Campus Prepares to Step Up International Penetration by Partnering With White Bridge Investments

PARMA, Italy, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Campus' founder and Chairman, Giampaolo Cagnin, signed an agreement with White Bridge Investments with the ultimate goal of supporting the company's internationalization and commercial network expansion.

The managerial approach and the international breath contributed by the new shareholder will enable Campus to accelerate its growth, which was above 30% in the first quarter 2015. 

Campus, a global company operating in the specialty food ingredients industry, today announces the successful completion of White Bridge Investments S.p.A. entry in Campus'  capital.

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The new shareholder will foster Campus' growth in international markets, enhance the organizational and commercial structure as well as support the innovative mind-set of Giampaolo Cagnin for the development of new products and the pioneering of unprecedented food industry applications.  

The company, which has constantly reported increasing revenue since its foundation, is confirming the positive trend in the current year: in the first quarter of 2015, Campus reported a revenue growth of over 30% compared to the same period in 2014.

The management team that has successfully driven the company into a major player in the specialty food ingredients market will continue to lead the Company in the next development phase. Giampaolo Cagnin will be fully devoted to new products and technologies  development.

"Bringing in an external investor after so many years of successful self-funded growth is an important milestone for Campus. We are conscious of the tremendous opportunities available to the company in the coming years and we believe that White Bridge represents the best partner to support our international expansion, while retaining our culture based on products innovation," said Giampaolo  Cagnin. "The international network and experience of White Bridge will bring new opportunities to Campus and we all look forward to a strong long-term relationship, strengthened by my recent investment into White Bridge share capital."

Commenting on the transaction, Marco Pinciroli, CEO of White Bridge Investments, added, "We are very excited about Campus' growth prospects in the specialty food ingredients market. We strongly believe in the technical capabilities of Giampaolo Cagnin and in his strategic view. We expect the whole Campus team will continue to capitalize on its innovative edge to achieve superior growth. Our long-term investment approach suits well the Company's needs and vision. I would like to thank Alberto Gennarini, partner of Vitale&Co, who conceived and promoted the partnership between Giampaolo Cagnin and us."

According to Stefano Devescovi, Co-CEO of White Bridge Investments, "Campus' international reach, combined with its leadership position in the specialty ingredients market for meat applications and the secular growth of the industry, are attractive fundamentals and provide an excellent platform from which to grow the business. An experienced and ambitious management team is in place and initiatives are under way to expand Campus beyond its historic boundaries organically and through external growth. This transaction has a natural fit with White Bridge strategy and we are enthusiastic at the prospect of placing our experience and capabilities in support of this team of entrepreneurial managers."

About Campus 

Campus is one of the fastest growing global innovative food ingredients companies. It delivers value-added products to satisfy ever-changing clients' needs, in more than 30 countries, developing new solutions and leveraging on the R&D team's 30-year experience.

The company has in-house R&D laboratories and pilot plants to test both new ingredients and their meat applications. In 2014, Campus reported revenue of 35 million euros.

Campus was advised by the law firm Villa&Partners for the contracts negotiation and by tax and financial advisory firm AGFM.

To learn more: http://www.campus-italy.com/

About White Bridge Investments  

White Bridge is a holding company providing long-term capital, operational know-how and strategic vision to successful small to medium size Italian companies. Leveraging on White Bridge Investments' management's long-lasting international experience in the principal investments industry, the company aims at supporting the value creation of Italian small-to-medium-size champions in the global markets.

White Bridge Investment was advised by the law firm Giovannelli e Associati for the legal due diligence, investment agreement drafting and negotiations and financing contracts negotiation; by the tax firm Ludovici&Partners for the tax due diligence and the transaction structuring; by Deloitte Financial Advisory for the financial due diligence; by PriceWaterhouseCoopers for the business due diligence and the strategic review; and by Vitale&Co as M&A and financing advisor. Financing banks are Banca Popolare di Milano, Arranger and Lending Bank and Cariparma Crédit Agricole, Lending Bank. Banks were advised by the law firm Simmons&Simmons for the financing contract drafting and negotiations.

SOURCE Società Campus Srl