Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR’s Business Planbeing approved 600 enterprises representing the Italian excellence being targeted

Milan, July 29th 2020 – The Board of Directors of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR (“FII SGR” or “Fondo Italiano”) met yesterday, chaired by Andrea Montanino and led by Chief Executive Officer Antonio Pace.

During the meeting the new Business Plan 2020-2023 entitled “Forward 2023: Phase 2 of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento “ was approved. The Plan identifies a number of selected areas in which Fondo Italiano can intervene alongside other market operators and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to channel important resources towards excellent Italian companies with growth ambitions, while further consolidating the strategic lines and role developed by FII SGR in its first ten years of activity, with new objectives for the period 2020-2023.

FII SGR intends to mobilize over 3 billion euros through the two directions followed in the recent years being indirect investments and direct investments, there will also be a revamped attention towards investments in minorities. With reference to direct investments, the plan envisages more than 1 billion euros to be invested in funds, also newly created, that share the strategies and objectives of Fondo Italiano and have the ambition to target market areas not yet fully manned or to reach a larger size than in the past. Through direct investments activities, the aim is to sustain development, aggregation and internationalization operations involving small and medium-sized Italian companies in strategic areas. For this reason, partnerships will be established together with the leaders of Italian key supply chains to identify those companies that are most strategic, both upstream and downstream. It also intends to strengthen the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) approach to value creation and risk containment, both through direct investment activities and through the so-called “funds of funds”.

This will have a multiplier effect on the resources made available by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, that, to date, have represented 65% of total assets. It is expected to reach – through direct and indirect investments – about 600 companies at completion of the Plan.

“In its first 10 years of activity, Fondo Italiano has identified and supported Italian excellences, offering them both key resources for growth and privileged access to a network of exclusive national and international investors and partners” – stated Andrea Montanino, Chairman of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR. “Today we mark the start of the second phase of Fondo Italiano which, with the resources already made available by CDP and those raised from the market, aims at delivering to Italy larger, stronger, more technological and more resilient industrial supply chains while being a driving force for the economy and employment growth”. “Through its activities – continued Montanino – Fondo Italiano also aims at confirming its role as a point of reference for all those institutional investors who intend to devote part of their resources to the development of the Italian industrial system, with returns in line with best market benchmarks”.

Antonio Pace, CEO of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento stated: “Phase 2 of Fondo Italiano further renews its commitment towards Italian companies and Italian entrepreneurs in support of growth and further broadens the relationship with investors. We will be fully committed to supporting Italian excellence with patient capital and know-how for the innovation and the internationalization and the sustainable growth of these excellences. We will also have a disciplined approach to results and medium-term performance targets, in favor of those who have given and will give us confidence”.

In correspondence with the approval of the new Business Plan, the new logo of the Italian Investment Fund SGR was also presented to the Board of Directors, with the aim to incorporate a correct synthesis between tradition and innovation, with a renewed commitment to Italy. Hence the choice to keep the traditional symbol, adopting the colors of the national flag.
A symbol that represents FII’s role as an amplifier of Italian excellence and an engine for responsible growth.