From a small local company with an ambitious project up its sleeve, to European leader in the vending sector: discover the key milestones of the IVS Group story.
Timeline
1971
Cerea Distributori Automatici Srl is founded by Cesare Cerea, based on his extensive experience in the foodservice world and confidence in the potential of the new business of vending services, with the installation of the first vending machine.
1972
Cesare Cerea and Pietro Gualdi founded Bergamo Distributori Srl, a pioneer company in the Italian vending sector.
1973
Foundation of Cerea & Gualdi Snc.
1975
Biesse Gestioni srl is founded for the management and development of the Brescia and Cremona areas.
1976
Share capital increased to ITL 20,000,000.
1979
The company Gestione Servizi Automatici Srl was founded.
1981
Share capital increase to ITL 100,000,000.
1984
The company Bergamo Distributori Srl is transformed into a S.p.A., after an increase in share capital to ITL 300,000,000. The company Elledi Srl was founded, with a share capital of ITL 20,000,000.
1987
The company Elledi Srl acquires shares in the Spanish company Emmedi SA.
1989
The company Elledi Srl acquires shares in the Spanish company Distribuidores Automaticos Vending SA.
1990
Share capital increase to ITL 500,000,000 for Gestione Servizi Automatici Srl. The company Elledi Srl acquires shares in the company Cofradis SA.
1993
Gestione Servizi Automatici Srl acquires a majority stake in the company O.N.D.A. Srl.
2006
Thanks to a process of acquisitions and mergers, the current configuration of IVS Group takes shape, enabling the Company to become a leader in Italy and expand throughout Europe.
2012
Fine-tuning of the merger operation with Italy 1 Investment SA, a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company), listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. This operation enables IVS to gain access to the Stock Exchange, confirming of its commitment to growth. Most financial resources associated with this operation are invested in new acquisitions.
2013
IVS Group issues a 200 million Euros High Yield Bond at a rate of 7.125%, expiry in 2020, listed on the MTF Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, with Standard & Poor’s rating, increased to 250 million at the beginning of the following year.
2015
The company issues a new 240 million Euros Bond Retail at an interest rate of 4.5%, expiry in 2022, listed on the MOT Italian Stock Exchange, with the intention of early repaying the previous Bond High Yield and drastically reshaping the cost of its debt.
2016
The company finalises the acquisition of Grup Ibervending S.A., one of the major Spanish players in the vending sector, as well as the Swiss Demomatic: IVS Group confirms its own European growth strategy.
2017
The company finalises the acquisition of Grup Ibervending S.A., one of the major Spanish players in the vending sector, as well as the Swiss Demomatic: IVS Group confirms its own European growth strategy.
Cesare Cerea, Group Chairman, dies in August in the same year. A pioneer of the vending sector in Italy and Europe, he went down in history for developing innovation since the 80s, in technologies and information systems applied to vending.
From the outset of his career, Cesare Cerea was visibly inspired by a far-reaching vision and excelled in aggregating resources and skills required to successfully take on new and tough challenges. Cerea created a group which has pursued a constant strategy of growth and international development, both during previous crisis years and even more so today, with solid foundations and excellent results.
2018
IVS Italia S.p.A signs an agreement in order to acquire the branch of Enopanorama S.r.l. related to the distribution of Nespresso tm professional line of coffee capsules, active in Lazio (Rome included), Abruzzo and Umbria. Thanks to these further regional acquisitions, the partnership between IVS and Nespresso now covers the largest part of Italian territory.
2019
Acquisition of SDA-Società Distribuzione Automatica 2000 S.p.A., an active player in the vending field for more than 50 years and leader in Liguria.
Provision of Nespresso business to WeFor
Transition to the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange
Acquisition of 76% of Moneynet, owned by Nexi Group
2020
IVS starts the installation and management of the vending machines located in the Paris Metro and in the connected city public transport system
BreakCotto S.r.l. Impresa Sociale incorporation
Pandemic emergency and related world economic crisis due to Covid-19
Acquisition of Til Caff srl, active in Puglia region, and 5 new business units
2021
Incorporation of new joint venture Olympo S.r.l. active in vending business in gym sector
Acquisition of: – IVS H24 S.r.l. (65%) active in H24 vending business in Liguria Region and 4 new business units
Signing of two important agreements for the acquisition of Liomatic and Ge.S.A. groups
New bank facility agreement for 70 Million due Dec. 2025
2022
Capital Increase of around EUR 186 million for the acquisition of Liomatic and Gesa Groups
Acquisition of N-AND Group operating in IoT Business
Acquisition of 16 new vending businesses and subsidiaries in Italy, France, Spain and Poland