Italy Streamlines Credit Fund Rules to Boost EU Alternative InvestmentItaly Aligns with EU Standards for Alternative Investment FundsMILAN, March 30 (Reuters) - Italy has approved European Union‑mandated measures to create a more uniform framework for alternative investment funds, especially credit funds, whose importance has grown as a source of financing for companies outside the banking system. Background: Global and EU ContextItaly's move to align its rulebook with EU standards comes amid mounting financial stability concerns over the $2 trillion global private credit market, which is showing signs of strain in the United States. Key Features of the New Italian RulesSimplified Notification Process for Fund ManagersThe new Italian rules, which came into force on Saturday, make it easier for European alternative investment funds to operate in Italy, said Alberto Claretta Assandri, head of Italy funds and financial regulatory at law firm A&O Shearman. Direct Lending to ConsumersImplementation and Next StepsClaretta Assandri said the new Italian law also allowed European credit funds to lend directly to consumers. The measure will become fully operational once the Bank of Italy issues the necessary secondary rules so we'll need to see how the implementation proceeds," he said.

Source: The Guardian March 30, 2026 15:30 UTC