Platinum Equity has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Trime, the Italian manufacturer of mobile lighting towers, generators and security towers.
Trime Founder and Chairman Andrea Fontanella, CEO Paolo Tacconi and other members of management will invest alongside Platinum. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed by early 2027.
“We have been investing in equipment manufacturers and rental businesses for nearly two decades, and Trime is a company we’ve admired for a long time,” said Louis Samson, Co-President of Platinum Equity.
“It’s a resilient, cash-generative business serving markets that are growing and benefiting from essential infrastructure spending. We also see additional potential upside from continued investment in data centres and power generation both in the United States and globally. We believe our operational resources, industry relationships and experience scaling businesses in the sector can help accelerate the company’s next phase of growth.”
Headquartered in Cassinetta di Lugagnano, near Milan, Trime supplies equipment used across infrastructure, construction, mining, emergency response and events. The company operates four manufacturing facilities in Italy and serves customers in more than 30 countries with direct commercial operations in the UK, the Netherlands, the United States and Australia.
Trime offers a broad portfolio of products, including conventional, hybrid, battery-powered and solar-powered solutions. The company has established particularly strong momentum in North America, where demand for its products continues to grow among equipment-rental companies, contractors and infrastructure customers.
Platinum Equity’s equipment rental experience includes BlueLine Rental, sold to United Rentals for approximately $2.1 billion; Maxim Crane Works and NESCO. Custom Truck One Source, Inc. (NYSE: CTOS) and Electro Rent are current Platinum Equity portfolio companies.
The growth plan includes investment in production capacity, U.S. sales coverage, warehousing, spare-parts availability and customer support, alongside continued product innovation and selective acquisitions.
“Filippo and Platinum have stayed close to our business over the years and have taken the time to understand our people and what makes Trime work,” said Andrea Fontanella. “We wanted a partner who would respect our entrepreneurial culture and help us take the next step internationally. Platinum combines that personal understanding with deep experience and relationships in the rental industry. For our team, that is a compelling combination.”
The transaction builds on Platinum Equity’s commitment to Italy, where the firm has established a presence through investments such as De Wave Group, a marine contractor that provides new build and refit services to shipbuilders and cruise operators; Fantini Group, a producer and exporter of specialty-label wines, and Fratelli Polli, a producer of pasta sauces, condiments and vegetable preserves.
The minority shareholders and management team were advised by Artha Corporate Finance Advisory as financial advisor and by Deloitte Legal as legal advisor.