– Ambienta SGR S.p.A., a leading European asset manager focused on environmental sustainability, has secured c. €500 million in commitments for its small cap strategy, surpassing its original €450 million target.
– Strong demand came primarily from existing investors across Ambienta’s strategies.
– The new strategy re-engages with the small cap segment, a space central to Ambienta’s 20-year private equity history, despite having grown to manage mid-cap funds like Ambienta IV (€1.55bn, closed in 2022).
– Target investments: high-quality European small cap companies with revenues up to €150 million, underpinned by environmental sustainability trends.
– The strategy retains Ambienta’s science-based, sustainability-driven investment approach, aiming for long-term value creation.
It will leverage:
– Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) – to quantitatively assess sustainability impact.
– ESG in Action program – for risk management and performance improvement across ESG metrics.
– Initial deployment will be led by a Milan and Paris-based team, with three Partners:
▪️Francesco Lodrini (existing Partner),
▪️Yann Bak (new, Paris-based),
▪️Giacomo Forti (new, Milan-based).
▪️Senior Advisor Francesco Sogaro adds expertise in European buyouts.
– The fund will invest across Europe, with plans to expand its team in all geographies where Ambienta operates.
– Mauro Roversi, CIO of Private Equity, noted the return to Ambienta’s roots in small, often family-owned businesses, and emphasized the ongoing potential among lower mid-market environmental champions.
– Laurent Donin de Rosière, Partner and Head of Investor Relations, reiterated Ambienta’s strong conviction in sustainability as a performance driver, thanking investors and acknowledging interest from new parties not accommodated in this round.
