The merchant bank to private capital
Through our proprietary angles, we unlock complex situations by providing tailored, unconflicted and discreet insights
Who We Are
Founded in 2017, with a vision to create a long-term, trusted partner to the private capital ecosystem
Canson sources, unlocks and invests in proprietary investment opportunities in partnership with leading global private capital providers
Canson In Numbers
Over USD 70bn (EV) of private capital related transactions since inception.
Successfully raised 4 merchant banking funds
Over $500m AUM
What We Do
We deliver creative, client-focused solutions and partnership capital to help unlock value creation opportunities
1. Strategic Solutions
We source proprietary and highly differentiated investment opportunities, often in partnership with senior industry executives or specialist advisors, and match them with the optimal private capital partner
We support private equity and corporate clients in pursuing liquidity events and exits
2. Private Capital Investing
We provide the opportunity to our long-term investors (comprising institutional investors, family offices and HNWIs) to invest alongside our own proprietary capital and our private capital partners. This creates full alignment on the success of the investment
Our Investment Strategy
Sourcing
Investment idea and proprietary angles
Sponsor Partnership
Identify and partner with the best source of capital
Execution
First-hand input into investment thesis and process execution
Our Investment Criteria
Business characteristics
- Multiple avenues for growth
- Profitable with stable cash flows
- Opportunities for performance enhancement through private capital investment
Geographies
Western Europe and US
Governance
Partnership stakes alongside leading private capital providers, with customary governance rights
In originating its own transactions, Canson allows investors to gain exposure to a curated selection of highly differentiated and proprietary investment opportunities, investing in partnership with leading private equity investors, that they typically would not otherwise have access to
By matching the investment opportunity with the best source of private capital, Canson looks to maximise the likelihood of achieving outsized private equity returns
Our Partnership Model
Partnership sits at the heart of everything Canson does
We look to identify transactions that create win-win opportunities for value creation. This can take many forms, including:
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
Between corporates and private capital
PRIVATE CAPITAL PARTNERSHIPS
Between multiple complementary private capital providers
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE PARTNERSHIPS
Between senior executives with operational experience/management teams
We strongly believe that there is no substitute for operational experience when evaluating and building conviction in investment opportunities
In partnering with senior industry executives and other advisors in relation to specific opportunities, we create a unique proposition, bringing our combined expertise, insights and access to drive success
Our Track Record
Canson invested alongside Hamilton Lane, Ford Foundation, Microsoft, Omidyar Network, S&P Global, Hellman & Friedman, Kohlberg & Company, Lindsay Goldberg & The Vistria Group
Canson invested
Canson sourced, secured and unlocked the opportunity for BC Partners
Canson raised c.€30m to invest alongside BC Partners and Bain Capital
Canson invested
Canson advised White Bridge
Canson partnered with Simon Foster and identified EagleTree as the optimal partner for Arc
Arc is a buy-and-build platform to build a next generation events and media business
Canson invested
L-GAM to Silver Lake
Canson advised L-GAM
(a portfolio company of Permira)
Canson advised Credit-Vision
Canson sourced, secured and unlocked the opportunity for Ardian
Canson raised c.€110m to acquire a minority stake in INWIT alongside Ardian
Canson invested
Canson advised Refinitiv
Canson sourced, secured and unlocked the opportunity for Bain Capital
Canson raised c.$40m to invest alongside Bain
Canson invested
Canson sourced, secured and unlocked the opportunity for Blackstone
Canson raised c.$100m to invest alongside Blackstone
Canson invested
Canson advised Providence
Our Team
Matteo
Canonaco
Co-Founder
James
Simpson
Co-Founder
Amar
Bharaj
CFO
Cecilia
Gariboldi
Analyst
Charlie
Bogard
Principal
George
Adamopoulos
Associate
George
Sams
Financial Controller
Gian Fedele
Ferrari
Analyst
Irene
Favini
Office Manager, Milan
James
Crompton
Analyst
Luca
Colopi
Partner
Mengfan
(Homen) Hou
Partner
Olivia
Handyside
Operations Manager
Roman
Albrecht
Associate