Aurica Search Fund I, the co-investment platform with entrepreneurs in search and acquisition transactions managed by Aurica Capital, has announced the acquisition of Super’s Diana S.L., together with a group of co-investors from the Search Fund ecosystem: ICF (Institut Català de Finances), Moonbase Capital, Ítaca, Karim Zahran, and other investors. The transaction was carried out through Rigi Capital Partners, the vehicle that acquired 100% of the company.
With this transaction, Aurica Search Fund I completes its fifth investment, reinforcing its positioning in the animal health sector, where it already has experience through portfolio companies such as Alfavet, a German company specialised in pet nutraceuticals. Aurica Search Fund I will join the company’s board of directors, represented by Ferran Alcacer, Partner at Aurica Capital.
Founded more than 30 years ago, Super’s Diana develops, manufactures, and commercialises medicines and supplements for swine, cattle, and poultry livestock, operating in more than 30 countries.
The investment responds to a business succession process resulting from the upcoming retirement of the owner, Francisca Margarit, following a trajectory marked by growth and profitability. Jorge Oriol, founder and managing partner of Rigi Capital and the searcher behind the transaction, will assume leadership of the company. With more than 10 years of experience in operations and supply chain management, he began his career at Autoneum, driving industrial standardisation programmes across more than 20 plants globally. After completing his MBA at IESE Business School, he joined Johnson & Johnson, where he held increasingly senior roles in Europe, leading strategic procurement and supply chain programmes across the EMEA region. Jorge began his search process in 2023, with the support of Aurica Search Fund I since then.
“Super’s Diana has a very solid business foundation, a team with deep technical expertise, and very close relationships with its customers. The priority is to ensure continuity of the project and continue developing it with a long-term vision,” Oriol highlighted.
According to Margarit, the company’s owner until now, “after more than 30 years leading Super’s Diana, I face this new stage with the peace of mind of leaving the company in good hands. Rigi Capital shares the values that have guided the project throughout all these years, and I fully trust that they will continue its development and take it to the next level, maintaining the commitment to the team, customers, and the company’s way of doing things.”
Vanessa Servera i Planas, CEO of ICF, stated that “our investment in Super’s Diana alongside Aurica focuses on two key vectors: a solid business and internationalisation project, and participation in a growing sector. At ICF, we believe that supporting these types of projects strengthens our venture capital investment model.”
The company’s growth plan is structured around a combination of organic growth, driven by exports and strengthened commercial capabilities, alongside inorganic growth aimed at expanding the product portfolio and enhancing profitability. In this context, Karim Zahran, an executive with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical sector, joins the project not only as an investor but also as an active board member who will lead the inorganic growth strategy.
In the transaction, KPMG acted as financial advisor to Rigi Capital, while Barrilero and AVQ served as legal advisors. On the sellers’ side, CS Corporate Advisors acted as financial advisor and Cases & Lacambra as legal advisor.
This investment follows the recent closing of Aurica Search Fund I, which reached €50 million with oversubscription, consolidating its position as one of the largest search fund vehicles in Europe and the first promoted by a private equity manager. The company will maintain its regular operations, relying on its current team and its network of customers and suppliers, while combining organic growth with the exploration of new strategic opportunities.
The global animal health market for livestock is valued at $23.6 billion and is expected to reach $30.3 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.1%. In Europe, meat production has remained stable over the past 20 years, with stronger momentum in the poultry segment. Spain leads meat production in Europe, ahead of France and Germany. Key trends in the sector include increasing meat consumption in emerging markets, a greater focus on preventive animal healthcare, and advances in veterinary medicines.
About Aurica Capital
Aurica is an independent private equity manager investing in the expansion capital (growth capital) segment and is a leading firm in the sector for minority investments in middle-market leading companies with a clear vision for development and international growth. With more than 20 years of experience, the firm specialises in Private Equity, Search Funds, and fund selection, managing over €600 million in assets. Aurica Capital Desarrollo S.G.E.I.C., S.A. is registered in the CNMV’s Register of Venture Capital Management Companies under number 104
For more information, visitwww.auricacapital.com
About ICF
ICF is the promotional public bank of the Government of Catalonia. Its mission is to provide financing to the Catalan business and social ecosystem through loans, guarantees, and venture capital investments to drive the growth and transformation of the Catalan economy.
Since its founding in 1985, it has financed more than 37,000 clients for an amount exceeding €16 billion.
ICF’s promotional public banking model complements the offering of the private financial sector and other institutions by providing long-term financing to facilitate debt repayment and supporting strategic sectors and projects for Catalonia, such as industry, energy transition, social housing, and the primary sector
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