Valter Mainetti is an Italian entrepreneur, major shareholder of Sorgente Group.
Biography
He graduated in 1973 in Political Science at the Sapienza University in Rome, with Aldo Moro as his thesis supervisor. In the mid-seventies he began working in the family businesses, in activity since the beginning of the 1900s in Italy and the United States, operating within the industry of iron construction and real estate. His maternal grandfather, Luigi Binda, had in fact founded a company in New York City in 1919 specialized in the assembly of iron structures. Even his paternal family's company had been involved, since 1910, in the realization of works in iron, and then following World War II began building mechanical and industrial plants, such as the Sincrotrone in Frascati, the Alfa Romeo in Arese, the Steelworks in Terni and Taranto. In 1987 he assumed the leadership of SAGEFIM Partecipazioni Spa, the parent company of the real estate business. The company's activities had gradually been oriented towards social housing. In 1999, with the introduction in Italy of the law on real estate funds, he completely restructured the businesses both in Italy and in the US under the brand Sorgente Group, which he conceived, directing the activities towards real estate finance and the acquisition of iconic buildings. As CEO of Sorgente Sgr, in 2001 he launched the first real estate fund, "Michelangelo", intended for institutional investors, with portfolio investments in prestigious buildings such as the Chrysler Building and Flatiron Building in New York City;. Through the funds managed by Sorgente Group, in 2004 Palazzo del Tritone in Rome was acquired. It is now the headquarters of Sorgente Group, hosting on the ground floor the Tritone Exhibition Space. In 2006 the Palazzo la Rinascente in Piazza Fiume was also acquired. This is the only building designed in Rome by Franco Albini, a modern-style work in the historical style of the Capital. The purchase of the Fine Arts Building in Los Angeles dates back to 2012, while the Clock Tower of Santa Monica to 2013. In 2014 a building was acquired in Lungotevere Aventino4, 5, 6 in Rome, where now locates the headquarters of the Fondazione Sorgente Group. Today he is the major shareholder of Sorgente Group Alternative Investment that includes Sorgente Group Italia and Sorgente Group of America. The Group operates in the finance, real estate, investment management, infrastructures, restoration works, hotels, communications and publishing. Furthermore, 30% of the 'Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno' was acquired through the group, the percentage has fallen at 2% in 29.06.2018. By means of a subsidiary called 'Musa Comunicazione', the Group also holds 100% shares of the newspaper ‘Il Foglio Quotidiano’ and majority of ETD Digital, owner of magazine ‘Tempi’. Main Itanian societies are:
Mainetti is a collector of ancient artworks. Together with the Fondazione Sorgente Group, of which he is president, he collects classical sculptures and antique paintings.
Publishing Activity
In April 2016 Valter Mainetti acquired the publishing company of the newspaper Il Foglio through Musa Comunicazione, a company of Sorgente Group, of which he is the majority shareholder and CEO.
