LABS Corporate Finance

What LABS Corporate Finance does

LABS Corporate Finance is an independent advisory and merchant banking boutique headquartered in Milan, Italy. Founded in 2018 by Augusto Lippi as founder and managing partner, the firm provides investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity advisory services to corporate clients, family-owned businesses, and financial sponsors across Italy and other European countries. The firm operates from a single Milan headquarters with coverage extending into broader European markets, and has built a public track record of 25+ completed transactions including Ambienta-Disano, Valyrian, Namirial, Human Company, Mannucci Vision Group, Diewe, Outly, Boart & wire, and Everest deals.

The firm's offering is organized around two complementary business lines. The Advisory line covers investment banking and corporate finance mandates, with a stated focus on primary sale and buy-side M&A transactions, disposals processes, partner selection, acquisitions supporting external growth strategies, and strategic advisory for entrepreneurs and medium-sized private groups. The Investments line arranges growth capital for private equity investments on a club deal basis, where LABS invests its own resources alongside a proprietary network of private investors and financial partners, targeting attractive risk-return combinations through an industrial investment approach.

The underlying technology is human-capital-driven advisory expertise rather than a software or platform offering; revenue is generated through advisory fees on M&A and corporate finance mandates and through proprietary capital deployment returns on club deals. Pricing is deal-based and individually negotiated, with no publicly disclosed pricing structure. The go-to-market relies on direct senior advisory engagement, professional networking, referral channels, and a public track record showcase on the firm website, targeting enterprise and mid-market clients in the Italian and European mid-market.

Name

LABS Corporate Finance

Legal name

Labs CF

Website

https://labs-cf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LABS Corporate Finance is a Milan-based independent advisory and merchant banking boutique providing investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity advisory to Italian and European corporate clients, family-owned businesses, and financial sponsors, and arranges growth capital via club deal co-investments alongside its proprietary investor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking & Corporate Finance Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)

Keywords

• Investment banking advisory
• Corporate finance services
• Merger acquisition advisory
• Private equity advisory
• Transaction arrangement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory Fees: Investment banking and corporate finance advisory fees for transactions including M&A advisory, disposals, acquisitions, and strategic advisory services to corporate clients, family businesses, and financial sponsors.
2. Transaction Arrangement Fees: Arrangement fees for facilitating transactions, including arranging growth capital for private equity investments on a club deal basis.
3. Capital Investment Returns: LABS invests its own resources alongside private investors in club deal transactions, generating returns on proprietary capital deployments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LABS Corporate Finance is an independent advisory and merchant banking boutique headquartered in Milan that provides investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity advice to corporate clients, family-owned businesses, and financial sponsors. The firm advises on primary buy-side and sell-side transactions, disposals, acquisitions, and external growth strategies, and on a club deal basis arranges growth capital for private equity investments, investing its own resources alongside a proprietary network of private investors and financial partners.

Product overview

LABS Corporate Finance operates as a unified advisory and merchant banking boutique offering integrated financial services. The core offering combines Financial Advisory Services (investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity advice) with Transaction Arrangement Services for sale/buy side deals, and Growth Capital Arrangement capabilities for private equity investments. These services work together to support corporate clients, family owned businesses, and financial sponsors throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Advisory Services Provides senior advisory on investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity matters, leveraging in-house expertise from long-term top-tier institutional experience. Targeted at entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and medium-sized private groups.
• Transaction Arrangement Services Arranges and facilitates primary buy-side and sell-side transactions for corporate clients, family-owned businesses, and medium-sized private groups, including disposals, financial or strategic partner selection, and acquisitions to deliver external growth strategies.
• Growth Capital Arrangement (Club Deal Investments) Arranges primary growth capital for private equity investments on a club deal basis, investing its own resources alongside a proprietary network of private investors and financial partners to target attractive risk-return combinations under an industrial approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Above average returns through industrial approach investment methodology

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mediobanca: Leading Italian investment bank and listed financial group with a corporate finance advisory franchise spanning M&A, equity capital markets, and lending. Directly comparable as a competitor in Italian mid- and large-cap M&A advisory, but materially larger and offering broader services including merchant banking and consumer credit.
• Lazard: Global financial advisory and asset management firm with a strong European M&A advisory practice serving corporates, sponsors, and family-owned businesses. Comparable in M&A advisory focus but materially larger in scale, geographic reach, and sector coverage.
• Houlihan Lokey: Global investment bank focused on M&A, capital markets, and financial restructuring with deep mid-market coverage across Europe. Comparable as a mid-market M&A advisor to corporates and sponsors, though significantly larger and broader in scope than LABS.

Direct peers

• Equita: Independent Italian financial advisor and asset manager providing M&A advisory, equity research, and brokerage to mid-market corporates and financial sponsors. Closely comparable as a domestic independent advisory boutique serving the same Italian mid-market clients with overlapping service lines.
• Vitale & Co: Milan-based independent corporate finance boutique focused on M&A advisory and capital raising for Italian mid-market companies, family-owned businesses, and financial sponsors. Closely comparable in size, geography, and client focus as a domestic boutique competitor.
• Lincoln International: Global mid-market investment bank providing M&A advisory, capital raising, and fairness opinions across Europe. Closely comparable as a global mid-market advisor competing for the same cross-border mid-cap and sponsor-led transactions in Italy and broader Europe.
• Oaklins: Global mid-market M&A advisor with a strong presence in Italy and other European countries, serving owner-managed businesses, family enterprises, and mid-cap corporates. Closely comparable in client segment (family businesses, mid-market) and advisory scope.
• Alantra: Independent European financial advisory firm with active Italian and broader European mid-market M&A coverage, complemented by asset management and credit investment arms. Comparable as an independent mid-market advisor with both advisory and principal investment capabilities.
• DC Advisory: European-headquartered mid-market M&A advisor offering cross-border transaction advisory to corporates, family-owned businesses, and financial sponsors. Closely comparable in cross-border mid-market M&A focus and target client base.
• Cross Border (now part of Harris Williams): Cross Border was a European mid-market M&A advisor serving entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and sponsors, having merged into Harris Williams. Comparable as a European mid-market boutique advisor targeting the same client segments as LABS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labs-cf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LABS Corporate Finance