Italy's Moratti, Gavio families invest in Canzonieri's Nextalia private equity firm

MILAN (Reuters) -Nextalia, the private equity firm founded by former Mediobanca and Barclays investment banker Francesco Canzonieri, said on Friday that Italy's Moratti and Gavio families had become shareholders.

Nextalia said the investment vehicles of the two families would buy into a capital increase with two representatives, Angelomario Moratti and Francesco Vercesi, respectively joining its board of directors.

"This confirms Nextalia's role as the go-to independent investment platform for private markets to support Italy's real economy," it said.

The Moratti family, who used to own top-tier soccer club Inter Milan, last year agreed to sell 35% of their oil refiner Saras to global commodity trader Vitol. The Gavio family is the main shareholder in toll-road operator ASTM.

Nextalia said its new Nextalia Flexible Capital fund had raised 370 million euros ($419 million) in three months, more than targeted, and would garner more in the next few months thanks to ongoing investor interest.

It has also started marketing its Nextalia Credit Solutions fund, set up at the end of March, which aims to raise 200 million euros from professional investors.

Nextalia said it had named Leonardo Adessi as chief investment officer (CIO) for its credit division, replicating the model adopted for its equity operations where the running of various funds is coordinated by a single CIO.

($1 = 0.8829 euros)

(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Gavin Jones)