Ideal Holdings is launching growth with new investments

The listed Ideal Holdings is on a growth trajectory, ready to make two new investments by the end of the year, one of which will be in the cybersecurity sector. According to what Lambros Papakonstantinou, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ideal Holdings, said yesterday, in the context of informing journalists, for 2022 the company aims to complete, by the end of June, the acquisition of Coleus Packaging based in South Africa, to make an investment in the cyber security sector where Adacom-Netbull operates and to ensure the smooth development of the business plan of its companies.

Focusing on the investment planning of Ideal Holdings, he stressed that a total of about 100 million euros have been invested so far. “We have a specific philosophy for the investments we make” and in particular: disciplined business approach, investment in companies with sound financial data, cash flow, growth potential, strong position in their industry, moderate risk in the medium and long term, investment in companies with a very good management team that has brought proven results, active and continuous search for value creation through acquisitions and mergers and finally search for internal rate of return (IRR) 20% “said Mr. Papakonstantinou and added:” If a company that meets “We are considering these conditions regardless of the industry, while we are not investing in companies that need debt restructuring.”

The president of Ideal Holdings described the three investments of Ideal Holdings in cybersecurity (through Adacom), in the production of metal caps (through Astir Vitogiannis) as well as in premium mixers & tonics (through Tree Cents) were very successful. The right choice in investments is proven, according to him, by the growth of companies in 2021.

In particular, Astir Vitogiannis, a company for the production of metal caps in Inofyta, Attica with privately owned facilities, made a turnover of 60 million euros in 2021 and after the acquisition of Coleus Packaging is expected to exceed 75 million euros while EBITDA 11 to 12 million euros. The investment goal is the operational improvement of Coleus to levels similar to Astir, the further increase of the sizes and the crystallization of the value through participation in a bigger scheme.

The companies Adacom – Netbull that are active in the field of cybersecurity and trust services in 2021 presented on a consolidated basis a turnover of 17 million euros and EBITDA 2.4 million euros and it is expected that in 2022 the figures will be significantly larger. The investment goal is the merger of Netbull with ADACOM and the further investment in the field of cybersecurity and information technology.

The pioneering company premium mixers & tonics based in Greece Three Cents Artisanal grows with significant growth rates every year and offers new products, either in terms of flavors or in terms of differentiation (Zero Sugar Line). Three Cents products are exported to more than 34 countries and in 2022 sales abroad are expected to exceed sales in Greece, despite the fact that Greece will set a sales record. In 2021 the company set a sales record with 7.7 million euros and EBITDA with 1.5 million euros. The investment goal is to increase sales through investments in marketing and promotion and to strengthen the brand internationally.

According to Mr. Papakonstantinou, the acquisitions made in 2022 together with the existing investments will significantly strengthen the financial figures in 2022 compared to 2021. It is noted that last year Ideal Holdings recorded consolidated sales of 105 million euros and EBITDA 15.5 million euros, with almost zero debt. Referring to this year, Mr. Papakonstantinou stressed that it is evolving into a difficult year for the world economy and the Greek one. Geopolitical developments are creating chain reactions and price increases in many of the raw materials and continue to disrupt the supply chain. Rising inflation, energy and transportation costs are ongoing challenges to corporate profitability. According to him, the continuing uncertainty and turmoil in the global economy do not allow easy conclusions to be drawn about the course of the financial figures of the companies of Ideal Holdings for 2022. However, he expressed optimism that last year’s figures will be overcome.