01 – WHAT DRIVES US
Our ambition
To be the trusted advisor (for companies and financial sponsors, alike) on corporate finance transactions involving Italian healthcare companies. We love helping companies use finance as a tool to achieve their strategic goals as well as the objectives of their shareholders.
Our values
We started this professional journey to fulfil our quest for a meaning in our undertakings and to contribute to a fresh approach to our job: we have a true passion for what we do, we are relentlessly curious and we believe in long-term trust built over integrity and competence. Our values are what drives and defines us.
02 – WHAT WE DO
Our scope: all subsectors of healthcare: Pharma / Biotech, MedTech, Healthcare Services (both B2B and B2C). While one leg of our transactions is typically in Italy, we have a global horizon and reach. We typically focus on transactions with a deal value of €20-100m, but we are flexible, competent and effective also outside this size range.
Our expertise: M&A advisory (acquisitions, disposals, mergers), IPO advisory, debt advisory, strategic assessments, business planning, valuation.
Acquisitions
On acquisitions, we typically support in the approach to targets (whether pre-identified, or to be identified via a scouting process), in the assessment of the potential strategic fit with our client and of the appropriate value and in the execution support all the way to final negotiations and closing.
Disposals
On disposals, we normally help select the appropriate time to market, we help define the transaction perimeter and the transaction type (majority vs. minority vs. capital increase), we support in the identification of potential buyers and in the definition of the most suitable disposal process (broad auction vs. limited auction vs. one-to-one vs. dual track); we dedicate significant time and effort in preparing thoughtfully and presenting at best the equity story (“financial storytelling”), driving the preparation of adequate marketing materials (teasers, information memoranda, etc.); we carefully coach management teams on delivering effective presentations; we provide execution support on business planning, valuation, project management (including the coordination of a carefully prepared due diligence process) and negotiations up to closing.
IPO advisory & debt advisory
On IPO advisory and debt advisory, we help analyze the optimal financial structure, transaction perimeter and time to market, we support in designing the most attractive equity story / investment thesis, we create support for compelling valuation / transaction terms and we drive execution, coordinating complex processes.
Strategic assessments
On strategic assessments, we help analyze the positioning of a company to identify the best strategic and financing options based on the client’s objectives and needs, on market dynamics and on competitive landscape; we identify, free from conflicts of interest, the most suitable avenues and we drive their execution.
Business planning & valuations
On business planning and valuations, we leverage off our solid financial skills and deep understanding of sector drivers and dynamics to draft (or, as the case may be, review) complex and solid business plans supporting a valuation exercise; where requested, we provide fairness opinions in the context of transactions.
03 – WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Our uniqueness
We offer our clients not only a deep sector knowledge and a broad access to investment opportunities, but also a boutique approach, with significant senior time dedicated to projects, delivering a tailor-made, thoughtful, expert, unbiased advice. We strongly believe in the alignment of interests between us and our clients, as reflected by our fee structures. Reputation is our most valuable asset, which was built over years of serious work alongside our clients, always having their best interest as our only objective. And being entrepreneurs ourselves, we speak the same language as our clients.
Our relationships
We have access to virtually all Italian healthcare companies, ranging from large cap to small cap and across subsectors; we have relationships with most of the financial sponsors investing in Italy, from large buy-out Private Equity funds to Venture Capital firms.
04 – WHO WE ARE
Founded by Fabrizio de Simone, in 2021, Valere has grown into a reputable M&A boutique, which has attracted high-profile talents.
Our team is currently composed of three senior professionals with diverse and complementary backgrounds, who work together to deliver composite experience to our clients.
How we work
We are passionate, energetic, flexible and humble, and we love finding creative solutions to our clients’ needs.
Although able to handle complex situations for highly sophisticated clients at the highest standards, we have a “no-nonsense” attitude and can easily adapt to less structured clients needing a simpler, pragmatic approach.
Team members
Fabrizio de Simone
Fabrizio de Simone, the founder of Valere, has 25+ years’ experience in corporate finance, the last 10 of which with an exclusive focus on healthcare (initially as the Italian Life Sciences sector leader at EY, then as the founder of Valere).
He started his career in the investment banking division at Citi (10 years between London, New York, Sydney and Milan), then was the co-founder of an Italian M&A boutique; he was finally part of the team that relaunched the Italian M&A practice at EY, before taking the leadership for the Life Sciences sector.
He holds a degree with honours in Business Law from the Bocconi University and has attended a number of executive programs, including at the Wharton Business School and at the Harvard Business School. He has been trainer in various courses and speaker at many events, as well as and author of a number of publications.
He speaks four languages and is passionate about innovation, leadership, travelling, art and design.
More details on linkedin.com/in/fabriziodesimone
Sabina Sardi
Sabina Sardi, Partner at Valere, has over a decade’s experience in corporate finance and asset management, earned via a distinguished career across European markets.
As a member of the Investment Management team at Soditic Ltd in London, she successfully handled portfolio management, risk analysis and fundamental research in sectors such as consumer goods, retail and utilities. Earlier in her career, she developed her strategic and financial advisory skills in M&A at Lehman Brothers in London, contributing to several high-profile transactions.
A summa cum laude graduate in Business Administration from Bocconi University, she expanded her academic horizons through international exchange programs at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Copenhagen Business School.
Fluent in both Italian and English, she combines her professional success with a passion for art, music and travel, and she treasures her role as a mother of three.
More details on linkedin.com/in/sabinasardi
Marco Curiotto
Marco Curiotto, Partner at Valere, brings 25+ years of international expertise in management consulting and venture capital, specializing in the strategic intersection of business and technology.
He started his career in Paris in consulting before joining the FIAT Group, gaining experience in corporate finance and securitization initiatives; subsequently, he became part of Arthur D. Little’s strategy and M&A practice. Over the past 15 years, Marco has led digital innovation initiatives, holding leadership roles and driving digital advisory offerings across Europe for IBM and Oracle, before transitioning to venture capital with a French VC firm.
With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin and an MBA from Bocconi University, Marco’s technical acumen complements his business expertise. He has shared his experience as a speaker at conferences, as a lecturer in MBA courses, and as co-author of the book “Fashion Branding 3.0”.
Fluent in Italian, English, and French, Marco’s passion for innovation extends beyond his professional life to culinary exploration, travelling and playing padel.
More details on linkedin.com/in/marcocuriotto
Our partnerships
We have partnerships with high-profile international firms, who provide (as appropriate and requested) additional services that are synergic to our corporate finance offering, including strategic consulting, operational support, financial, business and tax due diligence, legal and tax advice.
05 – TRACK RECORD
We have executed more than 100 transactions, mostly cross-border, with a cumulated value exceeding $25 billion, spanning from large deals to mid-cap transactions to start-up fundraising.
06 – NEWS
February 11, 2025 – We are pleased to announce the appointment of Marco Curiotto as a new Partner at Valere. With over 25 years’ international experience in management consulting and venture capital, Marco brings to our team top-notch expertise in strategic analysis for large corporates and family companies alike, and a best-in-class understanding of tech and digital dynamics. At Valere he will be in charge of originating and executing M&A transactions, with a particular focus on the healthcare, tech and industrials sectors and on family-owned companies. He will also leverage off his high-profile experience in business consulting to provide a deep strategic view when working on business plans and on the positioning of equity stories. We welcome Marco to our team and look forward to working with him to deliver successful transactions to our clients.
January 16, 2025 – We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sabina Sardi as a new Partner at Valere. With over a decade’s international experience in corporate finance and asset management, Sabina brings to our team world-class M&A capabilities and an outstanding ability to interact with sophisticated financial investors. At Valere she will be in charge of originating and executing M&A transactions, with a particular focus on the healthcare and consumer sectors and on private equity clients. She will also leverage off her significant experience in capital markets and fundamental research to work effectively on transactions involving listed companies and on valuation assignments. We welcome Sabina to our team and look forward to working with her to create value to our clients.
December 17, 2024 – We are pleased to announce that we have been exclusive financial advisors to Naturacare on the acquisition of Sochim International. Naturacare, backed by Dentressangle Capital, makes with this transaction another important step in the creation of a Pan-European leading CDMO in the dietary supplements sector, with c. €100m in revenues and c. 350 employees working in 5 plants across 4 countries. The Eigenmann family will remain involved via a reinvestment in Naturacare and an executive leadership role. Read more…
February 14, 2024 – Honored and proud to have assisted Ab Medica on this important transaction, which gives Officine Ortopediche Rizzoli the opportunity for another chapter in its 100+ years history of excellence in the Italian orthopaedic sector. Read more…
September 7, 2023 – Pleased to have assisted Apposite and 1MED on the acquisition of Evamed: it underpins 1MED’s strategy towards the creation of a pan-European CRO focused on medical devices. Read more…
CONTACT US
Valere Advisory srl
Milan | Italy
VAT / FC 13530130965
REA Number: MI – 2728850
Subject to management and coordination by Valere Holding srl, single-quotaholder limited liability company (P. IVA IT-13509740968)
Valere and the Valere logo are a registered trademark
