VALERE [Latin, pr. Vah-lèh-re, v. intr.]: To be brave, to be healthy, to be good at something, to be valuable.

Valere is the new independent financial advisory house focused on healthcare.

We create value, we are driven by values.

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, Valere can rely on a broad network of professionals, both in Italy and internationally. Our “open organization” approach delivers top-notch results to our clients, as we involve the best team, with relevant expertise and network, on every situation.

Background

Fabrizio de Simone, the founder of Valere, has 20+ years’ experience in corporate finance, the last 7 of which with an exclusive focus on healthcare as the Italian Life Sciences sector leader at EY. 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

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.