Clessidra
Clessidra Private Equity SGR is an Italian private equity firm investing in upper-middle-market SMEs and mid-caps through buyout, sustainable, and private debt funds, executing majority-stake buy-and-build strategies in fragmented domestic sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Clessidra does
Clessidra Private Equity SGR is an Italian private equity firm founded in 1993 (one source notes 2003), headquartered in Milan, that invests in Italian upper-middle-market SMEs and mid-caps. The firm operates multiple fund vehicles: the flagship Clessidra Capital Partners 4 buyout fund, the recently launched Clessidra Capital Partners Green Harvest ESG-focused fund, and the debt-oriented Clessidra Private Debt II fund (first closed March 2026 at over €100 million with a €300 million hard cap). Clessidra executes a buy-and-build consolidation strategy, acquiring majority stakes in fragmented-market companies while preserving founder and management minority positions.
The firm's portfolio spans fire and workplace safety (Sopran Ciodue Group), food and beverage (Everton tea and herbal infusions; Laurieri bakery; D.i.mar/Sapore di Mare seafood), and industrial digital services (Impresoft). Clessidra generates revenue through management fees on committed capital across its fund vehicles and carried interest on successful realizations. Fund commitments are sourced through closed private placements to Italian and international institutional investors, including a €20 million cornerstone commitment from the European Investment Fund (FEI) to Private Debt II.
Clessidra is privately held, with 11-50 employees, and is led at the firm level by CEO Andrea Ottaviano. The firm has completed at least five majority acquisitions since 2021 and shows an active pipeline in 2026, including Agcm-approved regulatory clearances and announced acquisitions in food and fire-safety verticals.
Clessidra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clessidra
- Legal name
- Clessidra Private Equity SGR
- Website
- https://clessidraprivateequity.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Clessidra Private Equity SGR is an Italian private equity firm investing in upper-middle-market SMEs and mid-caps through buyout, sustainable, and private debt funds, executing majority-stake buy-and-build strategies in fragmented domestic sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Clessidra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Clessidra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: Clessidra generates revenue through management fees charged on funds under management, including Clessidra Capital Partners 4, Clessidra Capital Partners Green Harvest, and Clessidra Private Debt II.
- Carried Interest: Private equity returns through carried interest on successful fund exits and portfolio company value creation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Clessidra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clessidra is an Italian private equity firm that manages multiple fund vehicles — including Clessidra Capital Partners 4 (buyout), Clessidra Capital Partners Green Harvest (sustainable/ESG), and Clessidra Private Debt II (private debt) — to acquire majority stakes in Italian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The firm deploys a buy-and-build consolidation strategy in fragmented Italian markets across food, technology, fire safety, and seafood retail sectors. It raises capital from institutional investors via private placements and earns revenue through management fees and carried interest on successful exits.
Product overview
Clessidra is a Private Equity firm offering multiple investment funds including Clessidra Capital Partners 4, Clessidra Capital Partners Green Harvest, and Clessidra Private Debt II. The funds make control or majority investments in Italian companies across various sectors including technology (Impresoft), food/beverage (Everton, Laurieri), and fire safety (Sopran Ciodue Group). The firm operates a buy-and-build consolidation strategy for portfolio companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- ~10% annual revenue growth
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Clessidra
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Clessidra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Clessidra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Clessidra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trilantic Europe: European mid-market private equity firm with operations in Italy. Comparable in mid-market European buyout activity, particularly in the Italian and Iberian markets.
- Charme Capital Partners: Italian private equity firm investing in mid-cap Italian companies across diversified sectors. Comparable in geographic focus, target company size, and buyout orientation to Clessidra.
- Xenon Private Equity: Italian mid-market private equity firm active in buyout transactions. Explicitly comparable as Xenon's fund VII previously sold Impresoft to Clessidra, confirming direct overlap in target companies and Italian mid-market focus.
- Argos Soditic: European mid-market private equity firm with Italian operations investing across Southern Europe. Comparable in mid-market deal size and European mid-market consolidation focus.
- Style Capital: Italian private equity firm focused on mid-market consumer and retail brands in Italy and Southern Europe. Comparable in Italian mid-market deal sourcing, though more concentrated in consumer brands.
- NB Renaissance Partners: Italian private equity firm (formerly known as 네 Concordia) investing in Italian SMEs with minority and majority stakes. Comparable in Italian SME focus and family-business orientation.
- Ergon Capital: European mid-market private equity firm active in Italy and the Benelux region. Comparable in mid-market buyout orientation and European geographic scope.
- Wise SGR: Italian private equity and credit fund manager operating buyout and private debt strategies targeting Italian SMEs and mid-caps. Closely comparable multi-strategy, Italy-focused alternative asset manager model.
- Investindustrial: Italian private equity firm investing in mid-market Italian and Southern European companies with a buy-and-build approach across consumer, industrial, and services sectors. Directly comparable to Clessidra in target geography, deal size, and sector breadth.
Regional players
- Banco BPM Private Equity / Italian Banking PE arms: Italian banks have historically backed domestic PE activity and Clessidra has received acquisition financing from a banking consortium including BPER Banca and Banco BPM. Comparable as a regional capital provider for Italian mid-market transactions.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clessidra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clessidra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Clessidra subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Clessidra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clessidra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Clessidra
What does Clessidra do?
Clessidra is an Italian private equity firm that manages multiple fund vehicles — including Clessidra Capital Partners 4 (buyout), Clessidra Capital Partners Green Harvest (sustainable/ESG), and Clessidra Private Debt II (private debt) — to acquire majority stakes in Italian SMEs and mid-cap companies. The firm deploys a buy-and-build consolidation strategy in fragmented Italian markets across food, technology, fire safety, and seafood retail sectors. It raises capital from institutional investors via private placements and earns revenue through management fees and carried interest on successful exits.
Is Clessidra a public or private company?
Clessidra is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Clessidra founded?
Clessidra was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Clessidra based?
Clessidra is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Clessidra make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest.
Who are Clessidra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trilantic Europe, Charme Capital Partners, Xenon Private Equity, Argos Soditic, Style Capital, NB Renaissance Partners, Ergon Capital, Wise SGR and Investindustrial. Banco BPM Private Equity / Italian Banking PE arms is listed as a regional player.
Does Clessidra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clessidra.