Clairfield in Italy acquires 70% of CAP Advisory and strengthens debt advisory offering in Italy and worldwide

EQUITA, the leading independent investment bank and Clairfield’s exclusive partner in Italy, acquired a 70% stake in CAP Advisory S.r.l., a specialist in debt and restructuring advisory, for EUR 6.0 million. The remaining 30% is subject to put and call options exercisable from 2028.

The acquisition boosts EQUITA’s capabilities in corporate restructuring and distressed M&A and further positions the firm as a go-to advisor for entrepreneurs, corporates, and institutions throughout the business lifecycle.

CAP Advisory was founded by Fabrizio Viola, Fabio Cassi, and Matteo Pattavina. The firm focuses on restructuring and distressed M&A transaction advisory, short-term cash flow diagnostics, financing and identification of lenders, and senior financial advisory to banks, insurance companies, private debt funds, and real estate funds. Over the past three years, the firm has advised on over 45 transactions and has generated average annual revenues of approximately EUR 3 million.

CAP Advisory will be renamed EQUITA Debt Advisory. Fabrizio Viola will serve as chair and Fabio Cassi as CEO. Fabio Cassi will also take on the role of senior advisor with a focus on developing cross-selling initiatives based on his 25 years of experience in corporate finance and restructuring.

The team will continue to provide clients with expert, independent advice on financial restructuring, turnarounds, and capital structure optimisation. It will also work closely with Clairfield’s international debt advisory team led by partners Hans Buysse (Belgium) and Bénédicte Leneveau (France), to bring its services to a broader international client base.

“Joining EQUITA marks an important step for us. We are bringing our debt advisory expertise into a broader platform and through Clairfield, we now have the opportunity to support clients internationally. We look forward to working closely with colleagues across Europe to offer integrated solutions in complex financial situations,” says Fabrizio Viola, chair of EQUITA Debt Advisory.

“We are very pleased to welcome Fabrizio, Fabio, Matteo, and the team to Clairfield. Their experience in restructuring and debt transactions adds real strength to our capabilities. We look forward to putting their expertise to work internationally,” says Hans Buysse, partner at Clairfield in Belgium and co-head of Clairfield’s international debt advisory practice.