NEXTCHEM to Acquire Ballestra Group, Boosting Specialty Chemicals and Sustainable Technologies

NEXTCHEM, a MAIRE subsidiary, is acquiring Ballestra Group for approximately €126.5 million, with closing in H1 2026. This acquisition significantly enhances NEXTCHEM's intellectual property, technology capabilities, and global presence in specialty chemicals, sustainable fertilizers, bio-based detergents, and fluorine derivatives. The integration is expected to boost NEXTCHEM's revenues to €235 million in FY 2025 and create cross-selling opportunities, strengthening its position in energy transition and material transformation projects worldwide.

NEXTCHEM, a subsidiary of MAIRE, has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Ballestra Group for an approximate purchase price of €126.5 million. This acquisition, expected to close in the first half of 2026, is a pivotal move to significantly expand NEXTCHEM’s intellectual property, technology portfolio, and global operational footprint. Ballestra Group comprises Ballestra S.p.A. (Italy), BUSS ChemTech AG (Switzerland), and Ballestra Engineering and Projects Pvt. Ltd. (India), employing around 450 people across over 120 countries.The strategic rationale behind this acquisition is to bolster NEXTCHEM's capabilities in key growth areas, including specialty chemicals, sustainable fertilizers, bio-based detergents, fluorine derivatives, and gas-liquid reactor design. Ballestra brings specialized expertise, particularly in fluorine derivatives crucial for lithium-ion batteries and applications within the metals and mining industries. Furthermore, the integration is anticipated to unlock substantial cross-selling synergies with TECNIMONT, MAIRE’s Integrated E&C and Services business unit, thereby supporting global energy transition and material transformation initiatives.Following the acquisition, NEXTCHEM projects consolidated revenues to reach approximately €235 million in fiscal year 2025, with an expected year-end backlog of around €315 million. Ballestra, founded in 1960, holds a strong reputation in chemical industry licensing, plant design, and engineering, serving a blue-chip client base with over 6,400 plants installed globally. Its innovation is backed by in-house R&D and pilot plants. The group's strengths lie in detergents, surfactants, oleochemicals, and advanced processes for sulfuric and phosphoric acid, essential for specialty fertilizers. This complements NEXTCHEM’s existing nitrogen-based fertilizer portfolio, creating a comprehensive and competitive offering in sustainable chemical solutions.