Mediterrania Capital Partners joins the Tunisian pasta leader to help accelerate its international expansion

Mediterrania Capital Partners, the regional Private Equity firm focusing in growth investments for SMEs in North Africa and Sub-Saharan countries, announces the acquisition of a 23% stake in Société Meunière Tunisienne through its second fund Mediterrania Capital II (“MC II”).

Mediterrania Capital II has acquired a 23% stake in Société Meunière Tunisienne (SMT), a Tunisian company specialising in wheat collection, transformation and distribution. SMT, with its brand “Randa”, (www.randa.com.tn), is the clear national leader in the pasta segment.

“We want to establish the brand locally while continuing with our international expansion.” declared Mr. Mohsen Hachicha, SMT’s founder. “Mediterrania Capital investment and the team’s strong business experience will help the group consolidate Randa’s leadership position in Tunisia and grow into a regional leader in the coming years”.

Driven by a constant concern for quality, Randa has revolutionised the pasta market, in Tunisia and in Africa, through the introduction of new techniques at the forefront of new technologies. With close to 660 employees working in a modern production facility in the industrial area of Ben Arous (Tunisia), Randa delivers an annual production of over 50,000 tons of pasta and couscous. All stages of production are under strict quality controls, from the careful selection of raw materials to the manufacturing of the finished product, until the ordering process.

With the capital injection from Mediterrania Capital Partners, Randa will continue to focus on new product development in order to meet increasing customer demand, and will put the right elements in place in order to accelerate its international expansion.

“Randa is a clear leader in the agro-industry in Tunisia with high growth potential both in the local markets and abroad.” said Mr. Albert Alsina, CEO and Managing Partner of Mediterrania Capital Partners. “What first attracted us was Randa’s great capability to mix a purely traditional know-how with the latest technological innovations. We are extremely pleased with this new investment and very excited to help accelerate the company’s expansion into the region.”

Consistent with its strategy, Mediterrania Capital Partners continues to search for growth opportunities in the Maghreb region – Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, with potential expansion into Africa Sub-Saharan countries. Mediterrania Capital Partners looks for SMBs with an equity value of €25 m to €400 m and with expansion strategies into North Africa and Sub-Saharan African markets.

Background

Mediterrania Capital Partners (www.mcapitalp.com), is a dedicated private equity firm focusing on African and mainly North African growth investments in SMEs and mid cap companies. The company started its operations in 2008 under “Fons Mediterrania Capital” and since 2013 is an independent General Partner Structure.

With offices in Barcelona, Casablanca, Tunis, Algiers and Malta, Mediterrania Capital Partners takes an intensely proactive, hands-on approach to implementing its growth strategy by leading the governance of the companies and driving the key internal value creation process. The partners of Mediterrania Capital have extensive experience in managing companies spanning commercial experience, strategy formulation, finance and operations.

Mediterrania Capital Partners was awarded “Best Africa Focused Investment Manager” at the 2015 Wealth & Finance Alternative Investment Awards. The firm was awarded for its innovative approach to investment opportunities in the region of Africa
(www.wealthandfinance-intl.com/alternative-investment-awards).

Mediterrania Capital Partners is a regulated financial investment manager, licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). Mediterrania Capital II is also a MFSA regulated Private Equity Fund. Cuatrecasas (www.cuatrecasas.com) is acting as legal adviser.