Portuguese families and Belgian fund in exclusive talks to acquire Panzani
Portuguese families and Belgian fund negotiate exclusive acquisition of Panzani from CVC Capital Partners.
Event / Economy
Panzani Acquisition by CVC Partners
Portuguese families Moreira Da Silva and Silva Domingues, along with Belgian fund Sofina, entered exclusive negotiations with CVC Capital Partners on October 15, 2026, to acquire majority stake in Panzani, a leading French pasta manufacturer. The proposed 1.8 billion euro transaction would create a consolidated entity with combined annual revenue exceeding 1 billion euros.
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2026-10-16 to 2026-10-26 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 16 Oct, 17:38 UTC
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What happened
Combined Panzani-Cerealis entity would rival Barilla in European pasta market
The consolidated company would combine Panzani's leadership in France and the Netherlands with Cerealis's strong presence in Portugal, Spain, and Czech Republic. The combined entity would achieve the scale necessary to compete more effectively with Barilla, the world's leading pasta manufacturer, at the European level.
Panzani acquisition proposal communicated to 1,800 employees
The proposed acquisition plan was communicated to representatives of approximately 1,800 employees from both Panzani and Cerealis on October 16, 2026 (Friday afternoon following the Thursday negotiations announcement).
Panzani headquarters to remain in Lyon, France
The company's headquarters, located in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon, France, is expected to remain in the city following the acquisition. This continues the legacy established by founder Giovanni (Jean) Panzani, an Italian immigrant who lived in the Lyon region for 35 years.
CVC Capital Partners acquired Panzani for 550 million euros in 2021
CVC Capital Partners, an investment fund, purchased Panzani in 2021 for 550 million euros. The company then held the majority stake until entering negotiations for its sale in October 2026.
Portuguese families and Belgian fund enter exclusive negotiations to acquire Panzani from CVC Capital Partners
Portuguese families Moreira Da Silva and Silva Domingues, along with Belgian fund Sofina (owners of Cerealis group), entered into exclusive negotiations with CVC Capital Partners on October 15, 2026, to acquire the majority stake in Panzani, a leading French pasta manufacturer. The acquisition would create a consolidated entity valued at approximately 1.8 billion euros, with combined annual revenue exceeding 1 billion euros.
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