June 13, Agic Capital, which has investments from E-Town FOF, officially announced that it would take a majority stock holding in Gimatic Srl, an Italian mechanical front arm supplier. Gimatic Srl is a leading global manufacturer of pneumatic and electric grippers for industrial automation founded in 1985 in southern Italy. It researches and manufactures related equipment for customers in the automobile, plastic, electric, food and medicine sectors.

The industrial robot.

The company’s growth rate has increased by 20 percent in the last three years. In 2008, 80 percent of its profits were from Europe, especially Germany and Italy. Its performance in the Asian market, however, was not exceptional.

The investment from Agic Capital will boost the internationalization of Giamtic, especially in China. The Chinese manufacturing industry in this area is big but not strong, and its competitiveness is still behind that of developed countries. In order to achieve industrial transformation, industrial automation is essential. The "Made in China 2025 strategy" requires development of the Chinese manufacturing industry. Agic Capital’s purchase of Gimatic Srl will improve the understanding of western automation and speed up the "Made in China 2025 Strategy".

E-Town Capital invested in Agic Capital in 2005 August. Agic Capital is a middle-scale first growth fund in Europe. It raised one billion dollars in its early stage for investment in companies focusing on industrial efficiency to support new manufacturing methods, and concentrating on providing innovative concepts in the areas of intelligent production, high-end devices, advanced materials, medical apparatus and environmental protection. 

The purchase of Gimatic Srl is the first independent investment for Agic Capital, and its second investment in European advanced technology.