Viaemilia raises €50M to back Motor Valley's smaller suppliers
What's the deal? Viaemilia Investments, a private equity holding company set up by Cherry Bay CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Dallara, has raised €50 million to invest in small and medium-sized suppliers across Italy's Motor Valley. It aims to exceed €100 million in the coming years and is debuting with a €10 million investment in BercellaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Parma-based specialist in carbon fibre structures for motorsport and aerospace.
Who's behind it? Cherry Bay holds 70% of the new company and provides capital, financial expertise, and governance; Dallara holds 30% and contributes technical know-how and industry connections. Mattia Rossi, managing director of both Cherry Bay Capital and Viaemilia Investments, says the project is open to other players, with talks underway he "cannot yet disclose."
What's the endgame? Viaemilia targets companies with turnover up to €50 million, good profitability, and niche leadership in areas such as composites, critical components, powertrains, software, and artificial intelligence. It plans a couple of deals a year, funding acquisitions and expansion into aerospace, medical, energy, and marine markets while leaving founders in charge.
Why these firms? Research by NomismaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → for the Motor Valley Association counts roughly 15,000 direct suppliers and 647,000 employees in the region, with exports near 52%. In 2024, around 34,000 vehicles produced generated over €10.5 billion in revenue, yet 43% of SMEs are still run by first- or second-generation founders facing growth and succession.
The first test case: Bercella, founded in 1996, employs over 180 people and has made more than 100,000 components and 2,000 chassis for racing. It also works in space, contributing to the Rosetta and ExoMars missions and winning a €3.5 million Italian Space Agency contract in 2026 for composite optical benches.
By the numbers: Bercella closed 2025 with turnover of about €11 million and a gross operating margin of 20%. It forecasts a 50% revenue rise this year, holds €35 million in orders, and aims to triple its key financials within five years. Of Viaemilia's €10 million, €8 million goes into the company via a capital increase for a 30% stake, with €2 million buying existing shares.
The signal: The fund targets a real gap as Italy's automotive-supplier market contracts for a second year, with PwCDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → reporting 27% of component makers in financial distress even as investment funds grow more active. The test is less the fund's size than whether the Dallara-backed model can help profitable niche firms diversify and scale without displacing their founders.
Read more: en.ilsole24ore.com
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