People: New goals for Villa

Swiss-based Italian fund manager Alfredo Villa is turning AIM-quoted investment minnow Brainspark into a hive of corporate activity. The company, which recently took a key stake in London stockbroker Daniel Stewart, is paying £5.2 million in shares and cash for 20 per cent of Onderland, Italy’s biggest water theme park operator.

Villa, who has impressed Adam Wilson, the entrepreneurial former head of broker Hichens Harrison and now boss of Daniel Stewart, has also guided AIM-quoted Brainspark into Italian football club AC Ancona. The company is issuing £1.48 million in shares for 36.6 per cent of Associazione Calcio Ancona, which is currently fourth in the Italian Football League’s Serie B, from AC Ancona’s boss, Enrico Petocchi.

AC Ancona, which is four points behind the Serie B leader with 13 matches still to play this season, is seeking £2.68 million by the end of June. The football concern, which once fielded Italian striker Dino Baggio, lost £1.89 million in the year to last June on £5.37 million turnover and raised £1.92 million to cover that deficit.

Villa declares, ‘With the proper guidance and financial investment, AC Ancona will once again enjoy the accolades this great club deserves.’ He hopes Brainspark will share the glory.