SiCs are defined as Italian alternative investment funds (FIA) that are targeted at professional investors, incorporated in the form of an Investment Company with Fixed Capital (“Società d’Investimento a Capitale Fisso”) that directly manages its assets.
SiCs’ main features, as set forth under the Decree, are:
(i) their net assets must not exceed EUR 25,000,000 (this limit applies in aggregate in cases where one subject controls several SICs);
(ii) their corporate purpose must be limited to direct investment in non-listed and early stage small-medium sized enterprises;
(iii) SiCs are prevented from using financial leverage;
(iv) their minimum share capital must be EUR 50,000 (i.e., equivalent to the minimum share capital provided for Italian Joint Stock Companies – “Società per Azioni”)
(v) SiCs are not subject to supplementary controls and disclosure obligations vis-à-vis the competent authorities that relate to other types of investment companies.
