Does the state enter precious games? Invitalia evaluates participation in the capital increase of 40-50 million

The state is preparing to enter precious games. According to rumors, Invitalia could subscribe to a share of the capital increase of 40-50 million euros to support the relaunch plan of the toy group. The patrimonial strengthening should then participate Dea Capital Alternative Fundthe SGR of the De Agostini group, and Europe investmentspart of the arrow global manager. The contribution of the founder of the company, Enrico Preziosi, would finally be around 10 million.

The difficulties of precious games

The financial maneuver should be concluded shortly and is part of the framework of the reorganization complex to which precious games has been working for months with the help of the consultants of Rothschild & Co and the lawyers of Pedersoligattai. The group, founded in 1978 and active in six European countries, is going through a delicate phase. The difficulties began with pandemic and the difficulties in the supply chains, continued with the inflation of raw materials and energy, finally culminated in the increase in the costs of maritime shipments, to which Preziosi games makes ample appeal to suppose games from China and other Asian countries.

The family reorganization and the clarification of Invitalia

A few months ago, the creditor banks of the company – including Unicredit, Banco Bpm, Intesa Sanpaolo – have given their exposure to Dea Capital and Europa Investimenti, Two specialized funds that in the whole would have detected about 300 million debts of precious games. From there a long negotiation began which is about to result precisely in the capital increase and in the entrance of Invitalia in the social team. Invitalia, however, specifies that « the cited investment operation is one of the numerous access requests currently in the preliminary phase by the technical structures of the safeguard fund and that no decision has been made on its realization ».
Currently, the Precious Games Group is controlled through a corporate chain by the Preziosi family. Until two months ago the founder Enrico was the owner of 100% of the share capital. In mid -March, however, The patron resorted to the family pact institute to distribute 80% of the quotas of the four children – Matteo, Fabrizio, Paola and Eleonora – keeping the property of 20%for herself.

The group’s shops

The property strengthening will serve to set a relaunch strategy of precious games with a medium term horizon that it could lead to an aggregation in the future With other sector, Italian or foreign companies to create a large group with larger shoulders capable of imposing themselves on all global markets. The group is the owner of franchising agreements with about 400 Italian toys stores Operating with their own « player » brand and in the last two years it has opened various stores in many Italian cities under the « precious games » sign. The company then has an important presence in Spain, where in 2019 he acquired the famous competitor.

What is invitalia does

Any entry into precious games would represent an additional sign of Invitalia’s activism. TOThe Companies’ Safeguard Fund, promoted by Mimit to support strategic companies, the 100% controlled agency by the Ministry of Finance has already invested in the thermal baths of Chiancianoin the manufacturer of passenger trains Firema and in the relaunching project of the historic former plant Ferrosud of Matera. Finally, the agency led by Bernardo Mattarella was involved in the Coin rescue operationinvesting ten million for a 30.1% participation in the capital of the Venetian chain of department stores which has 34 direct shops and 130 stores in Italy and abroad.