Lavazza, renowned as one of Italy’s most esteemed coffee producers, has unveiled an offer to purchase a larger portion of the vending machine behemoth IVS for €185 million. The acquisition aims to grant Lavazza complete ownership of the company. Notably, Lavazza already holds a 20% stake in IVS and is now proposing to acquire the remaining shares from other investors at €7.15 per share, representing an 11% premium over Monday’s closing price. Should the transaction materialize, Lavazza would gain an additional 28.36% of IVS, leading to the company’s delisting from the stock exchange.
This buyout offer, valuing IVS at €647 million, stems from a prior agreement between Lavazza and IVS’s primary shareholder. The said agreement empowers the Turin-based coffee giant to assume full control of IVS starting in 2027. Antonio Baravalle, Lavazza’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the strategic significance of the operation. He stated that it would bolster Lavazza’s competitive edge against international coffee industry titans through enhanced scale, particularly in the crucial Vending channel. He further highlighted the company’s strategic positioning amidst the complex macroeconomic landscape.
It is noteworthy that Lavazza recently reported a solid financial performance, with revenues reaching €3.1 billion in 2023. This represented a 13% increase compared to the previous year, despite the challenging macroeconomic environment and rising raw material costs. Presently, IVS is controlled by IVS Partecipazioni, which holds a 50.75% stake until options are exercised post-approval of IVS’s 2026 financial statements. The current management team, responsible for overseeing the operations of the EU’s second-largest vending machine market player with a 7% share, will remain unchanged.
