Historic Italian coffee pot brand Bialetti is set to be sold to investment vehicle NUO Capital, owned by one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest families.
The sale and the delisting of the company was agreed on 16 April by the two businesses. As part of the deal, NUO Capital will purchase 78.6 per cent of Bialetti’s shares from its current main investors for €53 million ($59 million), with a close expected by the end of June. The buyout is subject to regulatory approval.
One of the coffee industry’s most recognisable brands, Bialetti was established in 1919 by Afonso Bialetti. His invention, the Moka Espresso, was instrumental in the success of the moka pot coffee preparation method in Italy and beyond. The first model, introduced in 1933, is now on display in the MoMA art gallery in New York, United States.
It has been reported that, in recent years, the brand has struggled with bad investments and competition from capsule coffee makers. In 2024, the company posted a €1.1 million loss and closed the year with adjusted net financial debts of €81.9 million.
