“Grow in the South Fund” (Fondo Cresci al Sud)

THE TEAM

Antonio Riccio - Manager 

Before taking on the responsibility of the “Grow in the South Fund”, he gained many years of experience in private equity in IMI Fondi Chiusi SGR (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) as Investment Director of the “Atlante Private Equity” fund (with an endowment of € 200 million) targeting Italian SMEs with high development prospects and as Senior Investment Manager of the “Fondo di Promozione del Capitale di Rischio per il Mezzogiorno” (Fund for the promotion of private equity in Southern Italy) (with an endowment of € 100 million) focused on SMEs in Southern Italy. Previously, he worked from 2001 to 2005 as Head of Equity at Vertis S.p.A., an advisory company of the “Interbanca Investimenti Sud” fund and from 1998 to 2001 at BNL Gestioni SGR as Investment Analyst for the “BNL Investire Impresa” fund. 

He has also gained experience in private debt as coordinator - within the Extraordinary Finance structure of Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori - of the Group’s Basket Bond project. 

He has been a member of the board of directors of several investee companies operating in the healthcare, pharma, energy, and mechanical sectors. 

Degree in Business Administration, specialisation in Corporate Finance, at the “L. Bocconi” University of Milan, he is a Chartered Accountant and Statutory Auditor. 

Piero Angelone - Senior Investment Manager   

Many years of experience in management consulting and alternative investments, private equity and venture capital. Before joining the management team of the “Grow in the South Fund”, he worked as Investment Manager for CDP Venture Capital SGR, in the “Italia Venture I” fund dedicated to the Italian start-up market, and Principia SGR, in the management team of the “Principia III – Health” fund dedicated to the Italian market of start-ups and small and medium-sized companies active in the healthcare sector. Previously, he was part of the Corporate Finance team at Ernst&Young and of the Transaction Services – Financial Due Diligence team at Accuracy, taking part as an advisor in M&A transactions. From 2007 to 2009 he worked as a financial analyst at Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Banca Sella. 

He has been a member of the board of directors of investee companies operating in the healthcare and digital sectors. 

He graduated in Finance in 2008 and in Economics and Management of Financial Intermediaries in 2009, at the University of Siena, “R. Goodwin”. Since 2013, Chartered Accountant and Statutory Auditor.