The transaction will create a unique ecosystem in the market for end-to-end digital processes management: from certified identity to Artificial Intelligence.
Havant (formerly SB Italia), a Digital Innovation Company with over 20 years of experience and a recognized leader in digital transformation and process digitalisation solutions, operating in six countries and backed by Argos Fund, announced today the signing of an agreement to acquire In.Te.S.A. S.p.A. (“Intesa”), a benefit corporation specialising in digital solutions for business process management and trust services. Intesa is a currently non-core-business of Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider.
Closing of the transaction is expected in the coming weeks, subject to customary closing conditions.
This acquisition will mark a new milestone in Havant’s growth journey and establishes a Group with a natively integrated, end-to-end offering for business process digitalization: from Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) to qualified electronic signature, from digital identity to EDI exchange, up to Artificial Intelligence applied to processes, advanced Data Governance, and compliant digital archiving. This breadth of capabilities and solutions is currently offered by a few players in Europe within a single, integrated technological ecosystem.
A strategic acquisition for digital leadership
Founded in 1987, Intesa is now recognized as a Qualified Trust Service Provider under the eIDAS Regulation. It operates through four proprietary platforms — Intesa Sign, Intesa Hive, Intesa ID and Intesa CMS — covering the entire value chain of electronic signature, digital identification, EDI exchange, e-invoicing and compliant document archiving. Intesa is also among the most advanced Italian players in the development of the European Digital Identity Wallet, having already been a member of the Potential Consortium and now part of the WE BUILD Consortium — and provides its technological and compliance contribution to leading European initiatives.
The integration with Havant’s capabilities — including applied Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Document Processing and regulatory compliance — will bring to market a unique digital ecosystem: complete, interoperable by design and compliant with the full European regulatory framework (eIDAS 2.0, DORA, AI Act, GDPR).
The acquisition of Intesa will complete Havant’s strategic vision: supporting companies throughout the entire lifecycle of digital processes, from signature to data, from certified identity to artificial intelligence. Together with Intesa, we are bringing to market an offering that is unmatched in Italy today in terms of breadth, technological depth and regulatory compliance.
— Massimo Missaglia, Founder & CEO, Havant
Synergies and development plan
The transaction will create a group with unique and complementary capabilities. Intesa brings a top-tier client portfolio across financial services, automotive, energy & utilities, manufacturing, retail and healthcare, as well as a strong set of certifications attesting to its technical excellence: eIDAS QTSP, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 9001, ISO 37001, AgID qualified conservator, SPID and CIE service provider, Certified PEPPOL Access Point, member of the Adobe Approved Trust List and the Cloud Signature Consortium.
Havant Group’s strategy will be built on four pillars: business process digital transformation, digital signature and identity, Intelligent Document Processing, applied Artificial Intelligence and advanced Data Governance, and advanced digital trust services compliant with eIDAS 2.0 and the European digital identity ecosystem. The goal is to establish the Group as a leader in supporting Italian and European companies with their sustainable, secure and measurable innovation journeys.
“Havant’s growth confirms the strength of our investment paradigm: an Italian entrepreneurial project that, in just a few years, has evolved from being a national leader in process digitalization to becoming an integrated European player in the trust economy. The acquisition of Intesa is the most significant transaction completed with Havant: it adds high-quality recurring revenues, proprietary technology and a blue-chip client base, in a structurally growing market supported by the new European regulatory framework.”
— Andrea Pavesi, Partner, Argos Fund
The transaction will strengthen Havant’s growth trajectory, which by the end of 2025 exceeded €70 million in revenue, and aims to surpass €100 million in revenue by the end of 2026, continuing its European consolidation path following the acquisitions of Archive-IT, itAgile, Doxinet and Seta.
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Argos team: Jean Pierre di Benedetto, Andrea Pavesi, Gabriele Scalco, Giacomo Egidi
Argos
Coralie Cornet
Communication Director
[email protected]
+33 (0)6 14 38 33 37
Argos Press Agency
Twister Communications Group
Emilio Miosi
+39 338 6546410
[email protected]
Andrea Franceschi
+39 335 7485194
[email protected]
Havant
Imageware
Alessandra Merini, Valeria Musti, Stefania Trazzi
[email protected]
+39 2700251
Intesa
Simonetta De Santis
[email protected]
+39 335 7613055
About Argos / argos.fund
One firm, two strategies. Argos is an independent European private equity group that supports the growth of mid-sized businesses and backs their management teams.
With over 2.3bn€ assets under management, 35 years of experience and more than 100 businesses assisted, Argos operates in 4 regions (Benelux, DACH, France and Italy) from 6 offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Milan and Paris. The group seeks to acquire majority stakes and invests between €15m and €100m in each investment of its two strategies:
- The Argos Mid-Market fund unlocks business potential and helps companies make it to the next level.
- The Argos Climate Action fund (SFDR art. 9) aims at shaping European sustainable leaders by making their ‘grey-to-green’ transition.
About Havant / www.havant.com
Havant (formerly SB Italia) is the Digital Innovation Company with over 20 years of experience, leading enterprise process transformation through the strategic use of data and Artificial Intelligence. With a presence in six countries and more than 300 employees, the Group integrates proprietary Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) assets and advanced Data Governance solutions to ensure maximum security and data sovereignty. A pioneer in applied AI, Havant is among the first organizations in Europe to have obtained ISO/IEC 42001 certification, ensuring ethical innovation compliant with the requirements of the AI Act. From document automation to Digital Trust, Havant enables intelligent information management, turning data into strategic value and a competitive asset for large organizations and regulated markets.
