A look at how privately held and publicly listed Italian companies controlled by families are innovating in corporate governance.

Key Points -

..Italy hosts a number of dynamic family-controlled companies (FCCs) that are issuing a variety of capital markets instruments with increasing frequency.

..The institutionalization and formalization of key institutions both within and outside the FCC can strengthen internal controls and address the environment, social, and governance (ESG) concerns of outside equity and debt investors.

..For privately held FCCs, a voluntary corporate governance code tailed for FCCs also provides a helpful benchmark on a “comply or explain” basis.

..For publicly listed FCCs, recent pronouncements indicate emerging best practices.