Fusioni & Acquisizioni

🏫 Virgin Group, led by Sir Richard Branson, is set to order 12 high-speed trains to challenge Eurostar's Channel Tunnel monopoly. The deal, valued at around €595 million, may include Hitachi, Alstom, Talgo, and Siemens as suppliers, aiming for completion in the first quarter of 2025. Branson's goal is to introduce high-speed connections between the UK and Europe, contending with competitors like startup Evolyn.

💰 Blastness acquisisce Athena Solutions, rafforzando il suo posizionamento nel mercato italiano come primo fornitore di sistemi di prenotazione per hotel 5 stelle da oltre 14 anni. Nel 2024, i clienti di Blastness hanno raggiunto i volumi di prenotazioni dirette di Booking.com. Athena Solutions, fondata nel 2003, vanta oltre 600 strutture clienti e si unisce ai 1.200 clienti di Blastness. L'acquisizione non cambierà la gestione aziendale di Athena, con i fondatori che continuano in ruoli manageriali.

📦 Blastness acquires travel tech company Athena Solutions, expanding its portfolio with ErmesHotels brand software for the hospitality sector. This strategic move strengthens Blastness's Italian market presence, ensuring business continuity and managerial collaboration from Athena’s founders. In 2024, Blastness celebrated 20 years, matching Booking.com's direct booking volumes in Italy. Over 1,800 hotels will benefit from the merged services, signifying a growth opportunity for both companies.

🔴 Hotels in Los Angeles are providing shelter and supplies to residents evacuated due to wildfires in Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst. The international airport and port remain operational. Airbnb and VRBO are offering free temporary accommodations and refunds for cancellations in affected areas. The Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board is offering information for assistance and support. Delta Airlines donated $1 million to the American Red Cross, adding to another $1 million grant for disaster relief.

🏩 Lufthansa to acquire a 41% initial stake in Ita Airways with a €325 million investment and plans a total investment of €830 million by 2033. Ita Airways, born from Alitalia's ashes, anticipates a closing date soon, hinted by CEO Carsten Spohr last week. The new board of directors, expanding from three to five members, will include three representatives from the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (Mef) and two from Lufthansa, with Joerg Eberhart expected as CEO. Lufthansa also aims to hire around 10,000 new employees in 2025, with 2,000 flight attendants, 1,400 ground staff, 1,300 technical experts, 1,200 administrative personnel, and 800 pilots. An agreement extends extraordinary wage supplementation for 2,118 former Alitalia workers until October 31, 2025.

🍪 Pernigotti SpA, under new ownership by JP Morgan Asset Management and Invitalia since 2022, reintroduces its "Signor Stefano" brand to the semi-finished products market for gelato. Official presentation scheduled for "SIGEP World 2025" (January 18-22) in Rimini. The brand honors founder Stefano Pernigotti, with around 60 product variants for professional gelaterias announced, marking a return after selling off this business division in 2019 when owned by Turkish group Toksoz.

📈 Sipral Padana S.r.l., active since 1953, acquired 100% of Marcagel S.r.l. and Effedue S.r.l. to expand its plant-based food ingredients portfolio. Marcagel, a 30-year-old company based in Treviso, and Effedue, founded in 1987 in Rimini, complement Sipral's growth strategy. With these acquisitions, Sipral aims to exceed €65 million in consolidated turnover with an EBITDA of over €12 million by 2024. Under the leadership of CEO Gianpietro Corbari and Bravo Capital Partners II, this brings Sipral's total acquisitions to six in the last two years.

⛷ Over 250,000 people visited Friuli Venezia Giulia's six ski resorts during the holidays, a 34% increase from the previous year. From December 23 to January 6, there were 250,597 first entries, up from 187,075 last season. Piancavallo saw a 61.3% rise in visitors, while Tarvisio led with 85,581, a 49% increase from 2023/24. Visitors came from Veneto, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

🏖️ Tui Group, under CEO Sebastian Ebel, evolves its business model focusing on strengthening and diversifying its travel package offerings. Aiming for full transformation towards a functional integrated market, it seeks to increase international presence and profit margins. A new unit targets growth in Eastern Europe, America, and Asia, adapting to global consumer travel trends with activities ranging from river cruises to tours.