Quadrivio & Pambianco, together with AIFI, presents “The impact of private equity on Made in Italy”

The event promoted by Quadrivio & Pambianco, together with AIFI, to present the Italian study by the same name was held at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Rome. The focus was on private equity's impact on the Food & Beverages, Fashion, Furnishings, Design and Beauty sectors in the last 25 years.

Yesterday, Monday 26th May, the event “THE IMPACT OF PRIVATE EQUITY ON MADE IN ITALY” organized by Quadrivio & Pambianco together with AIFI was held at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, in Rome.

A work defining and enhancing the contribution that private equity has made to the Made in Italy sector over the last 25 years, identifying the main reference sectors, sharing data, case studies, and the perspective of the enterprisers involved.

As highlighted by the research, Made in Italy companies today stand as a fundamental part of our country's industrial fabric and are the object of constant investment by specialized funds. Suffice to think that between 2000 and 2024 alone, in the Italian private equity market, some €24.8 billion was invested in enterprises operating in the relative sectors, these being Food & Beverages, Fashion, Furnishings, Design and Beauty. This is a significant figure, amounting to 23% of the total value of allocated resources.

The study reveals a positive trend, one bringing Italy closer to other countries where funds have developed more rapidly. The average annual amount over the entire period is just under €1 billion, yet during the 2020-2024 period alone, €8.8 billion was allocated to companies in the four sectors examined, with a 2022 peak of more than €2.6 billion, which stands as a record year for the entire Italian private equity sector.

Opening the debate was Federico Eichberg, Chief of Cabinet. Next to speak was Anna Gervasoni, Head of AIFI and Dean of the LIUC Business University, who commented on the study and the data collected: "Approximately €9 billion has been injected into Made in Italy companies by private equity in the last five years. With €2.3 billion invested, 2024 was the second best year ever, confirming the solidity and attractiveness of our excellences, which continue to distinguish themselves internationally."

Barbara Cimmino, Vice President of Confindustria, with responsibility for exports and attracting investments, also took part in the discussion, underlining the message on the importance of promoting and enhancing Italy's excellences.

Walter Ricciotti, CEO of Quadrivio Group, who has been active in private equity for over 25 years, commented: "Private equity has invested over €25 billion in the last 25 years in enterprises operating in the Made in Italy reference sectors. This is a significant amount, an indicator of operators' great interest in a sector that is a symbol of the country. As operators, we have always believed in the importance of enhancing Italian companies and excellences, so much so that we have launched ‒ in partnership with Pambianco ‒ two specialized vehicles pivoting on this field: Lifestyle Fund and Lifestyle Fund II. A winning insight, as also confirmed by the results in this publication ‒ created in conjunction with AIFI ‒ and the evidence emerging from the case studies included. Some of the enterprises in the study were in fact our investees in the past or are still among our porfolio companies."

David Pambianco, Managing Partner at Lifestyle Fund and Lifestyle Fund II, the two private equity funds promoted and managed by Quadrivio & Pambianco, explored the main trends in this market and the sectors currently driving it the most, adding: “Made in Italy is an important brand and a lever for the country. Private equity plays a fundamental role, sees the potential of Italian companies and supports them in the process of growth and internationalization."

Instead, the enterpriser's perspective was the subject of a roundtable debate. This focused on first-hand testimony from entrepreneurs who have personally experienced what it means to open up to a private equity fund. The panel, moderated by Morya Longo, an Il Sole 24 Ore journalist, included: Matteo Anchisi, CEO of Dondup and PT Torino; Renato Ancorotti, President of Ancorotti Group; Roberto Imperatrice, former CEO of Rossopomodoro; Gianluca Mollura, CEO of Mohd; Mauro Grange, former CEO of Sonus Faber; and Marco Palmieri, CEO of Piquadro.

Rounding off the event was Innocenzo Cipolletta, President of AIFI: "Private equity has invested €25 billion in companies in these 25 years. Much more could be done if there were greater shared action between operators, institutions and the government in order to drive business and increase the number of initiatives in the entrepreneurial fabric. The data clearly demonstrates how the contribution from private capital goes well beyond financial backing: supported companies grow significantly. In fact, median values showed a 34% increase in turnover between 2020 and 2024, while employment grew by 40%. These results are accompanied by structural benefits, such as access to managerial skills, innovation, international expansion, and generational turnover ‒ all crucial for strengthening the competitiveness of our SMEs."