Simest

Controlled by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, SIMEST was set up in 1991 to promote foreign investment by Italian companies and to provide technical and financial support for investment projects.

For firms it is a one-stop shop for assistance on every aspect of the development of business abroad and, since 2011, in Italy as well.

INVESTMENT IN EQUITY CAPITAL OF COMPANIES OUTSIDE THE EU:

• working alongside Italian companies, SIMEST can acquire up to 49% of the equity capital of foreign firms, directly or through a Venture Capital Fund, to support foreign investment in countries outside the European Union. Its participation gives the Italian investing company access to interest rate support for loans granted to finance its equity interest in the non-EU company.

INVESTMENT IN EQUITY CAPITAL OF COMPANIES IN ITALY AND WITHIN THE EU:

• SIMEST can acquire stakes of up to 49% in Italian companies and/or their EU subsidiaries that develop investments in production and in innovation and research at market terms without support (bailouts are excluded).

AS REGARDS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES ABROAD, SIMEST CAN: 

• supports export credits for investment goods produced in Italy;
• finances feasibility studies and technical assistance programmes connected with investment projects;
• finances programmes for entering foreign markets;
• finances first-time participation in trade shows in non-EU markets.

SIMEST also provides technical assistance and advisory service to Italian companies seeking to internationalise their business. Activities include:

• seeking out foreign partners and investment opportunities, as well as foreign commercial contracts;
• prefeasibility and feasibility studies;
• advice on financial, legal and corporate issues concerning investment projects abroad.

SIMEST is an Italian financial institution authorized by the EU to serve as a lead financial institution in partnership programmes, such as the Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF), the Latin America Investment Facility (LAIF), the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund Africa, the Investment Facility for Central Asia (IFCA)