We have advised the Next Different Group (NextDifferent) in the transaction that saw the QuattroR SGR S.p.A. (QuattroR) fund acquire a stake in the company, with the aim of accelerating its industrial development and strengthening its leadership in the integrated communications market.
The capital increase, for a total value of €20m, sees QuattroR join the current shareholders of NextDifferent, SAE Group, Marco Ferrari (Next24), Davide Arduini and Andrea Cimenti, with SAE Group retaining control through a holding company representing the current shareholders.
QuattroR's entry into NextDifferent represents a further strategic step in the growth path that began in October 2024, when, with the support of Gruppo SAE, Next14 (already assisted by Clearwater) and Different created NextDifferent, an integrated Italian hub specialising in digital marketing and communication. The current transaction, carried out through a capital increase, represents the natural evolution of that industrial project, aimed at strengthening the group's structure and supporting its growth plan, including through strategic acquisitions already identified and consistent with the management's long-term vision.
NextDifferent, founded in 2024 with the support of the SAE Group, combined the knowledge of Next14, a leader in the provision of strategy and planning services in the field of high-tech media, with the expertise of Different, one of the leading national players in the fields of creativity, events, loyalty, research and PR. The Group, which currently has a turnover of around €80m, aims to double its turnover in the three-year period 2026-2028 through both organic growth and M&A transactions.
With this latest transaction, we have now completed seven transactions in the communications and marketing sector, a track record that demonstrates the solidity of the vertical expertise we have built and consolidated over the years and confirms our position as a key partner for the sector.
We have also been involved in the transaction as debt adviser to NextDifferent and QuattroR, supporting them in raising additional financing and updating the terms and conditions of the existing facilities to align with the new governance and the Group’s needs.
