Italy’s €2bn pension fund for notaries is assessing opportunities for new investments in private market incuding debt, the fund’s president Vincenzo Pappa Monteforte has told a parliamentary committee.   

Cassa Nazionale del Notariato (CNN), a defined benefit (DB) first-pillar scheme, is pursuing its first move into private debt, “provided [the investment] complies with all legal requirements,” Pappa Monteforte said.

CNN did not disclose the amount it is planning to invest in the asset class. It already invests 3-4% of total assets in private equity and infrastructure funds, with a plan to increase exposure to 11%.  

The fund looks at megatrends like energy transition, sustainability, technological innovation, and demographic change when it invests in private markets, according to a report from the scheme to the parliamentary committee.  

CNN has moved from mostly investing directly in bonds and equities to allocations through mandates and in funds, Pappa Monteforte said.

“We have tried [over the years] to optimise [our] portfolio, moving into private equity, diversifying investments.” he added. 

CNN now has eight private equity funds in its portfolio, one liquidated in July, investing approximately €51m exclusively in Italy. This is on top of commitments of approximately €28m. Four infrastructure funds invest in Italy, Europe and globally.   

The Italian government is pressing first-pillar schemes to invest in the real economy.

CNN allocates 52% of total assets under management in Italy through liquid instruments including bonds and UCITS funds managed by Italian asset management companies, real estate funds, bank deposits, and private assets.

The share of assets invested, while just over 10% is invested in other countries, again through funds.

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