DeA Capital, a company of the De Agostini group, enters the Genoa Aquarium. DeA Capital Alternative Funds Sgr and the Costa Edutainment group have signed a partnership agreement to support the company’s development over the next few years. Costa Edutainment is a leader in Italy in the management of sites and large public and private structures dedicated to recreational, cultural, educational and scientific research activities and manages 10 national and international organizations. The best known is the Aquarium of Genoa, one of the largest in Europe, inside the Porto Antico redesigned by Renzo Piano. Also in the Ligurian capital there are the Biosphere, the Bigo panoramic lift and, from this year, the City of children and young people. On the national territory the Cattolica Aquarium, the Oltremare, Aquafan and Italia in Miniatura parks on the Romagna Riviera, the Livorno Aquarium in Tuscany. It also manages the Mediterraneo Marine Park in Malta. Costa Edutainment welcomes around 3 million visitors a year.
The transaction provides for the entry into the capital of the Costa Edutainment group with a 10% stake, thanks to a capital increase of 5 million, as well as the introduction by Idea Capital itself, illimity Bank and Azimut Capital Solutions of financial resources of 35 million through the issue of a convertible bond loan.
Giuseppe “Beppe” Costa remains at the helm of the group as president and majority shareholder. Alongside him, as CEO, joins Andrea Varnier, former CEO of Padova Fiere and General Manager of Lingotto Fiere, with thirty years of experience in the fields of communication, major events, with particular reference to the Olympic world, entertainment and management of exhibition spaces.
As part of the operation, Costa Edutainment will acquire two new facilities: the Le Caravelle water park and the CiRiBi accommodation facility, both in Ceriale (Savona). “This operation – declares Costa – 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”.