Guala Closures acquires Labrenta for luxury closures

On 8 July 2022, Guala Closures, a leading global producer of caps and closures for spirits, wines, beverages, and oil bottles, announced in a press release datelined Milan that it has reached an agreement to acquire Labrenta which it says will strengthen its presence in the luxury segment. Guala Closures was earlier listed on the Italian stock exchange and is now owned by a single investor Specialty Packaging Solutions Investments headquartered in Luxembourg. The company has 30 plants on five continents and says its products are marketed in more than 100 countries.

The strategic acquisition of Vicenza-based Labrenta which is specialized in high-end tailor-made closures for spirits, wine, oil, vinegar, and beer, strengthens Guala Closures in becoming a world leader in the luxury segment. Labrenta’s current shareholders, Gianni and Amerigo Tagliapietra, its CEO and VP Business Development, respectively, will reinvest in Guala Closures and will take on important managerial roles with regard to the group’s luxury closures segment.

Labrenta, initially founded as a producer of natural cork for the Italian wine market, has grown over the years to establish itself as an international highly innovative firm and obtained 30 patents. In 2022 Labrenta is expected to achieve more than Euro 30 million in revenues across its 800 customers in 70 countries and has plants in Italy, Brazil, and Mexico as well as a commercial branch in the United States.

In 2022, the company acquired Anacorks, a Portuguese firm that specialized in the production of luxury cork closures. Thanks to its focus on R&D activities, as well as its attention to sustainability, Labrenta has launched product lines composed of natural and synthetic materials blends, therefore creating innovative and beautifully designed closures.

Innovation and growing attention to sustainability are also among the pillars of Guala Closures’ business. The Group currently employs more than 4,850 people with approximately Euro 710 million LTM sales as of 31 March 2022. Gabriele Del Torchio, President, and CEO of Guala Closures commented, “Labrenta is an excellent and innovative company, with a strong local presence, important know-how, a well-organized team, and management with a long-term strategic vision. The acquisition of Labrenta represents an important opportunity for our Group. The deal will contribute to the achievement of the goals set in our strategic plan as well as to further strengthen our already significant presence in the luxury segment. The entrepreneurial experiences of Gianni and Amerigo Tagliapietra will be crucial to support us throughout this new development path. The plant in Breganze will become an important center for research, development, and production of luxury closures.”

Gianni Tagliapietra, CEO of Labrenta, stated, “Amerigo and I consider Labrenta and its team like a big family, which has grown with us year after year amid challenges and achievements. We wish that it will continue growing strong and succeed in achieving all its goals. Passion for design and technology, production quality, sustainability, and a strong team are among Labrenta’s core values. In the past years, we have realized how important it is for entrepreneurs to be able to respond promptly and effectively to a fast-changing environment. We have found in Guala Closures a group of like-minded people that share our same values, as well as a global leader in the sector that will allow Labrenta to keep pursuing high growth in a well-structured manner.”