Kairos Partners SGR invests 3 million euros in STAR7

KAIS RENAISSANCE ELTIF, OPERATED BY KAIROS PARTNERS SGR, MAKES FIRST PRIVATE MARKET INVESTMENT BY SUBSCRIBING A €3 MILLION CAPITAL INCREASE IN STAR7, AN ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL PLAYER IN THE PRODUCT INFORMATION SECTOR

THE TRANSACTION IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT STAR7’S GROWTH AS IT HEADS TOWARDS AN IPO IN THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM

Milano / Valle San Bartolomeo (Italy), November 11, 2021

KAIS Renaissance ELTIF, a fund operated by Kairos Partners SGR that recently closed with €50 million of assets, announces that it has made its first entry into the “private market” segment with an investment in STAR7 S.p.A., a leading international company in the product information sector. The purpose of the investment is to support the growth of STAR7 as it heads towards an IPO in the short to medium term. Under the terms of the deal, Kairos Alternative Investment S.A. SICAV - Renaissance ELTIF (“KAIS ELTIF”), a new sub-fund managed by Kairos Partners SGR, will subscribe a €3 million capital increase approved by the shareholders of STAR7 S.p.A.

Massimo Trabattoni, Head of Italian Equity at Kairos Partners SGR, said: “We decided to back STAR7 with the first investment of the KAIS Renaissance ELTIF because it is a shining example of a quality Italian SME with interesting potential for further international growth, thanks to a solid and outstandingly capable management team. We are excited to be able to contribute to achieving STAR7’s ambitious goals, which also aim to lay the foundations for a future IPO, and start to build the portfolio of our first Alternative PIR [‘Piano Individuale di Risparmio’ – ‘Individual Savings Plan’], also with the support of Electa Italia, our partner for private market investments.”

Lorenzo Mondo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of STAR7, said: “I am very proud to be able to announce the partnership with Kairos Partners SGR today, which marks another important step for the STAR7 Group. Having received expressions of interest from lots of investors, we opted for Kairos because we found ourselves perfectly aligned with their team on strategies for the development of STAR7 over the coming years. The funding secured through today’s capital increase and other major transactions that we are reviewing will add impetus to the significant acquisition programme that we have in the pipeline, as we look to strengthen our presence in locations and segments with significant room for growth.”

Simone Strocchi, Founding Partner of Electa Italia, advisor to Kairos Partners SGR, added: “We are pleased to assist Kairos with structuring private investments to support high quality SMEs with ambitious growth plans and to continue to contribute to the development of the real economy in our country.”

Kairos Partners SGR was advised in the transaction by Electa Italia. STAR7 was assisted by EMINTAD Italy as financial advisor and by GOP as legal counsel.

Kairos

Kairos, a Julius Baer Group company, is led by CEO Alberto Castelli and was founded in 1999 as a new entrant to the asset management sector. With €5.6 billion in assets under management at September 2021, it offers a select range of services and investment solutions for its private clients, professional and institutional investors from offices in Milan, Rome, Turin and London. Kairos is a standout player in both Asset Management and Wealth Management: its Asset Management business has a flexible management approach, oriented towards performance and risk control, while the Wealth Management service offers high-value responses to financial and asset management needs. The majority shareholder Julius Baer, the most important Swiss asset management Group and a premium brand in this global industry, enhances the company’s investment boutique model at European level. A number of senior managers at Kairos are invested in the firm, further underlining its complete alignment with client interests. Kairos aims to position itself as a leader in product innovation, wisely looking ahead to the new investment trends that will shape our future.
Website: www.kairospartners.com

STAR7

For more than 20 years, STAR7 has served its customers as a leader in the product information sector. Support for product and process engineering, creating and managing technical content, as well as marketing, translation, printing and virtual experience: STAR7’s range of services mean it can support its customers throughout the product life cycle – from design to aftersales. An approach that combines specialist knowledge, technology and a holistic vision has always been STAR7’s hallmark, allowing it to offer the best possible solutions to meet the needs of its customers and the global market. This approach has seen STAR7 strike major partnerships with leading international companies, establishing it as a reliable and credible global partner. STAR7 is part of the STAR Group network.
Website: www.star-7.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON KAIROS:

Image Building
Cristina Fossati, Luisella Murtas, Laura Filosi
Tel. 02/89011300
E-mail: kairos@imagebuilding.it

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON STAR7:

MEDIA RELATIONS STAR7
Piera Alasia, Chief Marketing Officer
Tel: +39 0131 19788 
E-mail: piera.alasia@star-7.com

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Blue Arrow
Maria Grazia Mantini
Tel: +41 78 723 6840 
E-mail: mariagrazia.mantini@bluearrow.ch