H.I.G. Capital, a global private equity firm with more than $13 billion of equity capital under management, has announced that it has opened a Milan office and appointed Raffaele Legnani as a Managing Director to lead its efforts in Italy.
H.I.G., through its H.I.G. Europe affiliate, currently has a team of over 50 investment professionals based in Europe, operating out of offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid and Paris. H.I.G. Europe is one of the most active private equity investors in Europe, having completed 28 investments since it began investing in 2008. In July 2013, H.I.G. Capital successfully closed H.I.G. European Capital Partners II at €825 million ($1.1 billion), significantly above its initial target. The fund will follow the strategy of its predecessor fund, focusing on buyout and growth capital investments in middle-market companies primarily in Western Europe.
Mr. Legnani was previously founding partner of Atlantis Partners in Milan, the leading independent institutional investment firm focused on Italian mid-size companies in Special Situations. Before that, Mr. Legnani has successfully invested in a significant number of buyout transactions, both directly and through specialized private equity funds (the London based Stellican and the US based Wexford Management) serving as operating board member for several portfolio companies. Previously, he worked in investment banking for Goldman Sachs in London.
In commenting on his appointment, Mr. Legnani stated, “I am very excited to join the H.I.G. team. H.I.G. is ideally positioned to successfully invest in Italy, given the significant amount of capital at its disposal and its experience in working with both growth companies and businesses facing operational and/or financial challenges. Focusing on midsize companies with a turnover above €50 million, H.I.G. targets the backbone of the Italian economy.” Mr. Legnani also added that he expects H.I.G. to be flexible in its approach in Italy, providing both debt and equity capital and investing in either majority or minority stakes in promising Italian businesses with a strong and sustainable competitive position. He also expects H.I.G. Capital to assist Italian companies to capitalize on international growth and expansion opportunities, given its global presence and its wide team of international experienced professionals.
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