It is the first co-investment fund in Italy dedicated to Italian SMEs
Milan, February 2nd 2024 – Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR has successfully completed the first closing of Fondo Italiano Private Equity Co-investimenti – FIPEC at 82 million euros. The project’s kick-off marks the beginning of a new strategy aimed at institutionalizing and strengthening the activity of the co-investment market in Italy.
Included among the new features of the 2022-2025 Industrial Plan, outlining partnerships and tools capable of contributing to the development of the private capital ecosystem in Italy, FIPEC is dedicated to support the growth of Italian SMEs in co-investment with leading local and international private equity players.
The unique characteristics of the Fund allow to expand the scope of Fondo Italiano, addressing a segment currently not entirely covered by private equity investors, with significant potential. Unlike in other main European countries, currently in Italy there are no active institutional co-investment funds dedicated to domestic companies.
FIPEC operates with the support of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) as the Cornerstone Investor, acting also as sponsor, along with other institutional investors and family offices. The Fund will primarily invest alongside managers already part of the network of Fondo Italiano created through its funds of funds activities, as well as other players, promoting synergies and new partnerships.
Classified as an art. 8 product under EU Regulation 2019/2088, the Fund will focus on investments in companies active in several strategic Italian sectors. The target companies shall be compliant with ESG criteria and be characterised by growth plans in Italy and abroad and significant value creation potential.
Marco Lucchini, Senior Partner of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR and co-head of FIPEC, comments:
“FIPEC represents a highly innovative instrument for the Italian private equity market, which has immediately welcomed this initiative and its potential with great interest. Especially in the current market context, characterized by challenging fundraising activities, FIPEC features meet the needs of companies and private equity players”.
Luigi Tommasini, Senior Partner of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR, head of Funds of Funds and co-head of FIPEC, comments:
“FIPEC benefits from the extensive network of partnerships and relationships developed through the investments of the funds of funds managed by Fondo Italiano. This will allow us to select investments from a significant pipeline of high-quality opportunities, always supporting the development of businesses in our country”.
Roberto Travaglino, Senior Partner and Distribution, Investor Relations and ESG Director of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR, adds:
“The characteristics of this new Fund allow investors to achieve an efficient capital deployment under attractive economic conditions and a good diversification of management companies. This new vehicle, whose launch is part of the objectives of the Industrial Plan approved by the Board of Directors, complements the offering of Fondo Italiano”.
