PAI Partners Hires Ardian's Marco Bellino for Flagship Italian Deals

PAI Partners has hired Marco Bellino from rival private equity firm Ardian to lead Italian investments for its flagship buyout fund. Bellino will replace Simone Cavalieri, who left the company recently. He will work closely with Raffaele Vitale, head of PAI's mid-market fund in Italy. PAI closed its latest €7.1 billion flagship buyout fund in 2023.

Introduction:

PAI Partners, a leading European private equity firm, has strengthened its Italian investment capabilities by hiring Marco Bellino from rival firm Ardian. Bellino, who will take over as head of Italian investments for PAI's flagship buyout fund, will replace Simone Cavalieri, who recently departed from the company. Bellino will work closely with Raffaele Vitale, head of PAI's mid-market fund in Italy.

PAI's Flagship Fund, PAI Partners VIII, closed in 2023 with €7.1 billion in total capital commitments, surpassing its fundraising target and marking a 40% increase in size compared to its predecessor [1]. The firm's success in raising capital highlights the strong investor confidence in PAI's investment strategy of transforming businesses into high-performing strategic global assets in Europe and North America within the Real Economy [1].

New Italian Investment Leader:

Marco Bellino brings extensive experience to PAI, having spent over 15 years at Ardian in various roles. Most recently, he served as a Managing Director and Head of Italian Private Equity, where he led the firm's investment activities in Italy. Bellino's expertise in Italian markets and private equity will be valuable assets to PAI as it continues to expand its presence in the country [2].

PAI's Italian Investment Portfolio:

PAI has already deployed approximately 35% of Fund VIII's capital, making seven investments to date. These include ECG / Vacanceselect, NovaTaste, the Looping Group, ECF Group, Azets Group, Infra Group, and Alphia, Inc. [1]. With Bellino's leadership, PAI aims to identify and invest in further opportunities that align with its strategy.

Conclusion:

PAI Partners' hire of Marco Bellino from Ardian is a strategic move that bolsters the firm's Italian investment capabilities. Bellino's extensive experience in Italian markets and private equity will be valuable assets to PAI as it continues to expand its presence in the country. With €7.1 billion in capital commitments, PAI is well-positioned to identify and invest in opportunities that align with its investment strategy.

References:

[1] PAI Partners. (2023, November 13). PAI Partners raises €7.1 billion for eighth flagship fund. Retrieved from https://www.paipartners.com/mediaitem/pai-partners-raises-e7-1-billion-for-eighth-flagship-fund/

[2] Private Equity News. (2023, November 13). PAI Partners raises €7.1 billion for eighth flagship funds. Retrieved from https://www.private-equitynews.com/news/pai-partners-raises-e7-1-billion-for-eight-flagship-funds/