NEXTCHEM acquires processing tech major Ballestra Group

NEXTCHEM has signed an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the share capital of Ballestra Group, a global technology provider specialising in the licensing, design and engineering of chemical processing plants, along with proprietary technologies and equipment, said MAIRE.

Headquartered in Milan, Ballestra S.p.A. is the holding company of a group that includes BUSS ChemTech AG of Switzerland and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd in India. The group operates in more than 120 countries, employs around 450 people, and has installed over 6,400 plants worldwide. Its operations are supported by a strong intellectual property portfolio and R&D capabilities, including pilot plants in Italy and Switzerland that serve as innovation and scale-up hubs.

Ballestra has a long-established presence in detergents, surfactants and oleochemicals, serving chemical producers and leading FMCG companies through technology licensing, engineering services and proprietary equipment marketed under the Mazzoni brand. Equipment assembly is carried out at its facilities in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

The group’s chemicals division also focuses on advanced technologies for sulfuric and phosphoric acid production, critical inputs for phosphate-based solutions, NPK nutrients and specialty fertilisers. The addition of Ballestra’s sulphur-, phosphate- and potassium-based technologies strengthens NEXTCHEM portfolio and complements its capabilities in nitrogen-based fertilisers.

BUSS ChemTech, acquired by Ballestra in 2021, is a global leader in fluorine derivatives and gas–liquid reaction plants. Its technologies, including hexafluorophosphate production, are key to lithium-ion batteries, solar cells and power grid upgrades, while its pyrolysis solutions support plastic waste recycling, said NEXTCHEM.

Ballestra’s consolidated backlog stood at €275 million at the end of September 2025 and is expected to exceed €315 million by year-end, with FY2025 revenues projected at about €235 million.

NEXTCHEM said that the transaction values Ballestra at an enterprise value of €108.3 million, with a purchase price of around €126.5 million. The deal is expected to close in 2026, subject to approvals.

Alessandro Bernini, CEO of MAIRE, said, “As clients race to electrify, recycle and improve efficiency, they need partners that combine proven technologies with reliable project delivery. MAIRE is building exactly that: a European technology platform with global reach, able to convert innovation into industrial realities.”