Kairos is a business initiative founded in 1999 by a small group of partners united in their common vision of creating excellence outside the box of big industry thinking.
Kairos is a business first and a financial company second, founded out of our passion for wealth management, as delicate a profession as it may be.
Kairos is synonymous with success in the asset management sector.
From the small, temporary office in via Conservatorio, Milan to a player in different financial markets, Kairos is the result of an opportunity and a bright idea: create an alternative to big asset management industry players by rethinking investment strategies and the business model.
The Kairos Group initially specialized in hedge funds, which are more flexible investments than traditional mutual funds. In 1999, it launched its first long-short single-manager fund. It was managed by Kairos Investment Management Limited based in London, considered a vital hub for global financial information. In the same year, Kairos Partners SGR was established in Italy and received the Bank of Italy’s authorization to perform asset management activities. It began operating in 2000 with the launch of two open-ended investment funds.
When Italy passed legislation opening the market to hedge funds, Kairos decided to put its expertise in the hedge fund business to use in Italy as well, launching the country’s first hedge fund of funds. The brand began making a name for itself in the industry for the performance of its managed funds, its revolutionary approach to new products, its independence and the way in which it aligned its interests with those of its clients.
Over the years, Kairos grew both in terms of AUM and staff, reaching € 7 billion in 2007, with over 100 resources in London, Milan, Rome, Lugano and Turin.
The crisis that took markets by surprise in 2008 led to a substantial contraction in assets under management for Kairos, which, rather than focusing on cutting costs, chose to respond with more dynamism on the market, recruiting additional professionals with proven ability and experience.
The Group reworked its strategy to meet the new needs of its clients and investors in general. It expanded its offer, reducing the percentage of hedge funds in its product portfolio and gradually including UCITS funds, without forgoing its absolute return investment approach.
By the end of 2011, the Group had a new strategic structure, a more balanced and well-diversified product portfolio that included compliant UCITS funds, a new Italian Wholesale distribution division mainly targeting retail clients and a stronger brand.
In 2012, Kairos began an important strategic partnership with the Julius Baer Group to forge a long-term alliance in investment advisory and portfolio management services for HNW clients. Kairos acquired 100% of Julius Baer SIM, while the Swiss group picked up a 19.9% interest in Kairos Investment Management SpA.
In 2014, the Group began to diversify its product portfolio further by expanding its offer for institutional clients, with the creation of the Global Institutional division, and became the management company of Kairos International Sicav.
In April 2016, Julius Baer Group Ltd increased its stake in Kairos Investment Management SpA from 19.9% to 80%, then to 100% in January 2018. In the meantime, Kairos Julius Baer SIM merged into Kairos Partners SGR in 2017, streamlining the Group’s organizational structure.
During this time, the Group has significantly expanded its expertise on international markets, extending the reach of its operations in investments and advisory and wealth management services, and boosting profitability.
The Kairos 2.0 project ends, establishing the new strategic lines on the assumption that the Group has decided to maintain the same distinctive model, characterized by the integration between asset management and wealth management.
The Julius Baer Group, maintaining the majority, sells an overall share of 30% of the capital to the founding partner Guido Maria Brera and to Rocco Bove and Massimo Trabattoni, historical portfolio managers of Kairos.
The return of these top managers in the capital strengthens the complete alignment of interests with customers.
With this new corporate structure, the Group intends to position itself on the market as a leader in product innovation and in the creation of investment solutions for private and institutional customers, as well as for distribution networks.
In January 2021, Alberto Castelli, a manager with a long experience in the financial services industry, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Group.
In March 2021, the top management involvement in the Group’s shareholding is further consolidated with Caterina Giuggioli, Sales Director and Alberto Castelli, new CEO, becoming shareholders of the Group.
Strengthened by the new corporate restructuring, a ‘new course’ opens up for Kairos, aimed at enhancing the two souls of the business, asset management and wealth management, which continue to coexist in an integrated way, reinforcing the uniqueness of a successful model.
Kairos undertakes an important corporate reorganization process that aims at relaunching, also at a European level, a distinctive brand which intends to remain so by leveraging its ability to interpret the markets and anticipate investment trends, starting from the assumption that there is no future without a responsible commitment.
In May 2024, Kairos Partners SGR’s entry into Anima Holding.
Belonging to a group with a strong national presence, cohesive ownership, and a clear industrial development plan has opened a new phase of consolidation and growth for Kairos. With the support of the new shareholder, with whom sharing the same values and entrepreneurial spirit, Kairos can rely on an ambitious investment plan that will express its potential, benefiting from the support of Anima Group’s operational structures and investment capabilities.
The restructuring of the shareholding aims at streamlining processes, strengthening the technological platform, and expanding investment solutions by reinforcing the product factory, both in Asset and Wealth Management areas.
Kairos presents itself as a laboratory of ideas, strongly believing in the investment boutique model.
Its mission is the constant enhancement of capital, in a constant alignment of interests with clients.
Kairos aims for generating positive absolute returns in any market condition, trough active and dynamic management and a focused risk control.
Kairos considers clients’ needs and looks at the future with the aim of anticipating new trends and understanding their implications, to constantly offer long-term investment solutions proposals of value.
Kairos people with passion make a difference and build authentic, transparent and long-lasting relationships with customers, based on listening and trust, starting from the assumption of the complete alignment of interests.
We develop and innovate our company starting from the choice of individuals who stand out not only for their high professional qualities, but also for their moral and human value.
We build and refine our strategy with foresight on time, starting from our distinctive expertise.
We support our customers with commitment and above all passion because there is no conquest of trust without putting energy and enthusiasm into our work.
There is no future without responsibility: our business model enhances the daily commitment to all stakeholders, society and the environment.
We believe in the value of finance for all stakeholders and in its most inclusive sense, as a driving force for the development of our country economy.
Kairos Partners SGR SpA, part of ANIMA group, operates in Italy with its offices of Milan, Rome and Turin
Alberto Castelli – Chief Executive Officer
Maurilio Maria Pace – General Manager
Guido Maria Brera – Chairman
Federica Barbaro – Independent Director
Maurizio Biliotti – Independent Director
Alberto Castelli – Director
Pierluigi Giverso – Director
Francesca Pasinelli – Independent Director
Davide Sosio – Director
Costanza Torricelli – Independent Director
Gabriele Camillo Erba – Chairman
Tiziana di Vincenzo – Standing Auditor
Claudia Rossi – Standing Auditor
Nicoletta Cogni – Alternate Auditor
Paolo Mungo – Alternate Auditor
Over the years, Kairos has received a number of prestigious international awards which have helped make it one of the world’s top managers. It has received many of these awards repeatedly over time, demonstrating continuous excellence that few can match.