Italy’s Lombardy region is the country’s private equity heartland, attracting nearly 40% of all national investment over the last decade. Within it, the Brianza district (just north of Milan) stands out as one of Europe’s most concentrated SME ecosystems, with around 130,000 businesses, many of them family-owned and deeply rooted in manufacturing excellence.
At the latest edition of Private Equity Days, held in Monza, Ignazio Castiglioni, CEO and co-founder of HAT SGR, outlined the firm’s philosophy: private equity should empower entrepreneurs, not replace them. The goal is to provide family businesses with the tools, governance, and strategic support they need to take a genuine leap forward while preserving what makes them strong.
This is not just a principle, it’s reflected in HAT’s track record. Out of 55 completed transactions, 41 were primary deals designed and executed alongside the founders themselves, reinforcing a model built on trust and shared ambition.
As Italian SMEs navigate an increasingly complex global landscape from geopolitical uncertainty to supply chain shifts. HAT SGR remains committed to partnering with entrepreneurs who are ready to grow, compete internationally, and write the next chapter of their business story.
