New Delhi, June 11:

A Milan-based business advisory firm aims to create a 100 million euro (Rs 5.4 billion) equity fund to push mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and joint ventures (JVs) between Italy and India.

“I am talking to Italian banks and Luxembourg-based funds. I have also received positive feedback from Indian banks,” Carlos Paris of Paris&Partners said of the equity fund to promote “arranged and love marriages that last” between Indian and Italian businesses in the areas of lifestyle products, food processing, cinema and infrastructure.

“Ninety per cent of Italian businesses are family-owned and form the core of our economy. There are similar traditions in India. So, I am now looking for good DNA with Indian groups,” Paris, a former banker, said.

Toward this end, the equity fund will function as a third party professional with the capability to lead investment to provide Italian-quality goods at Indian prices,” Paris explained. The timing could not be better, with 2007 being celebrated as the Year of Italy in India.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, accompanied by a delegation of more than 300 top businessmen was in India in February, while Deputy Prime Minister Francesco Rutelliis expected here later this year.

Two other delegations, one led by Minister of International Trade Emma Bonino and the other by the president of Lombardy province Robert Formigoni also visited India this year, indicative of the “renewed interest in India due to its surging economy”, Paris pointed out.

Talks are underway with Indian business groups like the Dalmias, the Modis, the Chanderiyas and the Ruparels to facilitate ties with Italian business houses for M&As and JVs.

In addition, Paris&Partners would set up representative offices later this year in New Delhi and Mumbai to help Italian companies understand how to do business in India.“We have also got positive responses from other companies like Godrej and Dabur for joint ventures in areas of food and cosmetics,” Paris stated.

For Italian firms that were interested in India, he said Merloni group hoped to invest in India’s alternative and renewable energy sector, the Cattaneo family in beauty products sector and Bianchi family in duplicating machines sector.