Private credit in Italy is expected to see significant growth in 2025, driven by increased demand from businesses seeking alternative financing options due to tighter bank lending standards, with a particular focus on sectors like real estate, mid-market companies, and potentially more niche areas where traditional banks might not readily lend. At the same time, Italy, with its high levels of corporate debt and a significant number of SMEs facing financial challenges, presents a particularly fertile ground for distressed M&A activity. This growth could be further fuelled by partnerships between private credit funds and established banks to leverage their origination capabilities and reach a wider range of borrowers. 

The panel will cover:

• How are shifts in the Italian economy influencing the private credit market and financing structures? Is sustainability becoming a key driver of investment decisions in financing practices? 
• Branching out from unitranche to other types of financing, including junior-level capital such as PIK instruments, traditional equity co-investments and debt- like preferred equity instruments
• Which sectors will see M&A arising from businesses in distress?  
• What are the challenges in buying distressed assets and working on turn-around situations?