EUR 4 Billion allocated for industrial investment through the Italian Strategic Fund (Fondo Strategico Italiano (FSI))

The Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) has approved the underwriting of EUR 4 billion of capital increases for the Italian Strategic Fund (FSI), the private equity fund dedicated to medium-sized, healthy Italian companies operating in strategic sectors that need fresh capital to enlarge their business and be competitive on a global scale.

The FSI (as provided by Ministerial Decree of 8 May 2011) is intended for financially sound companies with suitable earnings and growth prospects, that operate in strategic sectors, namely: defence, security, infrastructures and public services, transportation, communications, energy, insurance and financial intermediation, research and high technology. Aside from such sectors, the Fund may also invest in companies with annual net revenues of not less than EUR 300 million and an average work force of no less than 250 employees.

The Fund is thus a tool conceived for medium-/large-sized companies, complementary to the Italian Investment Fund (Fondo Italiano di Investimento), also promoted by the CDP, but aimed at supporting small-/medium-size enterprise (SME).

The decision follows the FSI board's approval of the 2012-2016 Business Plan.
CDP will be the core shareholder for the FSI, which aspires to total capital funding of EUR 7 billion, including through the activity of progressively raising funds from Italian and foreign institutional investors.