ITALIAN state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional have signed a four-year agreement to strengthen economic relations and promote mutual investments, CDP said on Wednesday (Oct 4).

Under the non-binding deal, Khazanah can assess potential investment opportunities in the Italian companies controlled by CDP through its unit CDP Equity, the lender added in a statement.

The agreement also envisages the creation of a joint working group to analyse, promote and coordinate potential cooperation opportunities.

CDP Equity’s portfolio includes motorway operator Autostrade per L’Italia, bought last year from the Benetton family’s Atlantia, shipbuilder Fincantieri, construction group Webuild, energy group Saipem and broadband company Open Fiber.

According to Italian media reports, local construction entrepreneur Matterino Dogliani is looking at teaming up with an international investment firm for a friendly offer for ASPI, through his family holding Fininc. REUTERS