(Alliance News) – In 2024, for the first time since 2019, the presence of institutional investors on the Milan Stock Exchange is on the rise: 53 companies now count institutional shareholders, a slight increase from 51 in 2023.
As reported by Il Messaggero on Wednesday, this reversal is driven by the comeback of foreign investors, who now hold stakes in 21.5% of companies, up from 19% the previous year. Overall, 27% of firms have at least one institutional investor, compared to 24% in 2023.
According to Consob's report on corporate governance, this renewed interest reflects not only diversification strategies, but also the improved competitiveness of Italian companies and a more favorable regulatory environment.
Domestic investors are focusing on SMEs (15 holdings in 12 small companies), while foreign investors prefer larger, higher-capitalization firms (26 holdings in major corporations).
Shareholding structures remain concentrated: in 2024, the largest shareholder controls an average of 48% of capital, with 60% of companies led by families and 12.8% by the state. The number of issuers with enhanced voting rights has dipped slightly, from 74 to 72.
On the gender equality front, women occupy 43% of board positions but remain rare in top executive roles: just 2.2% serve as CEO and 3.5% as chairperson.
By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter
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