Excellera Advisory Group welcomes new investor for next chapter of growth
Italy-headquartered Excellera Advisory Group has welcomed a new investor – London-listed asset manager ICG – to help drive its next chapter of growth.
Excellera Advisory Group is the parent of seven firms that specialize in strategic communications, public affairs and business advisory: Barabino & Partners, Cattaneo Zanetto Pomposo & Co, Community, Excellera Intelligence, Public Affairs Advisors, Value Relations, and IP Excellera.
Combined, the seven firms have more than 350 employees working from 5 offices in Italy (Bergamo, Genoa, Milan, Rome and Treviso) and 10 offices elsewhere: Berlin, Brussels, London, Madrid, Munich, New York, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh.
With ICG’s support, Excellera Advisory Group aims to consolidate its position in Italy and accelerate its international expansion. The company will also use its fresh capital funds to ramp up investments in innovation and data-driven solutions.
The deal
ICG has acquired its stake from Xenon Private Equity, which came on board in 2022. During the deal process, ICG received M&A advice from Fineurop Soditic (corporate finance), Bain & Company (strategy and commercial), Alvarez & Marsal (financial), and PedersoliGattai (legal).
Excellera Advisory Group was guided through the transaction process by Rothschild (banking), Amla Corporate Partners (financial), Deloitte (financial), while Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici, BonelliErede, Eversheds Sutherland and Cattaneo Dall’Olio Rho & Partners served as legal partners.
The transaction is expected to close in autumn 2025, with no details provided on financial terms.
Reflections from leaders
Paolo Zanetto, CEO of Excellera Advisory Group: “We are thrilled to welcome ICG as our new partner for the next stage of our journey. Their commitment to our ambition and their ability to inject new energy in our expansion path – including international acquisitions throughout the EMEA region – will be instrumental in shaping our future.”
Auro Palomba, Chairman of the Strategic Committee of Excellera Advisory Group: “We have chosen ICG as our new partner for this growth journey that will see Excellera transition from a national champion to an international leader in corporate affairs and strategic communications. Our vision is to create a consultancy group in Italy capable of challenging the international giants.”
Francesco Canessa, Associate Director at ICG: "We are delighted to form this new partnership with Excellera, a truly differentiated leader within the European corporate affairs space. We see huge opportunities for growth and look forward to working with the talented management team as we focus on expanding into new markets and geographies to further consolidate the Group’s position as a leader within EMEA.”
