MAIRE Group’s subsidiary Nextchem has finalized the acquisition of the entire share capital of Ballestra Group. The transaction, first announced on 24 December 2025, brings under Nextchem’s umbrella three companies: Ballestra S.p.A. (owner of the well-known Mazzoni brand), the Swiss firm BUSS ChemTech AG, and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd, based in India.
“With Ballestra, we are strengthening our focus on inorganic chemistry and adding an important building block to the industrial vision we are developing. Technologies evolve and markets change, but one thing always remains at the heart of it all: human capital. This is a company’s true asset”, commented Fabrizio Di Amato, Chairman of MAIRE.
The deal strengthens Nextchem’s positioning by expanding its technology portfolio in phosphate and potassium fertilizers, completing coverage of the full NPK spectrum (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). It also opens access to high-growth segments, notably in chemistry linked to the production and circularity of strategic materials for electrification, an area where Nextchem already operates through metals recovery technologies gained via the recent acquisition of ETEK. Know-how in sulfuric, phosphoric and hydrofluoric acid creates commercial synergies and new opportunities in the metals and mining sectors. Fluorine-based technologies, strengthened through BUSS ChemTech’s global leadership, support applications in photovoltaic panels and lithium-ion batteries, while Ballestra’s Mazzoni-branded oleochemistry solutions for detergents, surfactants and soaps address rising demand for sustainable consumer goods.
Beyond technology, the acquisition brings around 460 highly qualified employees into the Group, reinforcing Nextchem’s process design capabilities and generating cross-selling opportunities with Tecnimont, MAIRE’s IE&CS business unit. Ballestra’s laboratories and demonstration plants in Busto Arsizio, Milan and Basel will expand Nextchem’s European innovation platform. The purchase price totals €148.2 million, fully paid, based on an enterprise value of €108.2 million plus adjusted net cash of €40.0 million, funded through available cash and dedicated bank credit facilities. Commenting on the integration, Fabrizio Di Amato welcomed Ballestra’s employees into the Group. “I often say this to myself too: every morning, you need to wake up with the desire to build something new. You need passion, honesty, heart and the conviction that you can make a difference. If you truly believe in it, you can achieve results that once seemed impossible”, he said.
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