San Clemente - Rimini, 27 May 2025
Casa Optima, an Italian group active in over 150 countries and owner of eight of the most popular and respected brands in the artisanal gelato, high-quality pastry, and mixed beverage markets, announces that Charterhouse Capital Partners has reached an agreement to sell the company to a group of investors led by Terlos LLP.
Terlos, a private investment company specializing in European consumer brands, counts as its exclusive limited partners Javier Ferrán, current Chairman of Casa Optima, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ("ADIA").
Established as a multibrand group in 2019, Casa Optima is headquartered in San Clemente (Rimini) and serves over 30,000 gelato shops and 6,000 pastry shops in more than 150 countries worldwide. The company, with 5 production sites and over 1,000 employees (about 700 in Italy), offers a complete portfolio of high-quality ingredients for artisanal gelato, pastry, and beverages.
Supported by Charterhouse since 2016 (then under the MEC3 brand), Casa Optima has embarked on a significant growth journey, establishing itself in just a few years as a leading player in the global market. In particular, over the past 10 years, it has further expanded its offering, growing both organically and through strategic acquisitions of some of the main brands in the sector such as Modecor, Giuso, Blend Coberturas, and Pernigotti Maestri Gelatieri Italiani. These operations have enabled the creation of a center of excellence for Made in Italy, recognized internationally, and have accelerated innovation through investments in research and development. At the same time, Casa Optima has significantly strengthened its management team, with the appointment of Francesco Fattori as CEO and Javier Ferrán as Chairman.
Javier Ferrán, Managing Partner of Terlos LLP and Chairman of Casa Optima, commented: “Since joining the Board of Directors of Casa Optima, I have been very impressed by the strength of the group and the value of its management, as well as by the scale and quality of the strategic opportunities that lie ahead for the company. We now intend to continue our collaboration with Francesco and the management team to capitalize on our leadership and further strengthen the company’s position, achieved in recent years under Charterhouse’s guidance.”
Francesco Fattori, CEO of Casa Optima, added: “Thanks to the ongoing support from Charterhouse, in recent years Casa Optima has achieved solid expansion in both revenue and profitability, driven by strong internationalization plans, numerous strategic acquisitions, and the development of successful brands and products. We are excited to continue working with Javier, together with Terlos, as we continue to pursue our ambitious plans for both organic and inorganic growth.”
Antonio di Lorenzo, Partner at Charterhouse Capital Partners, stated: “We are proud to have supported the management team, led by Francesco and Javier, in the development and transformation process that has made Casa Optima a leader in its market. The company is now ideally positioned to continue its expansion, and we have no doubt that Javier and his team, thanks to their deep expertise in the consumer sector and direct knowledge of Casa Optima, will be able to best support the group in the challenges ahead.”
The completion of the transaction is expected by the first quarter of 2026 and is subject to the usual conditions related to legal requirements.
For the transaction, Charterhouse Capital Partners was assisted by BNP Paribas, Houlihan Lokey, and Lazard, with Freshfields providing legal advisory. Terlos LLP was advised by Goldman Sachs and Rothschild, with legal support from Latham & Watkins and Nctm. Boston Consulting Group handled commercial due diligence, New Deal Advisors managed financial due diligence, PedersoliGattai oversaw tax matters, and Gianni & Origoni managed legal aspects. Aures Partners acted as management advisor.