Ethica Group, through its M&A Advisory team, assisted Casaforte Self‑Storage S.p.A., Italy’s leading private storage operator, in the sale of a majority stake to Ardian, a global private investment firm.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Milan, Casaforte currently manages 24 facilities (a mix of freehold and franchised) across Italy, totaling approximately 80,000 square meters of space. The facilities, characterized by high levels of technology and security, are mainly concentrated in Northern Italy, with a strong presence in key metropolitan areas such as Milan, Turin, Genoa and Bologna, as well as some locations in Central Italy, including Rome and Foggia. The company’s success is built on an experienced management team led by Cesare Carcano, who will continue to play a key role in Casaforte’s development.
With this acquisition, Ardian’s total investment in the self‑storage sector in Italy and France exceeds €300 million and an additional €200 million in investments is planned to support a buy‑and‑build strategy in Europe, with a primary focus on Spain and Germany. Ardian’s goal is to build a large‑scale, pan‑European self‑storage platform, consolidating a highly fragmented sector driven by favourable long‑term structural trends.
