CAPZA is now authorized to carry out lending activity in Italy through Artemid and Private Debt range of funds¹.

Since 2004, CAPZA has built a strong franchise in the direct lending market. CAPZA was one of the first mezzanine and unitranche player in France and has performed 125 private debt transactions in Europe since 2004². It has built long-lasting relationship with high profile PE sponsors. In 2014, CAPZA launched the Artemid Senior Loan range of funds, providing long-term senior loans to complement those offered by other financial partners. Since then, Artemid range of funds have invested more than €1bn across 65 companies with bank through TLB or TLD (senior debt – 7 years – bullet).

With more than 120 investments in portfolio and a track record of 300 transactions, CAPZA has built a strong industry network across 5 European regions (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Benelux) that can be leveraged to support the development of portfolio companies.

CAPZA is now authorized to carry out lending activity in Italy through Artemid and Private Debt range of funds. Historically, the Italian lending market was solely serviced by banks. Since 2012, however, it is progressively opening to alternative financing providers on the back of concrete measures introduced over the last 3 years by the government, aiming at improving SMEs access to financing. Against this backdrop, the asset class has been developing progressively since 2019 (+100% between 2019 and Q3-2022). In comparison, the European market, which is already mature, has only increased by 17% over the same period³.

CAPZA believes that the inherent attractiveness of the private debt market will continue to support the growth of this market in Italy. Direct lending offers both flexibility and speed of execution. In addition, with instruments that have no amortization schedule, the debt profile enable companies to allocate a portion of their cash flow to their development rather than using it to make annual loan repayment.

“We believe the Italian market has attractive small and mid-cap companies with the potential to grow further and internationalize. With its long-lasting experience, CAPZA can provide borrowers with flexible and customized direct lending solutions with prompt execution. We are very pleased that Artemid and CAPZA Private Debt funds can now structure loans for the Italian market.”  – Stefano Zavattaro, Partner and Head of Italy, CAPZA.

The team has already completed CAPZA’s first Private Debt transaction in Italy by arranging a refinancing for F2A, the Italian leading provider of Human Resources and Finance & Administrative tech-enabled services. With this operation, CAPZA aims at supporting the Group’s buy-and-build strategy.

¹ Lending activity has been granted in Italy for the following Funds: Artemid Senior Loan III S.L.P, Artemid-CA II S.L.P, Capza 6 Private Debt Investment, SCA SICAV-RAIF, Capza 6 Private Debt Co-Invest S.L.P.

² Since the first investment in Capzanine 4 Private Debt. Data as of December 2022 including signed deals.

³ Source: Deloitte Private Debt Deal Tracker Q3 2022.