RSS
Twitter
Linkedin
Italy has a great deal to offer foreign investors: the country ranks 13th in the A.T. Kearney Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index. That being said, it is worth noting that some territories in particular stand out for their potential to attract foreign investors: in this respect, Lombardy is without a doubt a key player in terms of supporting the Italian economy and drawing in foreign direct investments (FDI).
The factors that determine the region’s success in attracting FDI flows include the distinctiveness of Lombardy’s manufacturing sector, which employs 25.67% of the entire regional workforce, Lombardy’s strong focus on R&D – in line with the top-performing German regions – and its highly qualified human capital. Given this scenario, having effective industrial and legal strategies in place definitely contributes towards achieving the success of local partnerships with international investors.
An excellent example of these developments is the recently announced transaction in which the international law firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners assisted Saimo Electric in acquiring of a minority stake in the Italian firm Epistolio. Headquartered in Jiangsu and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Saimo Electric is a leading Chinese name in industrial automation. The acquisition of Epistolio will foster Saimo’s growth by taking on board Epistolio’s technological knowhow and expertise also through a joint venture in China.
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Varese, Epistolio is well-established in robotics and industrial automation for the manufacturing sector. Over the years, the company has become a leader in the supply of electronic and mechanical equipment for the plastics and rubbers industry, thanks to its focus on innovation and its unique expertise not only in providing integrated, specialized, off-the-shelf solutions, but also in the design, development and production of robot-driven machinery.
The entire acquisition was overseen by the international law firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, which is increasingly involved in supporting Chinese companies as they venture into complex integration deals, particularly in view of its expertise in cross-border transactions and the internationalization of Italian businesses. Epistolio was supported by the law firm Gatti Pavesi Bianchi regarding the legal aspects of the deal, while Seta Capital, specialized in China-Europe M&A, provided financial advisory services.
The acquisition of Epistolio reflects rising trade flows between China and Italy, a key element in the ‘Made in China 2025’ strategy, a long-term roadmap guiding Chinese overseas development from a centralized and planned perspective, with the aim of making China a global leader in 10 strategic sectors, including industrial automation.
The international law firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners is a partner in the Invest in Lombardy-Promos Partner Program, and together they jointly organized the second edition of the workshop “East-Side Internationalization: foreign capital for new models of internationalization of Italian companies”. The internationalization of Italian companies increasingly depends on opening up to foreign investors and offering them strategic incentives: mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and joint ventures.
The experts on hand at Invest In Lombardy-Promos and the international law firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners will be coming together with several key testimonials to discuss current opportunities offered by seven “East-side” strategic areas: Turkey, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Iran, India, China and South Korea at an event in Milan on July 19 from 08:45am to 01:00pm at Palazzo Affari ai Giureconsulti, Piazza Mercanti 2. For more information: http://www.investinlombardy.com/events
Credits: Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, Invest in Lombardy, Associazione Milano Interpreti