DeA Capital (MI:DEA) is one of Italy’s largest alternative investment operators, and is active as both an investor and a manager of assets. The investment division invests the group’s own permanent capital both directly, via strategic stakes in companies, and indirectly via funds, overwhelmingly managed by the group’s asset management division. The asset management division provides a broad offering across private equity, real estate and credit funds with €11.4bn in assets under management (AUM) at the end of Q1.
In the interview, Gianandrea Perco, head of strategy and management of existing shareholdings, discusses the group’s strategy and prospects in asset management as well as the progress made in rebalancing the own investment portfolio. That process has generated cash for repayment of all debt, return of cash to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases, and new investments. Mr Perco also discusses the recent events including the Q117 results, which saw growth in AUM, growth in NAV and a new direct investment.