EPTA EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE IN ASIA-PACIFIC WITH THE ACQUISITION OF SOFRICO IN NEW CALEDONIA

Epta SpA announces the acquisition of Sofrico, New Caledonia's market leader in design, sales, service & contracting of systems, cabinets and coldrooms for commercial and industrial refrigeration. With this move, the Group is further expanding its operations in the Asia Pacific Region, where it already has a presence with manufacturing plants, sales branches, service centers and distributors in China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia.

The deal is in line with Epta's internationalisation strategy, which aims to strengthen its global presence with direct coverage in areas of high potential. New Caledonia, a dependent overseas territory of France, is a region where the refrigeration sector is particularly developed. The main French Retailers support the demand for turn-key projects, high quality and technologically advanced systems, with low environmental impact, favoring natural refrigerants.

Gennaro Gentile, General Manager of Epta Asia Pacific: “We are proud to welcome Sofrico to our Group. It confirms our desire to continue to strengthen our market share in strategic areas with high growth potential. This acquisition will make it possible to deliver to the Pacific Region the latest technology in Refrigeration and know-how in the use of natural refrigerants such as CO2. We are expanding our Group's ability to better serve our customers and we are contributing to the growth of natural refrigeration systems in Asia & Pacific."

Jérôme Lajouanie, Engineering Director of Sofrico: “We are excited to join the Epta family. The combined strength of Epta portfolio and Sofrico engineering expertise will boost CO2 technology expansion in Polynesia, Vanuatu, Fiji islands, Samoas and the wide Pacific Region. Our presence and turn key approach can increase reliability of the refrigeration systems and consolidate long term partnership with our clients”.

The agreement was finalized and become effective as of 30^th August 2019.