10 FOREIGN “WINNING ENTERPRISES”:

INTESA SANPAOLO PRESENTS THE NEW FEATURES OF THE PROGRAMME’S FIFTH EDITION

-      For the first time ever, a stage is dedicated to the best foreign companies that have adopted ESG-oriented growth strategies

-      Strengthening synergies between the International Banks and Banca dei Territori Divisions
to develop an international supply chain that attracts investment to Italy and elevates the global value of 'Made in Italy.

-       The programme consolidates partnerships with Universities and National Research Centres, Bain&Company, ELITE, Gambero Rosso, Cerved, Microsoft Italia, NATIVA, Circularity, Coldiretti, Digit'ed, Tinexta and AICCON

Milan, 29 October 2024 - Ten foreign entrepreneurial excellences were the protagonists of the fifteenth stage of "Winning Enterprises", Intesa Sanpaolo's programme for the enhancement of SMEs, which in this fifth edition included for the first time an appointment entirely given over to the best companies from the economic and cultural context of Eastern Europe that have stood out for their ability to innovate and grow.

In order to accelerate the development of an international supply chain capable of both attracting foreign investment to our country and of further enhancing the value of “Made in Italy” worldwide, Intesa Sanpaolo has further strengthened the synergies between its International Banks and Banca dei Territori Divisions, headed by Paola Papanicolaou and Stefano Barrese respectively. With this in mind, Italy's leading banking group confirmed and renewed its commitment to support the growth of Italian and foreign companies with the aim of increasing their competitiveness. 

The foreign “Winning Enterprises”

Today's event, organised in collaboration with VISA, for Intesa Sanpaolo was attended by Stefano Barrese, Head of the Banca dei Territori Division, Paola Papanicolaou, Head of the International Banks Division, and Gregorio De Felice, Chief Economist. Roberto Frazzitta, Global Head of Banking Sector - Senior Partner Bain & Company, spoke after the presentation of the ten foreign “Winning Enterprises”, examples of a sustainable and innovative business culture: Ovartej (Mosonmagyaróvár - Hungary) operates in the agri-food industry, Aunde (Jagodina - Serbia) and Cecomp (Mirna Peč - Slovenia) work in the automotive sector, Diva Divani (Vranje - Serbia) in furniture and design, Gena Logistik (Bratislava - Slovakia) in construction, Dprint Europe (Tirana - Albania) specialises in packaging, Walter Tosto (Bucharest - Romania) works in the industrial sector, Hipac Romania (Dragomiresti-Vale - Romania) in plastics, Ediltec (Lepoglava - Croatia) in production, and Seka Hydropower (Burrel - Albania) in energy services.

Stefano Barrese, Head of Intesa Sanpaolo's Banca dei Territori Division, commented: "In this edition, Winning Enterprises expands its research mission to include the excellence of foreign SMEs able to successfully seize opportunities in international markets. These enterprises share with our entrepreneurial system the ability to invest in innovation and sustainability. The Central and South Eastern European market is among those with the highest growth potential for our companies in terms of exports, posting an increase of 34% between 2019 and 2023. Today, enhancing the value of Italian and foreign SMEs means, for Intesa Sanpaolo, expressing the support of intragroup synergies, accompanying the development of Italian companies operating abroad and foreign companies operating in our country, creating connections in an increasingly fruitful logic of export chains".

Paola Papanicolaou, Head of Intesa Sanpaolo's International Banks Division: "Today's event celebrates the growing and significant contribution of intragroup synergies to the strengthening of Intesa Sanpaolo's international presence, particularly in the Central and South Eastern European geographies overseen by the International Banks Division. The rapid development of the economic and social fabric of Central and South Eastern European countries sees Italy as a reference Partner, a role witnessed by trade export flows to our country growing by over 44% in the period 2019-2023. In this context Intesa Sanpaolo, with more than 8 billion in loans provided by the International Banks Division, supports companies in their development path towards stable and sustainable growth."

Intesa Sanpaolo's International Banks Division

It operates in 12 countries through 11 commercial banks and serves around 7 million customers: it is present in Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Egypt, Hungary, Slovenia, Albania, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova, Ukraine; it is also present in China with the wealth management company Yi Tsai.

The fifth edition of “Winning Enterprises”

Launched for the first time in 2019, “Winning Enterprises” has so far received self-nominations from approximately 14,000 companies, including 4,000 for the current fifth edition alone. Companies with a total of 150,000 employees and a turnover of around €35 billion.

The 150 Winning Enterprises of the 2024 edition were selected for implementing projects or achieving significant results in economic value and social impact, innovation and research, digital and ecological transition, export and internationalisation, generational transition and size consolidation, training and welfare. ESG-oriented strategies emerge along with growth projects that help create value for the local economy, employment and people's well-being. The Bank, together with the project partners, will provide the Winning Enterprises with the tools they need to grow, both within their national territory and abroad, in sustainability, innovation, digital transition and extraordinary finance.

The road-show - which started in spring and is now in its last of 15 stages in total - will end early 2025.

Analysis of the economic context by the Intesa Sanpaolo Research Department

In recent years, the Italian economy has performed better than the average growth of the euro area. An important boost came from the excellent results achieved in international markets, where Italian SMEs, which account for more than half of our exports, stood out. Also contributing to the good dynamics of the Italian economy was the strong recovery of investments, which increased by 35.7 % at constant Italian prices between 2016 and 2023. Indeed, we did significantly better than our main competitors: Germany stood at +4.5%. This is a significant change of pace compared to the recent past: suffice it to say that between 2008 and 2016, our investments had fallen by 22.4%, while those in Germany had risen by 9.9%. Industry 4.0 (from 2017) and Superbonus (from 2021) explain this performance, a synthesis of the leap in construction (+47.1% in the period 2016-2023), but also of the dynamics of Italian investments in machinery, means of transport and ICT (+29.3%) and in intangible goods (R&D and software; +20.2%).

After the slowdown observed between 2023 and 2024, next year we expect a recovery of the Italian economy that will rely on the contribution of consumption and investment, thanks to the return of inflation, lower interest rates and the realisation of the NRRP investments. 80% of actual NRRP spending will be concentrated in the three-year period 2024-2026, with potentially very positive effects on the revitalisation of infrastructure and digital and green transitions and, ultimately, on the potential GDP growth rate.

Looking ahead, an important contribution to the growth of the Italian economy may come from foreign markets. Those with the highest potential include Eastern Europe and, in particular, Central Eastern Europe (CEE; Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) and South Eastern Europe (SEE; Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania and Serbia). These are the findings of a recent survey of more than 800 Intesa Sanpaolo employees who monitor the globalisation processes of the Italian economy. In these areas, Italian companies are expected to further develop their export activities and their production or commercial presence with foreign subsidiaries.

Moreover, trade and production links with these countries are already significant. In 2023, the total stock of Italian foreign direct investment (FDI) in CEE and SEE countries amounted to €43.4 billion; of this, €22.8 billion concerned the CEE area and €20.6 billion the SEE economies. Moreover, in 2023, Italian exports to these markets rose to €64.7 billion, 34% more than in 2019. We grew in all countries and, in value, especially in Poland, which is by far the market that absorbs the largest share of our exports (up to €19.8 billion, from €13.5); followed at a distance by Romania (€10.2 billion), the Czech Republic (€8.4 billion), Slovenia (€6 billion),Hungary (€5.8 billion), Croatia (€5.5 billion) and Slovakia (€4 billion), ahead of Serbia (€2.3 billion), Albania (€1.8 billion) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (€0.9 billion). At the same time, Italian imports from these countries rose to €60.5 billion, a 44% increase over 2019. Import flows increased almost across the board, the only exception being goods from Serbia. Poland is the country from which we import the most (€16.1 billion of imports in 2023), followed by Romania (€9.6 billion), the Czech Republic (€9.2 billion),Hungary (€8.5 billion), Slovenia (€5.9 billion), Slovakia (€4.7 billion), Croatia (€2.9 billion),Albania (€1.6 billion), Serbia (€1.4 billion) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (€0.7 billion).

Overall, our trade surplus in 2023 was €4.2 billion. Our trade balance is in surplus with Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina; it is in deficit with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. In these markets, the most significant Italian export flows concern the mechanical engineering industry, which alone accounts for around €22 billion; followed by the fashion system, transport, food and beverages, chemicals, rubber and plastics and electrical engineering. Our imports, on the other hand, see transport in first place (€12.6 billion in 2023), followed at a distance by electrical engineering, the metal industry, the fashion system, food and beverages, mechanics, rubber and plastics, electronics, agricultural products and chemicals.

In the first seven months of 2024, there was a slowdown in our trade with the CEE and SEE areas: exports increased slightly (+1%), while imports fell slightly (-4%). After a still weak second half of the year, trade should show signs of recovery during 2025, thanks to more favourable domestic demand conditions.  In particular, in CEE and SEE countries, the expected reduction in interest rates should favour investment and household consumption expenditure, with the latter also benefiting from the recovery of purchasing power in the wake of wage increases and moderating inflation. Moreover, in the next two years, important support for the economic growth of these economies will come from the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs).

Project partners

One of the distinctive levers of the Winning Enterprises programme is the creation of an ecosystem of first-rate players to support business growth paths, with a progressive enrichment of the service offering to respond to the evolving needs of selected SMEs. Training, specialised expertise, non-financial solutions, advisory and knowledge of thematic contexts characterise the work of the Winning Enterprises partner team: Bain & Company, ELITE and Gambero Rosso, Cerved and Microsoft Italia, Coldiretti, NATIVA and Circularity, together with Digit'ed, Tinexta and AICCON, new partners of the 2024 edition. Thanks to tools for developing skills in globalisation, the circular economy, commercial networks and cost management, the specialist functions of Intesa Sanpaolo, the International Banks Division and the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Centre will accompany development programmes by offering specialist and strategic support.

Press information
Intesa Sanpaolo
Banca dei Territori and Local Media
stampa@intesasanpaolo.com

Bain & Company – orsola.randi@bain.com

ELITE-Euronext Group – Italypressoffice@euronext.com

Gambero Rosso – segreteria.presidenza@gamberorosso.it

Cerved – media@cerved.com

Microsoft Italia – Chiara Mizzi, chiaram@microsoft.com - Roberta Bertolotti, roberb@microsoft.com - Martina Nava, Burson Cohn & Wolfe - martina.nava@bcw-global.com

NATIVA – Francesco Carra, media@nativalab.com

Circularity - camilla.colucci@circularity.com - press office Be Media - circularity@bemedia.it

Coldiretti - relazioniesterne@coldiretti.it – 06/4682487

Digit’ed - info@digited.it

Tinexta – alessandra.ruzzu@tinexta.com

AICCON - Rossella De Nunzio - rossella.denunzio@unibo.it

Intesa Sanpaolo, with over €422 billion in loans and €1.35 trillion in customer financial assets at the end of June 2024, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence. It is a European leader in wealth management, with a strong focus on digital and fintech. The Group will provide €115 billion of Impact lending by 2025 to support communities and the green transition, together with a €1.5 billion program (2023-2027) to help people in need. The Bank's network of museums, the Gallerie d'Italia, hosts its owned artistic heritage and cultural projects of recognized value. 
News: group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/newsroom X: @intesasanpaolo LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/intesa-sanpaolo

Intesa Sanpaolo, Intesa Sanpaolo, con oltre 422 miliardi di euro di impieghi e 1.350 miliardi di euro di attività finanziaria della clientela a fine giugno 2024, è il maggior gruppo bancario in Italia con una significativa presenza internazionale. E’ leader a livello europeo nel wealth management, con un forte orientamento al digitale e al fintech. In ambito ESG, entro il 2025, sono previsti 115 miliardi di euro di erogazioni Impact per la comunità e la transizione verde. Il programma a favore e a supporto delle persone in difficoltà è di 1,5 miliardi di euro (2023-2027). La rete museale della Banca, le Gallerie d’Italia, è sede espositiva del patrimonio artistico di proprietà e di progetti culturali di riconosciuto valore.

News: group.intesasanpaolo.com/it/newsroom

X: @intesasanpaolo - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/intesa-sanpaolo

Bain & Company is the global consulting firm that helps ambitious change-makers define their future. With 65 offices in 40 countries, we work together with our customers as one team with a shared goal: to achieve extraordinary results that outperform competitors and redefine industry standards. Bain's consultative approach is highly customised and integrated, and by creating an ecosystem of digital innovators, it ensures better and longer-lasting results for clients. Our commitment to invest over $1 billion over 10 years in pro bono services puts our talent, expertise and knowledge at the disposal of organisations addressing today's challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development and the environment. We recently achieved gold rating from EcoVadis, a leading platform for environmental, social and ethical performance assessments for global supply chains, placing us in the top 2% of consultancy firms. Founded in 1973 in Boston, it celebrated its 30th anniversary in Italy in 2019. Its in-depth expertise and portfolio of clients spans every industry and business sector, making it a market leader in Italy.

 

ELITE-Euronext Group | ELITE, launched by the Italian stock exchange in 2012 and now part of the Euronext Group, is the ecosystem that helps small- and medium-sized enterprises to grow and access private and public capital markets. ELITE's mission is to support companies in long-term sustainable growth by accelerating the process of access to capital, expertise and networking. ELITE integrates a calendar of workshops and coaching sessions with a range of services and solutions for the enterprise from a qualified network of partners and advisors, supporting entrepreneurs and managers in improving their skills and enhancing their strategic plan and business opportunities. ELITE also offers access to alternative sources of financing, including Basket Bonds®, institutional investors, private equity, venture capital and financial advisors, putting companies in the best position to equip themselves with the capital they need to grow sustainably in the long term, according to their specific needs. With more than 2,000 companies and 200 admitted partners since its launch, ELITE has been able to create an excellent network with a strong focus on extraordinary finance transactions. To date, more than 1120 corporate finance transactions have been completed by the network companies, for a total value of approximately €13 billion. For more information www.elite-network.com .    

 

Gambero Rosso is the leading platform for content, training, promotion and consultancy in the Italian Wine Travel Food sector. It offers a complete range of integrated services for the Italian agricultural, agri-food, catering and hospitality sectors, which are the most successful sectors, internationally, for the growth of the economy. Unique in its format as a multimedia and multi-channel operator in the sector, Gambero Rosso has a range of periodicals, books, guides, broadcasting (Sky 415 and 133) and web OTT with which it reaches professionals, commercial distribution channels and enthusiasts in Italy and around the world. Gambero Rosso Academy is the largest professional and managerial training platform for the food, restaurant, hospitality and tourism supply chain. Gambero Rosso offers the Italian production system an exclusive programme of B2B promotional events to foster its ongoing national and international development. www.gamberorosso.it and www.gamberorossointernational.com .

 

Cerved is the Italian tech company that supports companies, banks and institutions to protect themselves from risk and grow sustainably. With a unique wealth of data, it provides services and digital platforms to manage risks and support growth, including advisory solutions. Through Cerved Credit Management Group it helps the system to dispose of impaired loans and with Cerved Rating Agency it offers creditworthiness ratings and debt issues. In September 2021, Cerved Group Spa joins ION Group, one of the largest FinTech players on the market internationally, as a result of the tender offer for the capital of Cerved. For more information on Cerved: www.cerved.com .

 

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) offers an ecosystem of solutions and services that enable public and private organisations of all sizes and industries to realise digital transformation projects in a new world of cloud and devices, unleashing the benefits of artificial intelligence with maximum security and privacy. Microsoft's mission is to help people and organisations realise their potential through innovation. Full information about Microsoft is available at http://www.microsoft.com/en-en .

 

NATIVA is the Regenerative Design Company supporting hundreds of companies in a radical evolution of their business, accelerating their transition to regenerative economic models. It is the first Benefit Company in Europe and B Corp in Italy and together with the Foundation for Sustainable Development launched CO2alizione, an initiative to support the transition of Italian companies towards climate neutrality.

Circularity is an innovative start-up and benefit company with 100% Italian capital, 36% owned by Innovatec, one of the leading companies in the cleantech sector, listed on the EGM of the Italian stock exchange. Founded in 2018 with the aim of revolutionising the world of waste, Circularity has developed a technology platform that enables companies to collaborate 'among peers' to use waste materials from their respective production chains in their own production cycles. To date, more than 20,000 companies, including manufacturers, recycling plants, transporters and users, are present on the Circularity platform. Circularity has a team of about 30 employees, young and mostly women, all with an average age of under 30 years old. In addition to the technology platform, Circularity has structured another asset, that of consultancy: as an advisor, Circularity supports companies in making their processes more efficient, improving the sustainability of their business model and helping them to adopt circular production activities and processes. Circularity is led by CEO and co-founder Camilla Colucci. Website: www.circularity.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/circularity-be-circular/ .

 

Coldiretti with one and a half million members is the leading organisation of agricultural entrepreneurs at national and European level. With the Campagna Amica foundation, it has promoted the world's largest direct sales network of farmers, while Filiera Italia has created the only alliance between agriculture, industry, commercial distribution and services to defend and support Italian agri-food products.

Digit'ed the leader for corporate training in Italy. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, they combine resources, specialised expertise and the best technologies to build innovative and customised training experiences. Together with a constantly growing and evolving network of partners.

Tinexta is an industrial group offering innovative solutions for the digital transformation and growth of enterprises, professionals and institutions. Listed on Euronext STAR Milan, it is included in the European Tech Leader index as a high-growth tech company. Based in Italy and present in 12 countries across Europe and Latin America with more than 2500 employees, Tinexta operates in the strategic sectors of Digital Trust, Cyber Security and Business Innovation.

AICCON is the Study Centre promoted by the University of Bologna, the Alliance of Italian Cooperatives and numerous public and private organisations operating in the field of Social Economy, based at the School of Economics and Management of Forlì - University of Bologna. Part of a national and international network (EMES Network) of people and institutions, the association has succeeded in recent years in becoming a scientific point of reference thanks to the importance of the initiatives carried out and the continuous training and research activities on the most relevant topics for the world of Cooperation, Non-Profit and Civil Economy, carried out in constant contact with the academic community and the Third Sector realities.