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Former management consultant and private equity professional Francesco Valli has launched Nostos Capital, a Rome-based search fund with the goal of acquiring a single SME in Central Italy. He has secured backing from more than 20 international investors, including Istria Capital, Ambit Partners, Alza Capital Partners, JB46, 9T, ONEtoONE Asset Management, Search Capital Partners, Lineage, Visconti Capital, Akiro Partners, Agirax, Cabiedes Inversiones, Stefano Enrico Airoldi, Till Bossert, Fabio Costa, Herbert Doleisch, Alex Kirn, Stephan Morgan, and Jan Woitschatzke.
An MBA graduate from INSEAD, Francesco Valli has built his career working alongside entrepreneurs and managers, specializing in SME investments and management to support their industrial relaunch and growth plans. He has executed majority acquisition deals and served on the boards of several Italian companies, including SPIG-GMAB and Prosciuttificio Faleria. He began his career at Kearney before joining Oxy Capital as a Corporate Turnaround Manager. In recent years, he was a PE Investment Manager at Auctus Capital Partners.
With Nostos Capital, Valli is now looking to acquire a company based in Central Italy with specific characteristics. The target company should have a turnover of at least €10M with growing revenues, EBIT marginality above 10%, and a strong market position with clear and sustainable competitive advantages. Nostos Capital has no specific industry preferences, allowing it to consider opportunities across various sectors, while it seeks a B2B business operating in a non-cyclical market, with strong cash generation and a fragmented, recurring customer base. The company should also face a generational transition issue, with valuations ranging from €10M to €35M.
Valli emphasizes that Nostos Capital aims to collaborate actively with the entrepreneur of the acquired company, planning a structured transition and continuing the growth of the business alongside the existing management team. Beyond providing significant financial resources, Nostos Capital will offer international experience, strategic contacts, and a global network, enabling the target company to accelerate its growth and reach new levels of success.
Legal Advisor: Dentons
