Investcorp, a prominent global alternative investment firm, has announced its acquisition of Epipoli, a leading Italian alternative payments enabler. The deal, signed on January 16, 2025, involves the purchase from investment firm Bregal Milestone and Epipoli's founder and CEO, Gaetano Giannetto, who will retain a minority stake and continue to lead the company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2000 and based in Milan, Epipoli has established itself as a key player in Italy's payments landscape. The company boasts the largest customer relationship management (CRM) and loyalty program in the country, serving over 6 million consumers. It has expanded its offerings to include a gift card business launched in 2006 and Italy's first prepaid Mastercard introduced in 2012. With a turnover of approximately 400 million euros, Epipoli collaborates with millions of customers, thousands of distributors, and hundreds of retailers.

Investcorp aims to leverage its expertise in technology and international business to accelerate Epipoli's growth, enhancing its payments and services platform while expanding its customer base both in Italy and abroad. Since Bregal Milestone's investment in 2019, Epipoli has quadrupled its gross revenues and completed three acquisitions in Italy and Switzerland, solidifying its market leadership.

José Pfeifer, Investcorp's Head of European Private Equity Buyouts, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, highlighting Epipoli's strong management team and the potential for further development in the alternative payments sector. Giannetto acknowledged Bregal Milestone's role in Epipoli's growth and expressed confidence in Investcorp's capabilities to support the company's next phase.

Philippe Lautenberg, Managing Partner at Bregal Milestone, praised the collaboration with Epipoli during a critical growth period, emphasizing the successful scaling of the business through various initiatives.

Investcorp has a robust history of investing in technology-enabled businesses, having invested over €2 billion in European companies since 2012. The firm has previously made successful investments in Italian companies, including SEC Newgate and Vivaticket.

The acquisition of Epipoli is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Both Epipoli and Bregal Milestone were advised by UBS, while Investcorp received guidance from Clearwater and ADVANT Nctm.

This acquisition marks a significant step for Investcorp as it continues to expand its portfolio in the alternative payments sector and reinforces its commitment to supporting high-growth companies in Italy and beyond.