Partnership between the Costa Edutainment Group, to which Acquario di Genova belongs, and IDeA Corporate Credit Recovery II, the second fund of the Italian DIP (Debtor-in-Possession) Financing managed by DeA Capital Alternative Funds SGR, a company of the DeA Capital Group . The operation aims to support the development of Costa Edutainment, which manages 10 parks including the Cattolica Aquarium, the Oltremare, Aquafan and Italia in Miniatura parks on the Romagna Riviera, the Livorno Aquarium in Tuscany, the Mediterraneo Marine Park in Malta, for the next few years. The signed operation provides for the entry into the capital of the Costa Edutainment Group of IDeA CCR II with a 10% stake, thanks to a capital increase of 5 million, as well as the introduction of financial resources by IDeA itself, illimity Bank and the AZIMUT ELTIF Private Debt – Capital Solutions fund (“AZIMUT Capital Solutions”), managed by Muzinich & Co. SGR for 35 million euros through the issue of a convertible bond loan. Giuseppe Costa remains at the helm of the group. Andrea Varnier joins him in the role of managing director. Costa Edutainment was assisted by Pirola Corporate Finance as exclusive financial advisor and by the law firm Carbone D’Angelo for the legal aspects. Dea Capital was assisted by the law firm Molinari Agostinelli and by Spada Partners for the financial and tax due diligence, by the law firm De Luca & Partners for the labor law aspects. «The agreement signed with the Costa family makes it possible to further strengthen the development path of Costa Edutainment. As part of the transaction, the Costa Edutainment Group will acquire two new facilities, the Le Caravelle water park and the Il Paese di Ciribì accommodation facility, both in Ceriale. “In addition, the industrial plan provides for investments that will allow the company to consolidate its leadership, continuing the path of constant growth recorded in the pre-pandemic years” said Federico Giribaldi, Managing Director of the IDeA CCR II Fund. “The decision of the IDeA CCR II Fund to be at our side as a partner – adds Giuseppe Costa, president and majority shareholder of Costa Edutainment – is for us a recognition of the success of a business model that has proven over the years to bring added and shared value not only to the company but also to the territories in which it operates and to all the stakeholders involved. Also in my role as president of Opera Laboratori Fiorentini, a large entrepreneurial reality specialized in the management and enhancement of cultural heritage, I am sure that this new partnership will bring further development and innovation to the strategic tourism and culture market, which has restarted after two years of great suffering. “. Umberto Paolo Moretti, illimity’s Head of Turnaround explains: “The transaction confirms illimity’s strong vocation in supporting companies with high growth potential in times of discontinuity and consolidates its role as a privileged partner for operators specialized in the special situations segment. “. Attilio Guida, Executive Director of the AZIMUT Capital Solutions Fund declares: “We are proud to participate in this financing operation in favor of Costa Edutainment, a leading company in the specific market, in full consistency with the intervention targets of the AZIMUT Capital Solutions Fund, from us managed exclusively, focused on supporting companies with important development prospects and ready to seize all the opportunities related to this post-pandemic phase “. The new CEO of the Group, Andrea Varnier, boasts thirty years of experience in the fields of communication, major events, with particular reference to the Olympic world, entertainment and exhibition space management, in which he held top positions in important companies internationally. Among these, he was until a few months ago in Dubai as CEO of The Experience – Richard Attias & Associates, a company specializing in the organization of major events and conferences at an international level, previously CEO of Filmmaster Events and Filmmaster Productions and counterpart in Rio De Janeiro in Cariocas 2016, the Brazilian consortium of which FIlmmaster Events was a partner, for the realization of the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies, of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Trip and of the Welcome Ceremonies for Rio 2016 Athletes. French GL Events was CEO of Padova Fiere and general manager of Lingotto Fiere.
Dea Capital: Alternative Funds Sgr signs an agreement for the development of Costa Edutainment (Acquario di Genova)
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