RINA, a global corporation active in the Energy, Marine, Certification, Transport & Infrastructure and Industry sectors, is pleased to announce that it has signed, through its subsidiary RINA Consulting, a definitive agreement to build a strategic alliance with COMETE Engineering, “COMETE Group” head company, a major player in the engineering & consulting fields in Tunisia and Africa. The closing is taking place alongside the exit from COMETE Engineering’s capital of the Africinvest managed fund, Tuninvest Innovations, after a long and fruitful journey characterised by a remarkable growth of COMETE Group in the African continent.
The partnership with COMETE, about 100 employees, will allow RINA to expand its operations and presence in the Middle East and Africa, which will contribute to increase export of high value-added services from Tunisia and more broadly value creation for all stakeholders. COMETE will benefit from the support of RINA to broaden its services in the fields of large infrastructures, maritime, industry, oil and gas and conventional & renewable energy.
Radhi Meddeb, Chairman & Managing Director of COMETE Group, said:
This strategic alliance allows us to be backed by a leading international firm and, to access when needed to a high level reservoir of expertise. This strategic partnership will further strengthen our presence in traditional markets; give us the chance to explore new geographies; and allow us to target more complex projects.
Ugo Salerno, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RINA, said:
We are happy to finalise this strategic alliance which reinforces the RINA’s global presence, particularly in the Maghreb and sub-Saharan regions and gives us access to high standards and well trained human resources. We are convinced that this partnership will contribute to create value for all parties, given the complementary nature of both businesses and a strong vision at the top management level of both companies.
This transaction benefited from the advice of AMCapital, Paris.