Simest and CDP: tools for Italian companies

For an Italian company looking to grow abroad, two names come up often: Simest and CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti). They belong to the same public group and offer tools designed for the internationalisation and development of companies. Understanding who does what helps you avoid confusing different products and choose the right one for your stage of growth.

Who they are, in brief

CDP is the public financial institution that supports the Italian economy: it finances infrastructure, public bodies and companies, and invests equity through dedicated funds. It operates on a broad scale, from major projects to indirect support for SMEs via the banking system.

Simest, part of the CDP group alongside SACE, is the company specialised in supporting firms that export and internationalise. It is the tool closest to the SME looking at foreign markets, with relatively standardised and accessible products.

The practical distinction: if the theme is “I want to sell, open or invest abroad”, the first point of contact is typically Simest.

What Simest offers

Simest works on three main levers:

Subsidised financing for internationalisation projects: taking part in trade fairs, opening commercial premises abroad, feasibility studies, strengthening the capital base of exporting companies, digital and green transition tied to exports.
Interest subsidies: Simest can lower the cost of bank financing supporting exports, reducing the effective rate.
Equity participation: it takes a minority stake in foreign companies held by Italian firms, sharing the investment risk.

Subsidised financing for internationalisation is often the tool SMEs use most, because it combines modest rates and, under certain conditions and limits, a portion of non-repayable grant. The rules, amounts and shares change over time and depending on available resources: they must be checked against the measure in force at the time of application.

What CDP offers companies

CDP intervenes with broader tools:

Funding lines for banks to finance SME investments and working capital on dedicated terms.
Direct financing for projects of significant size.
Equity investments through funds that take stakes in growing companies.
Export support in coordination with SACE, which provides the insurance guarantees.

For the average SME, access to CDP is often indirect: it goes through the bank, which uses the group’s funding or guarantees to extend credit on better terms.

How to choose the tool

The right question is: what is the concrete objective?

Establish a presence in a new foreign market (fairs, sales office, showroom): Simest financing for internationalisation.
Strengthen the capital structure ahead of exporting: Simest capital-strengthening tools.
Invest in a foreign company while sharing the risk: Simest equity participation.
Finance investments or working capital in Italy: bank credit backed by CDP group funding or guarantees.
Cover the risk of non-payment abroad: SACE insurance guarantees.

The tools often combine: Simest financing to open the market, a SACE guarantee to protect trade receivables, bank credit for working capital.

What you need to access them

Beyond the individual product, common principles apply:

A defined project, with objectives, timelines and figures, not a generic intention.
Accounts in order: consistent financial statements and a sustainable financial position.
A credible, documented plan for the foreign operation.
Compliance with the requirements of the specific measure, which may concern size, sector and social-security regularity.

Applications must be prepared with care: the assessment phase carries weight, and a poorly documented project is slowed down or rejected.

In short

Simest and CDP belong to the same public group, with different roles.
Simest is the tool closest to the SME that exports and internationalises.
CDP operates on a broader scale, often indirectly through the banks.
SACE completes the picture with guarantees on export risks.
The choice starts from the concrete objective and often combines several tools.

How we help you

We help Italian companies looking at foreign markets, and Switzerland in particular, to choose the right tools and prepare solid projects and applications. Credible figures, a clear plan, coordination between the various measures. Let’s talk about your project.