Lovells has advised Singapore sovereign fund GIC Special Investments (GICSI) on its €1bn (£760m) investment in Italy’s Sintonia – an investment vehicle owned by the Benetton family.

The deal, which was signed on 11 March, is thought to mark the first Italian market entry by a sovereign fund, a number of which have been stepping up their investment in Europe. It saw GICSI take a 3% stake in Sintonia, with the fund subscribing to a capital increase that will see its overall stake rise to 14.3%.