Fedrigoni enters RFID technology and smart labels markets: acquires a majority share of Tageos

Fedrigoni Group is continuing its diversification of product offerings by linking up with RFID powerhouse Tageos. Through this investment, Fedrigoni will further consolidate its position among the top three worldwide providers of self-adhesive materials. The operation will also bring new opportunities for the Paper division, particularly in the luxury packaging segment.

The Fedrigoni Group, a global player of reference in the production of high value-added special papers for packaging, publishing, and graphics, as well as premium labels and self-adhesive materials, today announces its investment in a majority share of Tageos. Tageos is a global market leader in the design and manufacturing of RFID inlays and tags, headquartered in Montpellier, France, with further offices, sales, R&D and operations in Germany, the U.S., Hong Kong and China.

Tageos’ growth potential is far above the overall RFID industry level. The fast-growing customer and market demand for innovative, high-quality RAIN RFID (UHF) and NFC (HF) inlays, which enable businesses to digitize their product offerings, has led to a greater need for expansion in order to continue to accelerate profitable growth. With this deal, Fedrigoni acquires the majority of the Tageos’ capital through a direct investment and from shareholders including Newfund Capital as well as Tageos’ founders, who will retain their leadership positions in the company. As part of the agreement, Fedrigoni will have the right to purchase the remaining shares in Tageos in the future.

Thanks to this acquisition, the Group strengthens its position as the third player in the world of self-adhesive materials, where it operates through several brands such as Arconvert, Manter and Ritrama. It will also enable Fedrigoni to add more value to its customers and existing markets such as food, wine & spirits, cosmetics, healthcare & pharma. Moreover, the company will enhance its market share in key strategic growth areas like retail, logistics and industrial applications, and the acquisition will also bring new opportunities for the Paper division, particularly in the luxury packaging segment, where companies are increasingly looking for solutions to protect their brands, verify authenticity and prevent counterfeiting, especially in light of the exponential growth of e-commerce.

“Tageos is a company with excellent growth prospects which operates in a sector that is definitely interesting for us, with a technology and customer base that is very complementary to ours,” says Marco Nespolo, CEO of the Fedrigoni Group. “Thanks to this acquisition, we are entering the ‘smart label’ market, pursuing our strategy of continuously widening our offer in all the most attractive and promising adjacent segments.”

Matthieu Picon, Co-Founder and CEO of Tageos also expressed his excitement: “Being backed and supported by Fedrigoni Group, and its owner Bain Capital, will allow us to further boost our global market expansion and continuous growth as a market leader in RFID inlays and tags. Our existing and new customers will undoubtedly welcome Fedrigoni and its offerings. I am fully convinced that both, our companies’ DNA as well as our common ambitions fit perfectly together, and will form a strong basis for our joint success.”

“Today, we are adding a further element to the leadership of Fedrigoni in the world of premium self-adhesive materials,” adds Fulvio Capussotti, Executive Vice President of the Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives business unit. “We will support Tageos in both growing production capacity and entering new market sectors, thanks to the pervasiveness of our commercial activities and the global geographical presence of our Group.”