Olidata (OLI.MI), the Italian IT and cybersecurity group, is preparing to expand through mergers and acquisitions, with a potential deal likely before the end of the year, Chairman and main shareholder Cristiano Rufini told Reuters.
Rufini said the focus will remain on the Italian market, where small but innovative tech firms risk losing ground without consolidation. “In Italy, we have some very good, high-performing centres of excellence, but they are very small. If we don’t manage to build significant critical mass, some valuable technologies and solutions risk being lost,” he explained at the TEHA Forum in Cernobbio.
Since returning as chairman in April, Rufini has steered Olidata toward growth in digital healthcare and proprietary cybersecurity technologies. The company reported €96.7 million in revenue and €5.9 million in adjusted EBITDA last year.
Despite being relisted in 2023, Olidata’s share price has been volatile—currently around €2.8 with a €53 million market cap, well below its September 2023 peak of €8.65. Rufini attributed the swings to the stock’s structure, dominated by retail investors holding 32% of capital and the absence of institutional backers.
His goal: build a stronger governance framework, attract institutional investors, and position Olidata as a solid, growth-driven technology player in Italy’s digital economy.