ChemChina to buy Pirelli for 5 1bn

The acquisition is the latest in a series of Chinese investments in Italy.


Blue avatar for FOREX.com guest contributors
By :  ,  Financial Analyst

Chinese state-owned company ChemChina is to buy Italian tyre maker Pirelli in a €7.1 billion (£5.1 billion) deal.

The move will give ChemChina access to technology to make premium tyres. According to Reuters, it could also help China, already a global player in sectors such as telecoms and internet, develop its automotive industry. 

Meanwhile, Pirelli will gain greater access to the Chinese market, competing against larger rivals such as Michelin and Continental.

ChemChina's tyre making unit, China National Tire & Rubber, is to buy the 26.2 per cent stake in Pirelli owned by Italian investment firm Camfin. It will then launch an offer for the remaining shares at €15 per share, valuing the group at €7.1 billion.

Camfin said the bid would be launched by a consortium controlled by ChemChina but also part-owned by Camfin investors, who include Pirelli boss Marco Tronchetti Provera, Italian banks UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, and Russia's Rosneft.

Pirelli headquarters remain in Milan

The company added that the partnership will double Pirelli's volume of industrial tires sold to about 12 million pieces a year.

Current Pirelli chief executive Tronchetti Provera will remain in his post. "We're pleased to have this opportunity working with Tronchetti and his team and continue to build together a world-class entity and a market leader in (the) global tire business," ChemChina said in a statement.

Pirelli’s headquarters will remain in Milan, as will the company’s research and development.

The acquisition is the latest in a series of Chinese investments in Italy, with recent acquisitions by People’s Bank of China including stakes in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, oil giant Eni SpA, power grid firms Terna and Snam , turbine maker Ansaldo and luxury yacht maker Ferretti.

Pirelli shares were 2.56 per cent higher at €15.62 on Monday after the announcement.

Related tags:

Open an account today

Experience award-winning platforms with fast and secure execution.

Web Trader platform

Our sophisticated web-based platform is packed with features.
Economic Calendar