Cellularline

Who owns Cellularline?

Cellularline is an Italian Consumer company, currently owned by First Capital since 2018. It changed hands in 2018, when Motion Equity Partners sold.

About Cellularline

Cellularline is an Italian consumer-electronics group, headquartered in Reggio Emilia, that designs and distributes accessories for smartphones, tablets and connected devices, including chargers, cables, power banks, protective cases, screen protectors, audio products and travel adapters. It positions itself as a European reference brand in the mobile-accessories market, with products distributed in more than 60 countries and sold through a multi-brand portfolio that spans Cellularline, Interphone, Skross, Coverlab, Music Sound and other labels. Alongside its Reggio Emilia headquarters, the group operates additional commercial centres in Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany and Dubai. For the year to 31 December 2024 the company reported consolidated revenue of EUR 164.3 million and a net profit of EUR 5.6 million, with a workforce of roughly 294 employees. Its shares are listed on Borsa Italiana.

Ownership journey

The business traces back to 1990, when Cellular Italia S.p.A. was founded in Reggio Emilia to distribute early mobile telephones before pivoting to designing and producing accessories under the Cellularline brand. In 2014 Motion Equity Partners backed the company through its Motion III fund, investing alongside the founding families and management as the group pursued international expansion. Motion Equity Partners exited in 2018 when the business was taken public via a stock market listing, first on AIM Italia and subsequently on the main Borsa Italiana market. From 2018 First Capital S.p.A. became a shareholder in the listed company and remains an active holder. The founding Aleotti family also retains a significant stake, with Christian Aleotti serving as chief executive.

Under PE ownership

The investment period supported a shift from a largely Italian distributor into a European multi-brand accessories group, widening distribution to more than 60 countries. Following its 2018 listing, Cellularline pursued an active bolt-on acquisition programme, adding Systema in 2019, the Skross premium travel-adapter brand through Worldconnect in 2020, the customised-case specialist Coverlab in 2021, the Allogio brand via Subliros in 2022, and Germany's Peter Jaeckel in 2023. These deals expanded the portfolio to more than a dozen brands and extended the group beyond phone accessories into travel, audio, two-wheeler communication and e-mobility products. Revenue reached EUR 164.3 million in 2024, and the company continued to broaden its footprint across Europe and the Gulf. The trajectory reflects a consolidation strategy in a fragmented accessories market, combining organic international growth with acquired niche brands.