The Equity Club 2.0

The Equity Club is a growth capital investment firm operating as a club deal initiative, primarily focused on supporting Italian companies. The firm aims to partner with businesses that possess solid fundamentals and strong management teams, assisting them in achieving ambitious growth and navigating periods of discontinuity. They emphasize providing more than just financial capital, leveraging a unique network of entrepreneurial families who contribute extensive knowledge, connections, and real-world corporate experience to their portfolio companies and industrial projects.

Founded in 2018, The Equity Club was established through the initiative of its management and Mediobanca. The firm's objective was to create a distinctive ecosystem where the private capital of a network of Italian entrepreneurs could directly support the industrial projects of other ambitious entrepreneurs willing to open the capital structure of their companies. This club deal structure offers greater flexibility in terms of governance and exit strategy compared to traditional private equity funds.

The Equity Club has been active since its inception, having made 34 investments. Notable early investments include Jakala in 2018, and La Bottega dell'Albergo and Philogen in 2019. More recently, in 2021, the firm announced an investment agreement with Lincotek Group, a leading supplier of surface solutions, to support its M&A strategy and expand its international footprint. The firm has launched TEC2, a new club deal program with a goal to invest €900 million in private equity over a 4-5 year horizon, following the fully invested TEC1 program of €500 million.

The firm's team works in close partnership with entrepreneurs. Roberto Ferraresi is a co-CEO and founder, and Filippo Penatti joined as co-CEO in January 2024, leading the activities alongside Ferraresi. Penatti brings two decades of private equity experience from The Carlyle Group and a background in business consulting at McKinsey&Co. Ferraresi has significant experience as a Partner at PAI Partners. The team is composed of seasoned professionals with a strong track record in international private equity, dedicated to transforming ideas into strategies and strategies into successes.