CINCA

Who owns CINCA?

CINCA is currently owned by QuattroR through QuattroR Fund I (2017 vintage), since 2018.

Hand-verified · updated 2026-07-21

About CINCA

CINCA, formally Companhia Industrial de Ceramica, is a Portuguese ceramic tile manufacturer based in Fiaes, in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira, that produces porcelain and ceramic wall and floor tiles. The company runs collections such as Celine, Indigo, Solid and Tierra that draw on the look of marble and natural stone, and it began as a producer of porcelain mosaics before broadening into full-format tiles. According to group disclosures, CINCA employs around 400 people, operates four manufacturing units and has a maximum production capacity of roughly 5.2 million square metres per year. Its products are distributed in more than 70 countries across five continents, positioning it as an export-oriented player in the European ceramics industry. CINCA sits within Gruppo Cerdisa Ricchetti, one of the historic Italian ceramic groups.

Ownership journey

CINCA was founded in Portugal in 1964, initially producing porcelain mosaics at its plant in Fiaes, and over time became part of the Italian ceramics group Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti, a business tracing its roots to 1960. In August 2018 the Italian private equity manager QuattroR, investing through QuattroR Fund I, reached an agreement to acquire control of Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti, the parent that owns CINCA, committing to inject up to EUR 40.45 million into the business to support its turnaround and new industrial plan. Through that transaction QuattroR became the controlling shareholder of the group and, by extension, of the CINCA operation in Portugal. QuattroR remains an active investor and the group is still listed among its current portfolio holdings; no exit or secondary transaction has been recorded.

Under PE ownership

The QuattroR investment was structured to recapitalise Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti and fund a new business plan aimed at restoring financial and operational stability across its Italian and Portuguese plants. As part of the industrial upgrade, the CINCA plant in Portugal, alongside the group's Italian facility, underwent a technology overhaul that included significant investment in the end-of-line department to modernise production. Under the new ownership the group has continued to operate CINCA as an export-focused business serving more than 70 countries from its four manufacturing units. The capital and the industrial plan were directed at strengthening the group's competitiveness in the European tile market rather than at short-term restructuring alone.