Alessandro Benedetti

UK Companies House reveals Benedetti's full corporate network. Born July 1961, Italian, resident in Switzerland (Lugano, 7 Riva Paradiso). FOUR UK appointments: (1) ASHERCO LLP (OC379532, active since Oct 2012, 4 Moorgate London) - current co-member with Mathieu Villaume (Luxembourg). Former members include Dotan Moshe (Israeli), SATSU FINANCE LTD (BVI 1583501), and YOUNGSTOWN INVESTMENTS GROUP LTD (BVI 1688567, PO Box 3483 Road Town Tortola). (2) SCHWARZFIELD LLP (OC379789, Oct 2012, dissolved). (3) ATTALI INVESTMENT PARTNERS LTD (07138407, Jan 2010-Dec 2015, dissolved) - co-directors included Bertrand Gauquelin des Pallieres (French, resident Rome) and corporate successor METHORIOS CAPITAL LLP. (4) SILVERARROW CAPITAL ADVISORS LLP (OC379903, Nov 2012-Mar 2013, dissolved).

FULL BIOGRAPHY SYNTHESIS: Benedetti (born Jul 1961, Italian, resident Switzerland/Geneva/Lugano) is a Geneva-based financier and founding partner of Schwarzfield. His career-defining deal: brokering the 2005 acquisition of Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA for Naguib Sawiris (Egyptian billionaire, Orascom Telecom), Europe's then-largest LBO at approx 12 billion euros. Benedetti received 67M+ euros but sued Sawiris for a 1/3 stake -- lost at UK Supreme Court Jul 2013 (Benedetti v Sawiris). Also investigated by Roman prosecutors for corruption in the Wind deal (2008). He has 30+ years experience in telecoms, energy, mining, real estate across W/E Europe, Scandinavia, CIS, Africa, North America, Middle East. Former non-exec director of Cadogan Petroleum (Ukraine oil/gas, Aug 2010-Jun 2012). Chairman of SPQR Capital SA. CEO of SAE Capital. Executive Chairman of NYSE-listed Equus Total Return (2011-2014).

SEC EDGAR reveals Benedetti was EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN of Equus Total Return Inc (NYSE: EQS, CIK 878932), a publicly traded closed-end fund, from June 2011 to June 2014. He was also a director (board member nominee). He owned over 100K in shares personally plus 400K shares through EB FINANCE S.A. (of which he disclaims beneficial ownership). The DEF 14A filing lists his roles: CEO of SAE Capital Ltd (founded Jan 2007), Director of Attali Investment Partners Ltd (since Oct 2010), Director of SPQR Capital Holdings S.A. (since Aug 2010), Non-exec director of Cadogan Petroleum plc (Aug 2010-Jun 2012), director of Versatile Systems Inc (since Dec 2008), Director of Schwarzfield S.A. (since Feb 2013), Schwarzfield Services SAGL (since Oct 2013), and Director of Asherco LLP (since Oct 2012). 8 hits across 2011-2016 proxy statements.

ASHERCO LLP (OC379532) reveals Benedetti's BVI connections. Two former BVI corporate members: YOUNGSTOWN INVESTMENTS GROUP LTD (BVI 1688567, Nov 2014-Nov 2021, PO Box 3483 Road Town Tortola) and SATSU FINANCE LTD (BVI 1583501, Nov 2021-Mar 2023, same PO Box 3483 address). Both BVI entities at SAME address: PO Box 3483, R.G. Hodge Plaza, Wickhams Cay 1, Road Town, Tortola, BVI. This is a registered agent address. Former member Dotan Moshe (Israeli, Feb 1972, 116 Ballards Lane London N3 2DN, Mar 2023-Jul 2024) replaced after BVI entities departed. Current co-member Mathieu Villaume (Luxembourg, Aug 1976) from Jul 2024. Pattern: BVI corporate members rotate through Asherco to obscure beneficial ownership.

Misra paid Benedetti $500K in April 2015 via Standard Chartered Bank to Barkmere Group Ltd, a BVI company controlled by Benedetti. Misra's spokesman claimed this was for 'oil investment.' Benedetti appears in ICIJ Paradise Papers as shareholder of Tree of Life Limited (Malta, C67345, incorporated Oct 2014), registered to Via delle Serre N. 9/A, Firenze, Italy.

Benedetti has been a director at Attali Investment Partners Ltd since 2010, placing him on the board of Jacques Attali's investment firm. Attali is former senior advisor to President Mitterrand and first president of EBRD. This directorship is the link between Benedetti's SoftBank/intelligence operative activities and French political elite. Benedetti's broader corporate portfolio: Chairman of Schwarzfield SA (2012+), Director of SPQR Capital Holdings SA (2010+), Asherco LLP (2012+), Schwarzfield Services SAGL (2013+). Previously President of M Finances SAS (Paris 2000-2001), Chairman of Equus Total Return Inc (until 2015).

Alessandro Benedetti appears in Epstein's documents as a Paris contact from at least 2013-2019. EFTA02297224 (Sep 25, 2013) lists 'allesandro de benedetti-paris' alongside schedule items for Ian Osborne breakfast, Larry Summers lunch, and Rich/Darren (Kahn/Indyke) meeting, plus Paris departure via Air France. EFTA02575400 shows Benedetti on an explicit Paris contact list. EFTA02628256 (Jan 28, 2019) references 'Allesandro benedetti?' alongside 'TEODORANI Eduardo (CNH Industrial)' -- both are Italian businessmen Epstein was tracking in his final months.

EFTA02297224 (Sep 25, 2013) schedule places Benedetti-Paris on the same day as breakfast with Ian Osborne (Thiel intermediary), lunch with Larry Summers, and meeting with Richard Kahn and Darren Indyke, before Epstein departs for Paris via Air France. This places Benedetti in the context of Epstein's tech/intelligence inner circle -- Osborne is the key Thiel intermediary, Summers the economics/policy advisor, Kahn/Indyke the legal/financial controllers. Benedetti appears to be Epstein's Paris contact in the European intelligence/finance world, consistent with his SAE Capital M&A role and later SoftBank operation.

Benedetti appears on Epstein's Paris contact list from Sept 26, 2013, listed as '-Alesandro de benedetti' alongside Lang, Victo, Ariane, Fred, Fabrice, Emily, Jean Luc, Fabrizio, Shahar, Wojtek Fibak (Fine Arts Investments), and Margherita Campella Della Spina. A separate reminder from the same day confirmed the meeting. A second reminder on Oct 7, 2013 shows another planned Paris meeting. This places Benedetti in Epstein's Paris social circle at least 2 years BEFORE the SoftBank smear campaign began in early 2015. The same day's schedule included breakfast with Ian Osborne and lunch with Larry Summers.

Benedetti ('Alesandro de benedetti') appears on Epstein's Paris contact list Sept 26, 2013, alongside Teodorani, Shahar, Wojtek Fibak (Fine Arts Investments), Margherita Campella Della Spina, Sultan, and others. Multiple Groff reminders about Benedetti-Paris meetings Sept 26 and Oct 7, 2013. The same Sept 26 schedule shows: 8:30am breakfast with Ian Osborne, 11:30am lunch with Larry Summers, 1:00pm with Rich and Darren, then departing for Paris via Air France.

Benedetti was on Epstein's Paris social circle since at least Sept 2013. Groff scheduled reminders for 'Allesandro de Benedetti-Paris' on Sept 26, 2013 and Oct 7, 2013. Benedetti also appears on Epstein's Paris contacts list alongside Ariane de Rothschild, Shahar, and others.

Benedetti was a long-standing Epstein Paris associate, appearing in multiple scheduling and contact documents: (1) EFTA02575276: 'Allesandro de Benedetti-Paris' reminder (Sep 2013). (2) EFTA02576024: duplicate reminder. (3) EFTA02297224: Benedetti on same Sep 26 2013 schedule as Ian Osborne breakfast and Larry Summers lunch, before Epstein departs for Paris. (4) EFTA02575400: Lesley Groff sends Epstein 'Paris List' with Benedetti as first name, followed by 13 other names including Shahar, Sultan, Wojtek Fibak (art), Margherita Campella della Spina (Sep 26 2013). (5) EFTA02628256: Jan 28 2019 -- Epstein emails Teodorani (CNH Industrial/Agnelli): 'Allesandro benedetti?' -- a one-line inquiry 72 hours after the Weingarten 'Softbank caper' message (Jan 25). This Jan 28 inquiry to Teodorani about Benedetti, cross-referenced with the Wave 7 SoftBank timeline, confirms Epstein was actively investigating the Benedetti SoftBank operation in real-time.

Epstein emailed Eduardo Teodorani (CNH Industrial) on Jan 28, 2019 with one-word inquiry: 'Allesandro benedetti?' — asking about Benedetti 10 months after WSJ March 2018 expose of SoftBank dirty tricks campaign. This is intelligence-gathering about Benedetti, not an introduction.

ATTALI INVESTMENT PARTNERS LTD (UK 07138407): Benedetti was co-director with Bertrand Gauquelin des Pallieres (French, born Nov 1966, resident in Rome at 9 Via G A Rayneri). Company name references Jacques Attali -- former adviser to French President Mitterrand, founder of EBRD, head of Attali and Associates advisory firm. Benedetti and Gauquelin co-founded in Jan 2010, both resigned Dec 2015 (same month), replaced by METHORIOS CAPITAL LLP as corporate director. SIC code 64999 (financial intermediation). Registered at 43-45 Dorset Street London W1U. The Attali connection places Benedetti in elite Franco-Italian political and financial circles -- the same milieu as Epstein's Paris network.

EFTA00925685 (Dec 9, 2011): Weingarten to Epstein: 'did we ever talk about allesandro Benedetti, your Italian jewish neighbor on ave. foch?' This establishes: (1) Benedetti was Epstein's NEIGHBOR on Avenue Foch in Paris — the same street as Epstein's 22 Avenue Foch property; (2) The Epstein-Benedetti relationship predates the SoftBank honey trap campaign (2015) by at least 4 years; (3) Weingarten knew of Benedetti through Epstein; (4) Epstein IGNORES the Benedetti question in the email chain, deflecting to scheduling — suggesting the topic was discussed by phone or Epstein preferred not to respond in writing. Also notable: Weingarten says 'have some interesting jeffrey-reid projects in mind' — confirming active joint ventures between Epstein and Weingarten beyond legal representation.

Benedetti appears in Epstein's calendar/reminder system as 'Allesandro de Benedetti - Paris' on Sept 26, 2013 (EFTA02575276) and Oct 7, 2013 (EFTA02576024). On the Sept 26 schedule (EFTA02297224), Benedetti appears alongside: '8:30am Breakfast w/Ian Osborne, 11:30am Lunch w/Larry Summers, 1:00pm Appt w/Rich and Darren' followed by departure to Paris. On a separate Paris contacts list (EFTA02575400), 'Alesandro de benedetti' appears first, alongside Wojtek Fibak (Fine Arts Investments), 'Sultan in Paris Sun. Sept 29th', Frederic Chaslin, and multiple women. This places Benedetti firmly in Epstein's Paris social-intelligence network as early as 2013.

Alessandro 'de Benedetti' appears in Epstein's Paris calendar and contact lists for Sep-Oct 2013. On Sep 26 2013, Lesley Groff sent reminders for 'Allesandro de Benedetti-Paris' alongside Epstein's schedule: breakfast with Ian Osborne, lunch with Larry Summers, then 9:55pm Air France to Paris. A Paris List (EFTA02575400) includes Benedetti alongside Lang, Victo, Ariane, Fabrice, Shahar, Wojtek Fibak, Margehrita Campella Della Spina, Sultan, Giselle, and Frederic Chaslin. A second reminder for 'allesandro de benedetti paris' was sent Oct 7 2013. Benedetti later hired by SoftBank's Rajeev Misra to run honey trap against Nikesh Arora (WSJ Feb 2020). Axios reported Benedetti had Cambridge Analytica/SCL Group ties.

SoftBank honey trap operation timeline: Jan 2015 Misra-Benedetti meet London. Apr 2015 $500K payment to Barkmere Group BVI. 2015 honey trap attempt in Tokyo (women + hidden cameras, Arora didn't fall for it). 2015 K2 Intelligence hired to investigate Arora/Sama. K2 hired Powerscourt Group (London PR) to place findings. Sept 2015 Nicolas Giannakopoulos (Swiss operative, Cambridge Analytica/SCL ties) hires Mark Hollingsworth (freelancer). Oct 2015 Independent publishes Arora story. Nov 2015 shareholder campaign begins. Jan 2016 first shareholder letter. Jun 2016 Arora resigns. Apr 2019 Sama leaves. 2018 Shearman Sterling probe: inconclusive. Feb 2020 WSJ breaks full story.

WSJ identified Benedetti as the central operative in the SoftBank smear campaign. Giannakopoulos (Swiss intelligence, Cambridge Analytica/SCL Group agent) was his subcontractor. The operation used code name 'Mr. West' for Arora. Benedetti expected compensation beyond the $500K: a cut of Misra's SoftBank earnings and to be named head of Vision Fund in London. Bertrand des Pallieres (French banker, former Deutsche Bank trader under Misra) introduced Misra and Benedetti. Meetings at London's Bulgari Hotel and Zurich's Hotel Baur au Lac (Nov 2017). Special cellphone provided for operational communications.

Benedetti leaked SoftBank honey trap operation to WSJ because Misra failed to pay promised compensation. Benedetti expected: (1) share of Misra's SoftBank earnings, (2) senior executive position at Vision Fund London. Neither materialized after K initial payment. Associates say Benedetti recorded conversations with Misra detailing plans to sabotage rivals.

Epstein emailed Eduardo Teodorani (CNH Industrial/Fiat executive) on Jan 28, 2019 -- just TWO DAYS after asking Brad Karp about Misra's representation -- with a single question: 'Allesandro benedetti?' This indicates Epstein was actively seeking to contact or learn about Benedetti through Italian corporate networks at the exact moment the SoftBank honey trap operation was under legal scrutiny.

On Jan 28, 2019 — exactly 2 days after the Karp/Misra and Weingarten/SoftBank exchanges — Epstein emailed Eduardo Teodorani (SVP, CNH Industrial) with a single line: 'Allesandro benedetti?' This shows Epstein was actively gathering intelligence about Benedetti, the very person WSJ later identified as the operative paid $500K by Misra to run smear campaigns and honey traps against SoftBank rivals. The 48-hour Karp→Misra→Benedetti inquiry sequence is too precise to be coincidental.

Epstein asked Teodorani (CNH Industrial/Agnelli heir) about 'Allesandro benedetti?' on Jan 28, 2019 — two days after asking Karp about representing Misra and the same week Weingarten discussed the 'Softbank caper.' This places Epstein actively networking around the SoftBank scandal, potentially seeking Benedetti as an operative or source through his Italian contacts.

DISAMBIGUATION: Alessandro De Benedetti at Northzone VC (grandson of Carlo De Benedetti/Olivetti/CIR dynasty, son of Marco De Benedetti/Carlyle) is a DIFFERENT person from Epstein's contact. Northzone De Benedetti is too young (joined as associate in 2024) and based in Stockholm. Epstein's Benedetti is the SAE Capital CEO born July 1961, confirmed via UK Companies House directorships and ICIJ Paradise Papers (Florence address).

Identity CONFIRMED: 'Allesandro de Benedetti - Paris' in Epstein contacts = Alessandro Benedetti, CEO of SAE Capital Ltd (founded 2007), born July 1961, Italian national, Swiss resident. UK Companies House confirms his directorships at Attali Investment Partners Ltd (since 2010), M Finances SAS (President 2000-2001, Paris), and Vendome Investments Ltd (2005-2011) — all Paris-connected entities that explain his designation as a Paris contact. The 'de' particle is a French-style name rendering not used in formal UK/Italian filings.

ICIJ Paradise Papers confirms Benedetti's registered address as Via delle Serre 9/A, Florence (Firenze) 50100, Italy. This is his personal/residential address used for the Tree of Life Limited Malta shareholder filing. Benedetti is confirmed Italian national. His name appears in Epstein documents as 'Allesandro de Benedetti' (with French-style 'de' particle), suggesting he may use both Italian and French-style name forms.

DOJ Vol 11 contains a SEPARATE Cyprus entity TREE OF LIFE LIMITED (HE 279303) incorporated 2010-12-27, dissolved 2016-01-11, at Agias Elenis 36, Galaxias Commercial Center, Floor 4, Flat 401, 1061, Nicosia, Cyprus. This is distinct from the Malta entity (C67345, incorporated 2014-10-28). The Cyprus Tree of Life has 3 directorship relationships per Aleph. Possible predecessor entity to the Malta Tree of Life -- note the Malta entity was incorporated Oct 2014 and the Cyprus entity dissolved Jan 2016, suggesting a migration from Cyprus to Malta jurisdiction.

DOJ Vol 11 Paris contact list (EFTA02575400, Sept 26 2013) places Benedetti first on Epstein's 'Paris List' alongside: Lang, Victo, Ariane, Fred, Fabrice, Emily, Jean Luc, Fabrizio, Shahar, Wojtek Fibak (Fine Arts Investments), Margherita Campella Della Spina (arriving by train Sept 27), 'Sultan in Paris Sun Sept 29', Giselle, and Frederic Chaslin. This list was sent by Lesley Groff to Epstein. The same day's schedule (EFTA02297224) shows Benedetti as a Reminder item alongside breakfast with Ian Osborne, lunch with Larry Summers, and appointment with Rich and Darren, before Epstein departed for Paris via Air France from JFK at 9:55pm. Benedetti is explicitly in the same social orbit as Summers and Osborne.