Edoardo Avato
Edoardo Avato
Biography
Edoardo Avato is a local partner in the Milan office, specializing in Private Equity, M&A, and Corporate Transactions. With over a decade of experience, he regularly advises leading private equity sponsors, multinational corporations, and investment banks on high-profile, cross-border and domestic deals across a diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, financial services, retail and consumer, industrial and manufacturing, and luxury.
Edoardo has a proven track record of structuring and executing complex transactions, helping clients navigate strategic investments, acquisitions, and divestitures in highly competitive and fast-moving markets. His experience spans both public and private M&A, with a particular focus on private equity-backed transactions.
Before joining White & Case, Edoardo worked at a top-tier international law firm and a leading Italian law firm in Milan, where he developed deep expertise in high-stakes corporate transactions.
Experience
Corporate and M&A
Emirates Global Aluminium's acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Eco Green, 2026
Edoardo advised Emirates Global Aluminium, a producer of premium aluminium, in connection with its acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Italian aluminium recycling company Eco Green.
Aimia's sale of Bozzetto Group to One Equity Partners, 2026
Edoardo advised Aimia Inc., a diversified conglomerate listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, in connection with the sale of Bozzetto Group, a global manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemical products, to One Equity Partners.
Piemmequattro's joint venture with RB Italy Holding, 2025
Edoardo advised Piemmequattro S.r.l. in connection with the creation of a joint venture with RB Italy Holding S.p.A., the Italian investment platform of the Reuben Brothers Group, to develop a key waterfront area within the Port of Sanremo.
SURJ Sports Investment's joint venture with Kings League, 2025
Edoardo advised SURJ Sports Investment in connection with the formation of a joint venture with Kings League to launch Kings League MENA, a new regional edition of the innovative seven-a-side football league founded by Gerard Piqué. The new venture marks a significant step in the expansion of the Kings League global ecosystem, bringing the competition to the MENA region for the first time.
Trilantic Europe's acquisition of a majority stake in Diagram Group, 2025
Edoardo advised Trilantic Europe, a mid-market, pan-European private equity investor, in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake in Italian agritech company Diagram Group. The transaction was conducted in partnership with CDP Equity (CDPE), a subsidiary of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group. Trilantic Europe and CDPE acquired 83 percent of Diagram Group's shares, with each entity taking an equal 41.6 percent stake.
Equiter Infrastructure II's acquisition of Deenova Group, 2025
Edoardo advised Equiter Infrastructure II, a fund managed by Ersel AM, in connection with its acquisition of Deenova Group, an Italian company and European leader in providing automation and traceability solutions for hospitals, from HIG Capital. The transaction also involves Amundi Private Equity Italia joining the shareholding structure, in partnership with Deenova's founder Sergio Giglio.
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners' €534 million mandatory tender offer for Salcef Group, 2025
Edoardo advised Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners in connection with the mandatory tender offer on all outstanding shares of Salcef Group S.p.A. launched by Salbid S.p.A., a company fully owned by Railbid, for a total value of approximately €534 million. The mandatory tender offer follows the completion of a transaction that involved, among other things, the acquisition by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners of a 12.2 percent stake in Railbid's share capital.
Ruby Equity Investment and Fnac Darty's public tender and exchange offer for Unieuro, 2024
Edoardo advised Ruby Equity Investment S.à r.l. in connection with its joint voluntary public tender and exchange offer with Fnac Darty SA for all outstanding shares of Unieuro S.p.A. This transaction was designed to create a leading entity in the consumer electronics and domestic appliances market across Southern and Western Europe, with combined annual sales exceeding €10 billion.
Battery Ventures' acquisition of steute Technologies, 2024
Edoardo advised Battery Ventures in connection with its acquisition of steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, a German-based global manufacturer of innovative sensor and control technology for medical and industrial applications. This strategic acquisition aims to bolster steute's growth in providing intelligent sensors, hardware, and software systems for complex industrial and medical applications. The partnership is expected to fuel advancements in automation and safety across various sectors.
BDT & MSD Partners' investment in I.M.A., 2024
Edoardo advised I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. and its controlling shareholders in connection with an investment from BDT & MSD Partners. BDT & MSD Partners acquires its stake from international private equity fund BC Partners. The Vacchi family remains the majority owner of the IMA holding company.
GeneraLife Group's merger with IVI-RMA Group, 2023
Edoardo advised the managers and minority shareholders of the GeneraLife Group, a paneuropean KKR portfolio group active in the healthcare and human fertility business, in connection with its merger with IVI-RMA Group, a medical institution dedicated to assisted reproduction.
Ferretti's acquisition of the Wally business
Edoardo advised Ferretti S.p.A., a leading Italian shipyard, in connection with the acquisition of a branch of business as a going concern including the Wally trademark.*
Phoenix Tower International's acquisition of Towertel
Edoardo advised Phoenix Tower International, a Blackstone portfolio company, in connection with the buyout of Towertel S.p.A., leading Italian tower operator.*
FMC International's acquisition of a fungicide portfolio from Isagro
Edoardo advised FMC International in connection with the purchase of a portfolio of fungicide molecules from Isagro S.p.A., a key player in the development and sale of chemical products for agriculture.*
ICE's acquisition of ABC Farmaceutici
Edoardo advised ICE S.p.A., an Advent International portfolio company, in connection with the acquisition of ABC Farmaceutici S.p.A., an Italian pharmaceutical company.*
A Japanese multinational cosmetic company's worldwide licensing
Edoardo advised a Japanese multinational cosmetic company in connection with a world licencing and distribution agreement with an Italian luxury brand.*
A leading business travel company's joint venture with its Italian partner
Edoardo advised a leading company operating in the business travel market, in connection with the negotiation of joint venture agreements with its Italian local partner.*
Oaktree Capital Management's acquisition of a distressed hospitality real estate project
Edoardo advised Oaktree Capital Management in connection with the acquisition of a distressed real-estate project in the hospitality sector.*
* Edoardo worked on these matters prior to joining White & Case.