Valerio Fontanesi is a partner in the Finance practice based in the Milan Office.

He focuses on a variety of areas, including leveraged finance, real estate finance, structured finance and distressed investments, and has devised several previously untested lending and investment structures.

Valerio represents sponsors, banks and alternative lenders on a wide range of high-profile and complex financing, structured finance and distressed debt transactions.

• JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Banca IMI and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, as mandated lead arrangers and original lenders, in connection with the Euro 4.2 billion refinancing of the Pirelli Group financial indebtedness and the Euro 1.2 billion financing of Marco Polo International Italy S.p.A. for the capital increase of Pirelli & C. S.p.A.
• Blackstone and Kryalos in the refinancing of the indebtedness relating to a large portfolio of logistic assets in Italy.
• TPG in the acquisition of a majority stake in an Italian non-performing syndicated loan backed by a large real estate portfolio and the subsequent debt-to-equity swap in the context of the restructuring of the borrower’s indebtedness.
• Blackstone and Kryalos in the financing for the acquisition of a large pan-European real estate portfolio located in Spain and Italy.
• A major hedge fund, as arranger and lender, in connection with the financing for the leveraged buy-out of Moby and Tirrenia, the biggest Italian conglomerate operating in the shipping business.
• A syndicate of more than 10 banks for the financing of the attempted acquisition by a consortium composed by Permira and CVC of Istituto Centrale delle Banche Popolari (ICBPI), an Italian banking group worth more than €2 billion.
• Credit Suisse, Barclays and Citibank, as mandated lead arrangers and lenders, in connection with the $10.7 billion leveraged financing for the acquisition of International Game Technology by GTech.
• Qatar Investment Authority and COIMA in the financing for the acquisition of a major office building in Milan.
• A major hedge fund, as arranger and lender, in connection with a mezzanine PIK financing for the acquisition of Flos by Investindustrial.
• Blackstone Real Estate Debt Funds (BREDS) in the financing for the acquisition by a primary international sponsor of a portfolio of Italian real estate assets.
• JP Morgan Chase Bank, Unicredit, Banca IMI and Mediobanca in connection with the super senior revolving credit facility related to the €425 million high yield bond issuance by Manutencoop Facility Management.
• Blackstone and BNP Paribas in the financing for the acquisition of a portfolio of several Italian real estate assets having a value of approximately €500 million.
• Astaldi in the initial issuance of its €500 million 7.125% Senior Notes due 2020 and in the subsequent tap issuances of additional €100 million and €150 million 7.125% Senior Notes due 2020.
• Blackstone in relation to the financing of its acquisition of Fashion District shopping centers in northern Italy.
• J.P. Morgan, Banca IMI, UniCredit and Deutsche Bank in connection with the €320 million 7.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 and €160 million 12.000% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018 by SNAI.
• Blackstone in relation to the financing of its acquisition of the real estate assets of RCS in Milan; historical premises of Corriere della Sera, the main Italian newspaper.
• GE Capital Interbanca in relation to the refinancing of a real estate portfolio in the context of the spin-off of the parking division of Astaldi.
• Blackstone in relation to the financing of its acquisition of Valecenter and Airone shopping centers in northern Italy.
• Blackstone in relation to the financing of its acquisition of a portfolio of real estate assets from Axa.
• GE Capital Interbanca in relation to the refinancing of a real estate portfolio in the context of the spin-off of the parking division of Astaldi.
• A major Italian group in relation to three bilateral revolving and term facilities with Mediobanca, BNP Paribas and Unicredit and the renegotiation of the terms of its existing long term credit lines.
• Intesa Sanpaolo and the mezzanine lenders in the leveraged financing for the acquisition of Polynt, an Italian chemical company.
• The European Investment Bank and Banca IMI in connection with the financing of research and development project carried out by the motorcycle designer and manufacturer Ducati.
• Mediobanca and a syndicate of Italian banks in connection with the leveraged financing for the €1.2 billion acquisition of a stake in Aereoporti di Roma by Gemina.
• Whitehall funds, a family of real estate funds managed by the Goldman Sachs group, in connection with a €421 million term and capex facilities for the financing of the contribution of several real estate portfolios to a real estate fund managed by First Atlantic.
• A consortium led by Pirelli Real Estate, Deutsche Bank and Investitori Associati in the €888 million leveraged buyout of La Rinascente group.
• Fortress and Merrill Lynch in connection with the €2.2 billion acquisition and subsequent securitisation of a portfolio of non-performing loans originated by Banca Intesa and other banks of the Intesa group.
• Mediobanca in connection with the bridge financing and subsequent securitization of a large portfolio of non-performing loans originated by Sicilicassa.

Awards & Accolades

• Named "Leveraged Finance Lawyer of the Year" at the Legalcommunity Finance Awards in Milan (2018).
• Ranked in Chambers Global and Chambers Europe band 5 (2017).
• Named Rising Star Lawyer of the Year at the Legal community Finance Awards in Milan (2016).