Aiming to become Italy’s leading private capital institution for SMEs and strategic industrial value chains
Expanding the investment platform through both direct and indirect strategies
Strengthening the operating model with a leaner, faster organization
Delivering market returns for investors while creating lasting value for the country
Milan, 26 March 2026 – Fondo Italiano d’Investimento (FII) has approved its new 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which sets out a clear ambition to further strengthen its role as a market operator and as a catalytic platform for the growth of private capital in Italy. The Plan is developed against the backdrop of an evolving alternative investment landscape, where Italy continues to display significant growth potential. This is supported by the country’s economic stability, changing investor demand and an increasing need to diversify away from traditional asset classes.
With €4.3 billion in assets under management and an integrated platform combining funds of funds and direct investments across seven active strategies, Fondo Italiano d’Investimento aims to further consolidate its position as a key player in the development of Italian private capital and as a driver of SME growth. This role is underpinned by rigorous standards in governance, transparency and ESG integration. The new strategy envisages further expansion of the investment platform through both direct and indirect strategies, including the launch of successor generations of existing private equity funds and new initiatives with a strong strategic focus. Fondo Italiano d’Investimento seeks to reinforce its distinctive positioning as a financial institution capable of generating a dual return — delivering market-level performance for investors while also creating systemic benefits for the Italian economy by supporting investments with positive externalities.
A core pillar of the Plan is the strengthening of strategic industrial value chains. In this context, Fondo Italiano will launch the new “Filiere Strategiche” fund, targeting more than €1 billion in commitments. The fund will support high‑potential vertical sectors such as energy and the energy transition, space and aerospace, advanced critical materials and rare earths, naval engineering and other industries that are key to Italy’s long‑term competitiveness. The objective is to foster the emergence of industrial champions, reduce fragmentation across value chains, enhance economic resilience and promote the creation of high‑quality employment. In the area of private direct lending, Fondo Italiano will also launch “Flexible Capital”, a new fund designed to provide SMEs with flexible financing solutions, including quasi‑equity instruments, c omplementing the tools already available within the Group’s investment toolkit.
On the indirect investment side, the strategy further strengthens Fondo Italiano’s support for the growth of Italian SMEs across Private Equity — through FOF PEI III, currently in fundraising — and Private Debt, via FOF PDI III. Emphasis will be placed on impact and sustainability‑focused vehicles, including FOF Impact II, which aims to channel capital towards projects capable of delivering measurable benefits for people, the environment and local communities. Priority investment areas will include sustainable agrifood, the circular economy, energy transition technologies, healthcare and education.
To ensure effective execution of the Strategic Plan, Fondo Italiano will also reinforce its operating structure, introducing a leaner governance framework, more efficient decision‑making processes, enhanced sector‑specific expertise and the creation of a cross‑functional junior talent pool. This approach is designed to accelerate execution, improve analytical depth and ensure a scalable organizational model aligned with the growth of assets under management.
From a financial perspective, the Plan targets management fees of more than €39 million by 2030, with total committed capital reaching €4.9 billion, supported by the launch of eight new funds (five direct and three indirect). Pre‑tax profit is expected to exceed €5 million by 2030, corresponding to a pre‑tax margin of approximately 13%, driven by platform expansion, entry into new markets and increased cost efficiency. Additional hires are also planned in line with the growth of activities.
Barbara Poggiali, Chair of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento, commented: “In an increasingly complex global economic environment, the new Strategic Plan is designed to provide targeted support to the competitiveness of Italy’s industrial system and to strengthen strategic value chains. By promoting consolidation and scale‑up processes, we aim to support the creation of stronger national players capable of competing both domestically and internationally, with a sustainable and long‑term approach.”
Domenico Lombardi, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, added: “The 2026–2030 strategy represents a decisive step in Fondo Italiano d’Investimento’s growth trajectory. Our ambition is to consolidate our position as a reference point for private capital and as a platform capable of mobilising patient capital in support of the real economy. We will do so by focusing on three key levers: responsible investment decisions, speed of execution and innovation in financial solutions, underpinned by a rigorous ESG framework. Our goal is to deliver market returns while creating long‑term value for the country.”
