5 km of mortgage documents and much more. This immense wealth of information can be found in the archives of Istituto Mobiliare Italiano, set up in 1931 as a public institution to tackle the crisis that had hit Italy’s largest basic industrial concerns and its most prominent universal banks, Credito Italiano and Banca Commerciale Italiana.
With its mortgage lending activities and equity interest in Italian businesses, IMI was not only a driving-force for the growth of Italian industry, but also a key player in rebuilding the country’s economy after the Second World War and a contributor to its economic boom. The documents throw light on the history of Italian businesses, large-scale construction works and manufacturing, as well as the development of one of the country’s main financial institutions.
Timeline
1931
Istituto Mobiliare Italiano is set up as a public institution (under Royal Decree Law of 13 November, passed as Law N°. 1581 of 15 December 1932)
1936
Consorzio per Sovvenzioni su Valori Industriali becomes an independent department of IMI
1940
Istituto di Credito Navale is dissolved: its assets and liabilities are transferred to IMI and CSVI
1943
The Institute is transferred to the province of Novara, while it retains a branch office in Rome
1947
IMI plays an active part in the reconstruction of Italy, managing the financial resources provided by the US government
1962
The Institute sets up the Sezione Autonoma del Credito Navale (SACN) with other banks
1968
IMI is appointed to manage the Fondo Ricerca Applicata
1982
IMI is a founder of Nuovo Banco Ambrosiano, although it sells its stake three years later
1983
IMI sets up Imigest and acquires Banca Manusardi of Milan. It also founds Fideuram Vita and Sige
1991
Istituto Mobiliare Italiano becomes a public limited company, while SACN becomes Credito Mobiliare SpA, merging with IMI in 1993
1992
Banca Manusardi and Fideuram are merged to create Banca Fideuram
1994
A public offering is launched and IMI is listed on the Stock Exchange
1998
Banca d’Intermediazione Mobiliare is launched, the operating centre of investment banking. IMI and Sanpaolo are merged