SIMEST
SIMEST S.p.A. is the Italian development finance institution of the CDP Group that supports Italian businesses' international expansion via subsidized loans, equity investments, venture capital, and export credit assistance, serving 15,436 companies across 124 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersRome, Italy
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SIMEST does
SIMEST S.p.A. is Italy's development finance institution (DFI) within the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) Group, established in 1991 and headquartered in Rome. The company supports Italian enterprises' international expansion through four core product lines: subsidized soft loans (Finanziamenti Agevolati) under public funds Fund 394 and Fund 295, equity investments and venture capital, export credit support covering buyer credit, supplier credit, L/C confirmations, and export leasing, and direct equity investments through specialized plafonds for growth, infrastructure, and start-ups. SIMEST operates under the coordination of Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) alongside sister institutions CDP, SACE, and ICE, and the company holds a 76% / 24% ownership split between CDP and a consortium of Italian banks.
As of 2025, SIMEST manages a €30.1 billion project portfolio across 124 countries and supported 15,436 businesses, deploying €1.1 billion in soft loans, €461 million in equity and venture capital in 2025, and approving €7.1 billion in export credit operations in 2024. The primary customer segment is Italian SMEs seeking international expansion; secondary segments include mid-caps (up to 499 employees), start-ups and innovative SMEs, large Italian industrial firms in cross-border infrastructure projects, and energy-intensive export supply chains. Loan applications grew +20% year-over-year, and 60% of new requests came from companies that had never previously exported — evidence of a widening funnel rather than share-shift.
SIMEST distributes its products through 8 domestic offices (Rome headquarters, Milan, Venice/Mestre, Bologna, Naples, Palermo, Turin, and Bari inaugurated June 2026) and 6 international hubs (Belgrade, Cairo/Rabat, Ho Chi Minh City/New Delhi, São Paulo, Riyadh), supplemented by banking partnerships with Banco BPM and Banca Akros. Its technology stack centers on the SIMEST digital portal for loan origination, monitoring, and portfolio management, integrated with CDP's Business Matching platform for foreign-buyer connections. The firm complements financing with training and advisory services through its ConSIMEST hub, the LOUNGE CDP SIMEST ELITE 24-month executive program (with SDA Bocconi), and a Custom Executive Program in partnership with Luiss Business School.
SIMEST firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SIMEST
- Legal name
- SIMEST S.p.A.
- Website
- https://simest.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SIMEST S.p.A. is the Italian development finance institution of the CDP Group that supports Italian businesses' international expansion via subsidized loans, equity investments, venture capital, and export credit assistance, serving 15,436 companies across 124 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SIMEST industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Development Finance / Export Credit
- NAICS
- Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB), SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit (FSAKAGAJ), Debt Capital Raising Intermediation (Private Debt/Mezzanine/Bonds) (FSAEALAM), Specialty Finance / Structured Credit (FSANADAE)
Keywords
Where SIMEST is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rome
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices15 records
Markets served
SIMEST business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Soft Loans Administration: SIMEST administers soft loans for international expansion, providing subsidized financing to Italian businesses. Revenue is generated through interest income and fees from loan administration under various Fund 394 instruments.
- Export Credit Assistance: Export credit support through contributions that reduce interest costs on financing for Italian exporters. SIMEST manages export credit operations exceeding €7 billion annually.
- Equity Investments and Venture Capital: Direct equity participation and venture capital investments in Italian companies pursuing international growth, with minority stakes in portfolio companies.
- Training and Advisory Services: ConSIMEST provides training programs and advisory services to Italian SMEs, often in partnership with institutions like Luiss Business School, to support internationalization processes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | Energy cost support measure - up to €1.5 million per SME |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Growth Plafond for SMEs and mid-caps |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Start-ups and innovative SMEs equity investments |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
SIMEST product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SIMEST is the CDP Group's development finance institution that supports Italian businesses' international expansion through a suite of financial instruments: subsidized soft loans (Finanziamenti Agevolati) under public funds such as Fund 394, equity investments and venture capital participation, and export credit assistance including buyer credit, supplier credit, L/C confirmations, and export leasing contributions. It complements these financial products with the ConSIMEST training and advisory platform delivered in partnership with Luiss Business School and ELITE.
Product overview
SIMEST offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services to support Italian businesses' international expansion. The core offerings include four main product lines: (1) Soft Loans (Finanziamenti Agevolati) for subsidized financing supporting international expansion, innovation, and sustainability; (2) Equity Investments and Venture Capital (Investimenti Partecipativi e Venture Capital) providing risk capital participation; (3) Export Credit Assistance (Supporto all'export credit) with various contribution programs including buyer credit, supplier credit, L/C confirmations, and export leasing; and (4) Equity Investments including specialized plafonds for growth, infrastructure, and start-ups. Supporting these core products are training programs including ConSIMEST (territorial training), the LOUNGE CDP SIMEST ELITE (24-month executive program), and the Custom Executive Program with Luiss Business School. All services are accessible through the SIMEST digital portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Finanziamenti Agevolati (Soft Loans) Subsidized financing for Italian businesses to support international expansion, innovation, sustainability, and production chain development, with special measures for Africa, Latin America, and energy-intensive industries, managed under public funds such as Fund 394.
- Investimenti Partecipativi e Venture Capital Risk capital participation in businesses to support international growth, including equity investments and venture capital funds to optimize financial structure for international investments.
- Supporto all'export credit Export credit assistance providing subsidized interest contributions to reduce financing costs for Italian exporters and foreign buyers, including buyer credit, supplier credit, L/C confirmations, and export leasing contributions.
- Investimenti in Equity (Equity Investments) Long-term minority institutional equity participation in Italian companies pursuing international investments, including the Plafond Crescita for SMEs and mid-caps, the Plafond Investimenti Infrastrutturali, and the Plafond Start-up e PMI Innovative.
- Energy for International Competitiveness Measure (Misura Energia) Counter-cyclical financing measure providing subsidized loans (up to €1.5 million per SME, 8-year duration) with a non-repayable contribution reaching 30% for Italian SMEs affected by energy cost increases impacting export competitiveness.
- LOUNGE CDP SIMEST ELITE Exclusive 24-month training program offered jointly by CDP, SIMEST, and ELITE, providing courses with SDA Bocconi, development plans, capital market support, and networking opportunities for Italian companies pursuing internationalization.
- Custom Executive Program Luiss Business School-SIMEST Free executive program developed with Luiss Business School, providing 100+ hours of training for SMEs in Southern Italy on international expansion strategies, geo-economic changes, and strategic markets.
- ConSIMEST Training Hub Traveling training initiative accompanying Italian SMEs in internationalization and transition processes through events in various Italian cities, offering strategic insights, practical tools, and networking opportunities.
- SIMEST Portal Digital platform enabling businesses to apply for financing, manage existing loans, conduct simulations, and track applications from submission through disbursement.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported 15,436 businesses across 124 countries in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SIMEST
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SIMEST technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
SIMEST partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Camera Tuniso-Italiana di Commercio e Industria (CTICI)majorCDP, SIMEST, SACE and CTICI signed MoU at Tunisia-Italy Business Forum to support Italian companies in Tunisian market through joint information, training, and networking activities.
- Italian South African Chamber of Trade and IndustriesmajorSIMEST signed agreement with Italian South African Chamber to support export and internationalization of Italian companies in South Africa, alongside SACE.
- Business Unity South AfricamajorSIMEST signed agreement with Business Unity South Africa to promote new economic exchanges and business opportunities between Italian and South African companies.
- ArsenalemajorSIMEST partnered with Arsenale for the 'Dream of the Desert' ultra-luxury train project in Saudi Arabia, involving a €37 million joint equity investment and €35 million loan from Saudi Tourism Development Fund.
- Indian Chamber of CommercemajorSIMEST signed an MoU with the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai to strengthen bilateral investment cooperation and support Italian companies in India's priority market, targeting €20 billion in bilateral trade by 2029.
- SACEcoreSACE is a sister institution within the CDP Group providing export credit and insurance solutions. SIMEST and SACE coordinate to provide comprehensive support for Italian companies' international activities, often participating together in bilateral forums and initiatives.
- ICE (Italian Trade Agency)coreICE supports Italian companies' international presence through promotion and trade facilitation. SIMEST collaborates with ICE under the Sistema Italia framework coordinated by MAECI to provide holistic support for Italian businesses' international expansion.
- RINAmajorSIMEST and RINA partnership to develop integrated services for Italian companies' international development, with particular focus on industrial supply chains and SMEs. First event held at Fincantieri headquarters.
- Banca AkrosmajorSIMEST and Banca Akros jointly organized 'Oltre i confini' event on M&A and financial instruments for Italian companies' global growth, with Vera Veri (SIMEST) participating in roundtable discussions.
- Banco BPMmajorJoint initiative with Banco BPM and SACE to support Italian businesses with export and internationalization tools, starting with supplier credit focus and expanding to other Italian cities.
- Luiss Business SchoolmajorSIMEST partnered with Luiss Business School for the Custom Executive Program 'Navigating Internationalisation', providing 100+ hours of training for SMEs in Southern Italy on international expansion strategies.
- ELITEmajorELITE partners with SIMEST and CDP for the LOUNGE CDP SIMEST ELITE program, offering strategic training for internationalization with courses at SDA Bocconi and networking opportunities.
- Italian Chamber of Commerce for HungaryminorSIMEST collaborated with Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary for Budapest event on financial instruments for Italian companies interested in Hungarian market opportunities.
- ITA (Italian Trade Agency)minorITA partnered with SIMEST for Budapest event promoting Italian companies' expansion into Hungarian market, under the patronage of Italian Embassy in Budapest.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
SIMEST competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SACE: SACE is SIMEST's sister institution within the CDP Group, providing export credit insurance and guarantee solutions to Italian exporters. Both institutions coordinate on Italian internationalization finance and participate jointly in bilateral business forums, making SACE the closest direct peer.
- Bpifrance: Bpifrance is France's state-owned development bank supporting French SME internationalization, export financing, and equity investments. Operates an analogous mandate to SIMEST but at much larger scale, providing the most direct European DFI peer comparison.
- Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO): ICO is Spain's state-owned financial institution providing SME lending, export finance, and internationalization support for Spanish companies. Closely mirrors SIMEST's mandate and product suite within the Spanish 'Sistema' for internationalization.
- CDP Venture Capital: CDP Venture Capital is SIMEST's sister entity within the CDP Group, co-investing alongside SIMEST in Italian start-ups and innovative SMEs (e.g., Dronus, Wearable Robotics, UpSurgeOn). Operates the venture capital mandate that complements SIMEST's growth-equity and soft-loan programs.
- KfW IPEX-Bank: KfW IPEX-Bank is Germany's state-owned export and project finance bank supporting German corporate internationalization. A broader European counterpart to SIMEST's export credit operations, operating at significantly larger scale.
- DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft): DEG is KfW's subsidiary financing private-sector investments in developing and emerging markets, providing long-term financing and equity. A direct European peer for SIMEST's equity investments and SME internationalization lending in emerging markets.
Broad incumbents
- Euler Hermes: Euler Hermes is the world's largest trade credit insurer, now part of Allianz, providing export credit insurance and guarantees globally. A broader incumbent player overlapping with SIMEST's export credit support offerings.
- EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development): EBRD is a multilateral development bank financing private-sector projects across Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Central Asia, and the Southern/Eastern Mediterranean. A broader incumbent institution that competes with SIMEST in several of its hub markets.
Regional players
- UKEF (UK Export Finance): UKEF is the United Kingdom's export credit agency, providing buyer credit, supplier credit, and guarantees for UK exporters. A regional peer in the broader European DFI landscape, operating a different geography but a directly comparable product set.
- JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation): JBIC is Japan's policy-based financial institution supporting Japanese corporate internationalization, export finance, and overseas investment. A regional peer serving a different national ecosystem with a similar DFI mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SIMEST social profiles
Digital presenceSIMEST financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SIMEST leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
SIMEST funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SIMEST M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments21 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SIMEST
What does SIMEST do?
SIMEST is the CDP Group's development finance institution that supports Italian businesses' international expansion through a suite of financial instruments: subsidized soft loans (Finanziamenti Agevolati) under public funds such as Fund 394, equity investments and venture capital participation, and export credit assistance including buyer credit, supplier credit, L/C confirmations, and export leasing contributions. It complements these financial products with the ConSIMEST training and advisory platform delivered in partnership with Luiss Business School and ELITE.
Is SIMEST a public or private company?
SIMEST is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was SIMEST founded?
SIMEST was founded in 1990. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SIMEST based?
SIMEST is headquartered in Rome, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does SIMEST make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Soft Loans Administration is the primary driver. The others are export Credit Assistance, equity Investments and Venture Capital and training and Advisory Services.
Who are SIMEST's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SACE, Bpifrance, Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), CDP Venture Capital, KfW IPEX-Bank and DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft). Broad incumbents are Euler Hermes and EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). Regional players are UKEF (UK Export Finance) and JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation).
Does SIMEST have an API?
No public API is recorded for SIMEST.
What industry is SIMEST in?
SIMEST's product category is Development Finance / Export Credit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABABAB, SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts), with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its NAICS code is 5222 and its SIC code is 6159.