauro to support the next phase of Ecopol’s extraordinary growth,” said Stephen D’Incelli, managing director at SK Capital. “Mauro has built an exceptional business with a reputation for strong customer service and delivering technology-driven, sustainable solutions, which aligns with our strategy of investing in companies where sustainability is a true competitive differentiator. His vision to invest in solution cast film technology for laundry applications and a new plant in the U.S. provides Ecopol with meaningful runway for growth, and we intend to support Mauro and invest in the Company as it scales as a critical supplier to its global customer base.”

Closing of the transaction is subject to the customary regulatory conditions and approvals.