LA DORIA ACQUIRES CLAS, AN ITALIAN LEADER IN THE PRODUCTION OF READY-MADE SAUCES AND AMBIENT PESTOS, FROM EQUINOX

Angri (SA), July 25th, 2024 – La Doria, the leading Group in the production of tomato-based products,
sauces, pulses and fruit juices for the supermarket private label market, has signed a sale and
purchase agreement with Equinox, a Private Equity fund under Luxembourg law that invests in the
capital of medium-sized Italian companies owner through Basil Investments S.à r.l. of a 90% stake
in the company’s share capital – and Cominter – a recognised trading company in the agro-food
sector, owner of a 10% stake. The agreement covers the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of
Clas S.p.A. (“Clas”), a leading Italian company in the production of sauces and ambient pesto sauces
for major industry brands and leading large-scale retail chains in Italy and abroad.

Founded in 1989 in Chiusanico (Italy), Clas generated turnover of over Euro 75 million in 2023. The
company’s product portfolio consists of pesto sauces made with 100% Italian basil (accounting for
almost 90% of revenues in 2023), ready-made pasta sauces (8%) and various other condiments.
Today, Clas operates a production site in Chiusanico (Imperia) employing almost 150 people
including both permanent and seasonal employees. Clas has a well-established overseas
commercial presence, mainly in Germany, France and the United Kingdom. International sales
accounting for approximately 90% of total sales, with a total production of almost 90 million jars
in 2023. The company’s revenues are equally divided between private label and co-packing.

Antonio Ferraioli, CEO and Chairperson of the La Doria Group: “We are delighted to announce the
acquisition of Clas. This transaction represents a significant milestone in our strategy to expand into
synergistic sectors that are strategic for our growth. The transaction will enable us to further
advance our offering towards products with higher added value and service content. Clas also
embodies La Doria’s core values by blending tradition with innovation and placing customer focus,
quality and sustainability at the heart of our work. We are therefore confident that the acquisition
will enable the La Doria Group to lay solid foundations for further expansion in the private label
ambient pesto market and in the co-packing sector.”
The market for ready-made sauces, including ambient pesto sauces, is experiencing significant
growth both in Italy and abroad. The addition of Clas will allow La Doria to further expand its
presence in the ready-made sauces sector, where it has been operating for many years and which
saw a 26.2% year-on-year sales growth in 2023.

Massimiliano Monti, Partner at Equinox: “We are proud to have contributed to the company’s
growth over the last three and a half years and we are delighted that the industrial project developed
in collaboration with the Clas management team – whom we greatly thank and respect – has been
validated and embraced by a leading global operator like La Doria. I am confident that Clas will
continue to create value and strengthen its leadership position.”