Italy Moves to Modernize Financial Regulations, Boosting Venture Capital
In a move to revamp its financial regulatory framework, the Italian government has approved a legislative decree to reform the Consolidated Law on Finance (Testo Unico della Finanza or TUF), first introduced by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi in 1998.
The Italian Tech Alliance, an industry group, has expressed optimism about the reform's potential impact. "Only through a competitive regulatory system will it be possible to offer innovative companies and investors a truly conducive environment to foster development, growth and the attraction of new capital," said Francesco Cerruti, Director General of the Italian Tech Alliance.
The reform aims to make the Italian capital markets more competitive and accessible, with a particular focus on directing more resources and investments towards high-potential, innovative firms such as startups. This aligns with the government's broader efforts to bolster the country's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the legislative decree approved by the Council of Ministers represents an initial step in overhauling the TUF. Additional measures focused on sanctions and offenses will follow, ultimately culminating in a new Financial Markets Code.
The Bank of Italy has welcomed the reform, recognizing the need to modernize the regulatory framework and facilitate the growth of the capital markets. "The objective of the reform is to make the Italian capital market more competitive and accessible, particularly in terms of channeling resources and investments towards highly innovative companies," said a senior official at the central bank.
The move comes at a time when Italy is seeking to attract more venture capital and private equity investment to support its startups and scale-ups. The country's venture capital ecosystem has shown signs of progress, with a record €1.4 billion invested in 2021, according to industry data. However, Italy still lags behind other European hubs in terms of venture capital activity as a percentage of GDP.
"This reform is a positive step towards creating a more conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship in Italy," said the head of a leading private equity firm focused on the Italian market. "By modernizing the regulatory framework, the government is signaling its commitment to fostering a vibrant and competitive capital markets ecosystem."
The changes to the TUF are expected to have broader implications for the Italian financial services industry, potentially streamlining compliance requirements and opening up new avenues for fundraising and investment. Industry participants will closely monitor the implementation of the reforms and any subsequent updates to the regulatory landscape.
The proposed reforms to Italy's Consolidated Law on Finance (TUF) aim to create a more competitive regulatory environment to support innovative companies and attract new capital. This could be a significant boost for Italy's burgeoning startup scene, which has seen growing interest from venture capitalists in recent years. However, the article notes that the reforms have stalled, highlighting the challenges of implementing sweeping financial regulatory changes. Investors will be closely watching to see if Italy can follow through and create the conducive environment for startups and VCs that the industry group is hoping for.