NUO is an investment holding, dedicated to supporting outstanding Italian companies in the consumer goods sector. We aim at fostering their international growth, strengthening their management capabilities, and facilitating the generational transition, while – at the same time – preserving their identity and independence.
Unlike private equity funds, NUO invests exclusively private capital of a select group of internationally recognized entrepreneurial families who support us directly.
With an industrial and long-term approach, NUO focuses on building lasting growth strategies, rooted in robust value creation model and authentic sustainability — not short-term returns.
Our founding values are our primary compass.
With our portfolio companies we share more than a business vision, we share the way we see the world: the solidity of the identity and the origins (earth), the commitment to the challenge (sea) and -finally – the long term ambition (sky).
EARTH
Remember who you are and where you come from: Humility & Perseverance
SEA
The map is not the territory: Courage & Commitment
SKY
Dream big: Ambition & Openness
At the core of our investment strategy are the ingenious creators, passionate artisans and visionary pioneers who are the true makers of Italian brands, products and stories. With an owner-operator mindset and a permanent capital model, we look to continue this tradition of entrepreneurship, transferring knowledge from one generation to the next and sharing positive values with all our stakeholders.
Pioneering the “quiet luxury” concept since 1950s, Slowear has spread throughout the world captivating the hearts of customers and connoisseurs who look for durability and design excellence.
Since 1908, an excellence in the field of personal care and beauty products, known for its storied brands including Proraso, Marvis, Valobra and several more Italian icons.
Proraso — https://proraso-usa.com
Marvis — https://www.marvis.com
Building and scaling world-class cutting edge technologies and products that enhance the lives of users around the world, help businesses thrive, and have positive externalities.
Bringing the Italian way of life and delicious 250 chocolate recipes and 90 flavours of gelato to every corner of the world since 1878 with authentic, natural ingredients to make all palates feel good.
A leading excellence in active-wear and technical apparel, designed and shaped to where is needed, the outdoor. A brand for those whom the mountains are a way of life.
The specialist since 2009 in the production of high quality naturally gluten-free products, leading the way to healthy food, from grain to table with innovation and responsibility, both with its Felicia brand and for third parties.
Andriani — https://www.andrianispa.com
Felicia – https://www.felicia.it/en/
Providing teenagers with fashionable, cool and “always on the edge” outfits seamlessly combining international influences with Italian creativity; Subdued is synonym of research, style innovation and fast reaction to fashion trends for a large fashion community.
High quality and enduring performance since 1938. SCARPA is a company specialized in the production of outdoor footwear for mountaineering, climbing, trail running, trekking, hiking, urban outdoor, ski mountaineering, and telemark.
Pioneering the art of luxury seafaring with their exquisitely crafted high-end maxi ribs, where Italian design meets cutting-edge marine innovation, pushing the boundaries of performance and comfort, delivering an unmatched experience redefining the premium boating industry.
What we seek is not a specific sector, but a specific mindset: excellence, innovation, enduring value, high ambition, and a leadership stance in the marketplace.
If a consumer good company has a winning formula for international expansion and is seeking a committed partner to amplify its growth—while preserving its heritage, values, and human capital — NUO is the right partner.
When assessing an opportunity we follow three investment criteria: it has to be a Good Deal, a Good Company and a team of Good People. As long-term investors, we look for a deep alignment of values and sharing of vision: we can weather the ups and downs together, and grow multi-generational businesses sustainably.
We are dedicated to and passionate about the unique landscape of Italian medium-sized enterprises. We see the challenges of digitalization, internationalization and generational transfer, as an opportunity to bring the tradition forward.
This is why, also, we invested in Elite (with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and Borsa Italiana) to foster best practices across the Italian Small Medium Enterprises landscape.
We believe in sustainability as the only path forward to ensure multigenerational business; we are ESG driven and believe that an owner-operator mindset can be leveraged to build passionate, ethically responsibly and stakeholder centric businesses across generations. We bring an extensive global network to accelerate growth and create consistent value over time.
With an operating office in the Far East capable of boosting Asian presence, and a strong business relational footprint in the USA, we ensure that internationalization can span from East to West, and beyond.
As shareholders with a genuine commitment to sustainability, we balance prosperity with our responsibility to people and planet. Our comprehensive ESG approach integrates awareness, commitment, and engagement throughout every phase—from due diligence to implementation—ensuring sustainability principles are not only addressed but elevated through a strategic ambition and vision. We cultivate this ethos internally and across our portfolio companies, transforming values into measurable actions that amplify positive impact across all stakeholders.
Guided by our mission to empower and prosper, we’ve implemented initiatives ranging from daily office practices to long-term collaborative programs based on three clear principles:
Mitigate Natural capital
Our environmental strategy centers on giving back more than we take. As a company, we enforce responsible approaches to our footprint by measuring impact and fostering a culture of mitigation and regeneration. As shareholders, we influence and support the transition toward greener value chains and circularity.
Mentor Human capital
People are the essence of our work. Our social strategy aims to nurture and empower individuals through education—essential for developing human capital and cultivating tomorrow’s leaders. We invest in plurality, talent, and creativity, while implementing guidelines that ensure thriving workplaces across our portfolio.
Manage Financial capital
We integrate ESG factors into our decisions, committing to the purpose of Growing Italian Excellence through fair, accountable, and transparent governance. By managing financial capital ethically, we enable our portfolio companies to promote inclusion, reduce inequalities, and collaborate toward greater shared values.
