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ROCA News
5 years from the initial investment, ROCA Investments exits Artesana, with an IRR of 30%
- Roca Investments concludes the investment cycle in Artesana and exits the shareholding, after a 4-fold increase in production capacity and a tripling of turnover
- ROCA Investments sells its entire 20% stake in Artesana to an investment fund, in a transaction with an impact on consolidating the private equity ecosystem in Romania
- The transaction represents a natural planned step in ROCA Investments' investment strategy, validating its model for the sustainable development of Romanian companies with potential.
ROCA Investments announces the successful completion of the investment cycle in Artesana, the leader of artisanal dairy products in Romania, by selling its entire 20% stake to another investment fund.
This transaction marks the end of a successful partnership that, over five years, has supported the company's healthy development and opens a new stage of growth for Artesana. At the same time, it reflects a significant contribution not only to the future evolution of the company, but also to the overall dynamics of the private equity ecosystem in Romania.
The transaction is subject to approval from the competent regulatory authorities and will become effective upon obtaining all necessary validations.
The investment made by ROCA Investments in 2020 – in one of the most difficult moments for the economy in recent history, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic – contributed to the rapid transformation and sustainable scaling of the business, as well as to the consolidation of the Artesana brand in the premium segment of the Romanian artisanal dairy market.
During the period 2020–2024, Artesana tripled its turnover, demonstrating a solid trajectory of growth and operational maturity. The exit of ROCA Investments represents a natural step in its investment strategy, confirming the commitment to support, through capital and business know-how, the sustainable development of Romanian companies with potential. At the time of the investment, Artesana recorded a turnover of 17.8 million RON, and by the end of 2024, the company reached an estimated turnover of over 55 million RON.
At the same time, during this period, Artesana expanded its processing capacity to 40,000 liters per shift, by completing the investment in the new factory, diversified its product portfolio and expanded its distribution nationally and internationally.
"Artesana is not just a company with excellent products. It is an authentic story of Romanian entrepreneurship, started in complicated times and grown with passion, discipline and courage. When we invested in 2020, Artesana was a beautiful dream, with potential. Five years later, it is a mature, solid company and ready to enter a new chapter of its development. We are glad that ROCA was part of this journey. Artesana will always remain a dear chapter in our history - and I am convinced that ROCA will also remain part of its DNA. We wish the new investors to continue this construction, in a way that honors the story so far", said Rudi Vizental, CEO and co-founder of ROCA Investments.
"The partnership with ROCA Investments represented an essential stage in the evolution of Artesana. Together with a partner who understood our vision and supported us with trust and know-how, we managed to go through a profound transformation and bring the Artesana story to this moment of growth. We are grateful to them for this common journey and for their active involvement in building a more solid, more ambitious and future-ready Artesana", declared Daniel Donici, co-founder of Artesana.
“This investment is living proof that when private capital meets the right company and the right partners, it can generate accelerated and healthy growth,” added Rudi Vizental.
One of the objectives of the strategic partnership was the construction and equipping of a new dairy factory, to expand production capacity. Construction began in April 2021, and the factory was inaugurated two years later, following an investment of 6 million Euros.
