Houlihan Lokey Advises F.I.L.A. Group

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce the acquisition of Seven S.p.A. by F.I.L.A. Fabbrica Italiana Lapis ed Affini (F.I.L.A.). The transaction closed on 20 January 2026.

Founded in 1973 in Turin, Seven S.p.A. is a market leader in Italy in backpacks, pencil cases, and bags, thanks to a unique combination of tradition, product quality, and brand recognition, alongside a multichannel distribution platform serving more than 6,000 stores.

Seven’s production model is flexible and fully outsourced to a network of selected manufacturing partners, coordinated through its subsidiary in Hong Kong SAR, which ensures stringent controls over quality and all stages of the production process.

Established in 1920, F.I.L.A. is a global leader in the production and distribution of creative expression tools, art materials, and stationery products. Through a portfolio of iconic brands, including Giotto, Tratto, Das, Lyra, and Canson, the group serves customers in more than 150 countries. Listed on the Euronext STAR Milan segment of the Italian Stock Exchange, F.I.L.A. combines over a century of quality and innovation with a strong commitment to sustainability and educational development.

The acquisition of Seven represents a strategic milestone for the F.I.L.A. Group, strengthening its position in the Italian school and stationery market through significant industrial and commercial synergies, an expanded product portfolio, and enhanced distribution across traditional and digital channels. The transaction preserves F.I.L.A.’s strong financial profile and further reinforces the group’s growth strategy, including the development of brand platforms, cross-selling opportunities, and the replication of the successful partnership model with DOMS (an Indian-listed company in which F.I.L.A. holds approximately a 26% stake) to support future international expansion. Finally, Seven will benefit from the well-established European branch network where the F.I.L.A. Group operates, creating further opportunities for growth and development across the continent.

Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to F.I.L.A. This transaction further reinforces Houlihan Lokey’s leading track record in the stationery sector.

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