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Set up a Retail Fund in Italy

Set up a Retail Fund in Italy

Italian and foreign businessmen interested in theinvestment market available in Italy can set up different types of investment vehicles. One of the ways in which investors can start a business in the Italian investment market refers to the retail funds, which are entities that must be approved by the local regulator. Retail funds are addressed to non-professional investors and the legislation applicable to them, on which our team of lawyers in Italy can provide more details, differs greatly than the one for other categories of investment funds, so businessmen should first analyse the local regulations. 

Types of retail funds in Italy  

Retail funds are comprised of two main categories, established in accordance with the rights given to the investors to issue shares.

The legislation prescribes open-ended funds, which do not impose restriction in this sense, and closed-ended funds, in which the investors are limited in their rights referring to the issuance of shares

Open-ended funds can be set up as one of the following: 

undertakings for collective investments in transferable securities (UCITS);

open-ended alternative investment funds (AIFs)

UCITS are regulated by the UCITS IV Directive imposed under the European Union’s legislation, while the open-ended AIFs fall under the category of Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIMF) DirectiveOur team of attorneys in Italy can offer an in-depth presentation on the above mentioned laws. 

Further on, the retail funds can also be set up as closed-ended funds. They are registered following the regulations available under the AIMF Directive, with the main difference that the fund can issue shares or units only in certain conditions. 

The main legislation applicable to Italian retail funds 

Investments vehicles set up as retail funds (open-ended or closed-ended) are regulated by the following institutions: 

• the Bank of Italy;

• the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission

The main legislation in this sense is the Legislative Decree no. 58 and the Bank of Italy Act

We invite you to contact our law firm in Italy for more details on the incorporation of an Italian retail fund