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Investment Strategy
The Fund invests in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in diversified sectors of the real economy, with a primary focus on areas of excellence within the Made in Italy ecosystem characterized by strong industrial foundations and significant growth prospects.
Investment activity is executed through proprietary deal sourcing, with primary or secondary transactions based predominantly on equity instruments and majority acquisitions, supported, in selected cases, by shared governance structures. The Fund targets average ticket sizes between €10 and €20 million and aims for portfolio diversification across 8–10 investments to ensure high operational commitment from the Investment Team and key managers.
FARO Real Economy positions itself as a benchmark for investments in Italian and European companies that represent the best of Made in Italy and the sectors that embody it, including food & beverage, healthcare, aerospace and other high value-added industrial segments.
The strategy adopts a strategic and dynamic private equity approach focused on businesses with solid economic fundamentals and substantial growth potential.
Through targeted acquisitions and structured growth initiatives, the Fund supports companies along their transformation journeys, strengthening competitiveness, scalability and market positioning.
The strategy combines direct engagement with active, tailored management: we work closely with company management to improve operational organization, optimise production value chains and develop new growth opportunities, including internationally.
The objective is to transform promising companies into industry leaders by integrating industrial tradition, innovation and sustainability, generating long-term value for all stakeholders.
Sector Focus:
Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defence, Beauty & Cosmetics, Healthcare, Industrial Machineries, Engineering.
Geographical Focus:
Italy (85%), Europe.
ESG:
The fund is classified under Article 8 of the SFDR (Sustainable Financial Disclosure Regulation) and promotes environmental and social characteristics (detailed in the SFDR annexes to the Offering Memorandum).
Investment Team
The FARO Real Economy Italy fund has Orienta Capital Partners as its Investment Team.
Orienta Capital Partners is an investment firm specializing in financial holdings, led by highly experienced managers and entrepreneurs committed to supporting the growth and value generation of target companies.
The company operates through primary or secondary market transactions that involve the acquisition of majority stakes that allow the exercise of control over the target company through agreements with existing shareholders and/or co-investors.
Orienta Capital Partners supports target companies in key phases of their life cycle, actively guiding the entrepreneur and/or top management in strategic decisions and inspiring their teams to improve overall managerial skills to be ready for the next phase of growth.
Key People
Mario Gardini
Key Man & Managing Partner
Mario Gardini brings over 30 years of international experience across strategy consulting, industrial management and private equity. He has held senior executive roles in international groups, leading growth initiatives, cross-border expansion, M&A transactions and IPO processes, with a strong focus on execution and value creation.
He is Key Man of the FARO Real Economy Italy Fund, contributing to investment activities and portfolio company development, leveraging extensive entrepreneurial and industrial expertise.
Augusto Balestra
Key Man & Partner
Augusto Balestra brings over 25 years of experience across consulting, industrial management and private equity. He has held senior management roles in industrial groups and private equity–backed companies, leading M&A transactions, IPO processes, restructurings and operational transformations, with a strong focus on finance, governance and execution.
He is Key Man of the FARO Real Economy Italy Fund, contributing to investment activities and portfolio company development, leveraging hands-on operational and industrial expertise developed in complex international environments.
Lorenzo Isolabella
Partner
Lorenzo Isolabella has built a solid background in private investments, corporate finance and M&A transactions, with hands-on experience across the full investment lifecycle, from sourcing and analysis to structuring, execution and portfolio management.
He is a Partner at Orienta Capital Partners, actively involved in investment activities, portfolio monitoring and value creation initiatives, including growth strategies and M&A add-on transactions.
Team
Gianluca Gatta
Investment Manager
Giulio Polverelli
Associate
Jacopo Zanardi
Associate
Francesco Barbi
Analyst
Stefano Pompignoli
Associate
Emanuele Castelli
Associate
Alessia Brighi
Analyst
Nicola Bagnarelli
Associate
Alvise E. Selvatico
Analyst
Giuseppe De Luca
Analyst
Mario Gardini, Chairman and Founding Partner of Orienta Capital Partners, presents the investment strategy of the FARO Real Economy compartment.
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