Corporate events

From 6 December Silvia Grilli will be the new editor of Grazia.

Grilli, who has a degree in modern languages from the Cà Foscari University in Venice, began her professional career at La Notte, L’Indipendente and il Giornale, before being appointed news editor of Anna in 1998 and managing editor of Cosmopolitan in 2000. She has also been a contributor to Il Foglio, Epoca and a number of foreign titles, including The Guardian, The New York Observer and The New York Sun. In 2001 she was a special correspondent for Panorama and co-editor of Grazia in 2005, becoming editor in chief the following year. At the beginning of 2007 she moved to the United States as “editor at large” for all of the Mondadori titles. In November of the same year she was appointed deputy editor of Panorama.

Mondadori wishes to thank Vera Montanari for the constant commitment and passion shown in her time with the company; thanks to her professionalism and experience Grazia has both strengthened its position as a women’s fashion and news magazine of excellence and note and become a point of reference for elegance and style, not only in Italy, but also internationally, where the brand is now present with a network of 21 editions.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. has announced – with immediate effect and reporting to the deputy chairman and chief executive Maurizio Costa – the following changes in the organizational structure and responsibilities:

– the newly created Magazine Area will be headed by Ernesto Mauri; which will oversee the Magazines (Italy) Department, to be managed by Carlo Mandelli, and Mondadori France, which will remain the responsibility of Ernesto Mauri the current chairman and general manager. The creation of a Magazine area for the control of the domestic and French markets is based on the need for a greater focus on quality and product development, as well as structural and process efficiencies.
The changes facing magazines in this period demand extensive know-how in this area and an ability to identify new ways of integrating print and digital.
The decision to give to Ernesto Mauri this great responsibility is in line with his long experience with Mondadori and in the consumer magazine sector in Italy and France, and demonstrated by the recent excellent results achieved in the management of Mondadori France;

– Mondadori International Business, the company newly established as part of the corporate rationalization project previously announced to the market following the approval of the interim report for the period to 30 June 2012, will be headed by Stefano De Alessandri who will become the chairman and managing director. At the same time Zeno Pellizzari will be appointed general manager of the company. Mondadori’s foreign expansion in the magazine sector, through both joint ventures and licensing agreements in 25 countries, must now proceed with a plan for further growth also through new international alliances.

– Monradio, the company that manages the radio broadcasting activities of R101, will be also headed by Stefano De Alessandri, who has been appointed managing director.
Mondadori will intensify its commitment in the radio market which, despite the downturn in advertising investments, remains among the sectors with most potential.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. today announced that it has signed a preliminary agreement for the sale to Media Finance Holding (Bertelsmann Group) of its entire stake, equal to 50% of the share capital, of the Spanish company Random House Mondadori S.A..

Established in 2001 as a joint venture with the Bertelsmann Group, Random House Mondadori operates in the trade books market in Spain and in the main Latin American countries, in particular Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile.
In the year ended 31 December 2011, Random House Mondadori generated consolidated revenues of €110.3 million (€55.9 million to 30 June 2012).

The transaction value, comprising the purchase price and cash, has been determined at €54.5 million, with a positive impact on the consolidated income statement, in terms of a capital gain, estimated at €2.8 million.

The agreement will allow the Mondadori Group to further consolidate and focus investment and resources on its priority objectives as indicated during the process for the approval of the company’s interim financial statements.
With regard to books, this operation is part of the already outlined strategy focused on the acceleration of growth in both the trade and education sectors with an integrated model for print paper and digital, which includes the recent introduction in the Italian market of the Kobo eReaders and the forthcoming launch of a self-publishing platform.
Mondadori is also developing a unified distribution model under a single brand, inMondadori, which combines offline and online bookstores, e-commerce and physical retail, in a multiplatform system for the management of all the different sales channels.

Completion of the operation and the execution of the preliminary contract are subject to approval by the Spanish antitrust authorities, which is expected by the end of the year.

With regard to rumours that appeared in the press today, concerning the supposed contribution of advertising sales activities to Publitalia ’80, Mondadori wishes to underline that such a hypothesis is entirely without foundation.

Marina Bigi will be the new editor of Tu Style from 2 November.

Marina Bigi, 54, is from Milan, and after completing her studies at the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Milan, she joined Rizzoli as a copywriter. She began her journalistic career in 1985 on the staff of Anna, before moving in 1989 to the weekly Bella. After a number of years at the monthly Pratica, in 1996 she re-joined the staff of Bella as deputy editor. In 1998 she was appointed editor of the monthly Vera and subsequently, in 2003, of Vogue Gioiello and Vogue Pelle. In 2008 she moved to Mondadori as a consultant and head of fashion and beauty for Tu Style and Chi, before being appointed, in 2011, deputy editor of Tu Style, while maintaining her role on the weekly Chi.

Mondadori wishes to thank Maria Elena Viola for the professionalism and enthusiasm she has demonstrated over the years.

Mondadori has announced the publication of its Sustainability Report for the year 2011. The document, which is available online at www.gruppomondadori.it – ​​in the “Sustainability” section, provides an account of the performance and the main initiatives of the Mondadori Group in Italy in terms sustainable development.

The process, launched by Mondadori with the creation of its Sustainability Committee and the preparation of a social report for internal dissemination and use, has led to the publication of the first public document in which the Group gives an account of its approach to issues of social responsibility.

“For over a hundred years Mondadori has been a publishing house driven by a passion for the craft of publishing, a curiosity about new tastes and trends and the courage to innovate. We are part of the history and culture of our country and we have always been aware of the role of responsibility that each company and especially a company engaged in culture, has with respect to the broader community,” Maurizio Costa, deputy chairman and chief executive of the Mondadori Group.
“With the Sustainability Report our relationship with all our stakeholders is enhanced with a tool for dialogue and reflection that will help both them and us to continue to pursue growth while continuing to respect the values ​​that have always guided us,” Costa concluded.

The presentation of the issues and the data in the 2011 Sustainability Report has been made in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI – version G 3.1 with application-level C+) and reviewed by an external company. In line with this, Mondadori’s Code of Ethics has been revised, to take account of new demands and needs of all its stakeholders.

The “Sustainability” section of the company’s web site www.gruppomondadori.it also includes a presentation of the Group’s environmental policy, in terms of its vision and objectives for a reduction of the environmental impact associated with their activities, promoting, among other things, a responsible use of natural resources.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. has announced that the Report for the period to 30 June 2012, approved by Board of Directors of 26 July 2012, is available, together with the Independent auditor’s report, on the Mondadori web site www.gruppomondadori.it in the “Investor Relations” section (www.mondadorigroup.com/Investor-relations/Results-and-reports).

The documents are also available at the company’s corporate offices and at Borsa Italiana S.p.A. (www.borsaitaliana.it).

Kobo Inc., a global leader in eReading, and the Mondadori Group, Italy’s leading retailer, and publisher of books and magazines, today announced a partnership to bring the Kobo eReading platform and its award-winning eReaders to the Italian consumer. Under the agreement, Mondadori will bring Kobo eReaders to market in the fall and will provide a complete eReading experience. Mondadori produces Italy’s largest network of editorial products in the country and owns one of the biggest Italian online media stores, with a catalogue of over nine million products. This network includes books and eBooks from the most important Italian and international publishers, films, music, games, and gift ideas, and provides the ideal platform to bring Kobo’s leading eReading solution to the Italian consumer. The partnership between Kobo and Mondadori will bring a new way for Italian readers to enjoy their favourite books.

“We are thrilled to bring our premium lineup of Kobo eReaders, services and eBooks to the Italian market through the amazing network of Mondadori,” said Mike Serbinis, CEO, SE, Kobo. “The adoption of digital books in Italy has been tremendously successful with the market valuated at almost €10 million last year. We expect this to grow significantly this year and we are thrilled that Mondadori and Kobo will be working together to give consumers a content-rich eReading experience”.

“The strength of the Mondadori portfolio of books, magazines and stores is combined with the innovative Kobo eReading platform, an excellent solution for the Italian market,” said Maurizio Costa, Mondadori Group Deputy Chairman and CEO. “The way people are reading is transforming and our combined solution will ensure that consumers can access the reading material they want to read with the highest flexibility. The adoption of the Kobo platform by the Mondadori retail chain is a step towards the integration of physical retail and distribution of digital contents. We are convinced that the digital revolution is nothing but an evolution in our publishing role.”

Kobo is a Canadian-based company that was founded in 2009. Since that time, the company has quickly expanded around the world, bringing its eReading services and technology to the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Austria, Germany, France, recently Japan, and now Italy. The award-winning Kobo Touch™ eReader will be the first Kobo device to enter the Italian market and will be made available through 400 Mondadori stores as well as online for €99. Consumers can expect the devices to be in-store just in time for fall.

Kobo believes strongly in a Read Freely philosophy, and that people should have the ability to read on any device, unlike many other eBook solutions on the market. People can download free Kobo eReading apps to read across the most popular devices including desktops, laptops, tablets, AndroidÔ phones, iPhonesÒ, iPadsÒ, Blackberry® Smartphones and PlayBooks. Readers can also download their eBooks and read on a wide range of dedicated eReaders – such as the Kobo Touch eReader.

TOGETHER MONDADORI AND KOBO offer access to a huge selection of eBooks

Adding to Kobo’s 2.5-million eBooks, available in 60 languages, Kobo and Mondadori will offer popular eBooks in Italian – ranging from major international works, romance, bestsellers, and favorite local authors.

Readers can find and purchase from a catalogue of more than 4,000 eBooks from Edizioni Mondadori, Edizioni Piemme, Einaudi, Sperling & Kupfer, Electa, and Harlequin and other several publishing houses, with a total of over 30,000 eBooks in Italian.

The numerous titles available include the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E. L. James, the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Phantom by Jo Nesbø, Calico Joe by John Grisham, and best selling Italian fiction, such as Inseparabili by Alessandro Piperno (Strega book prize 2012), Léonie by Sveva Casati Modigliani and Il momento è delicato by Niccolò Ammaniti. Also available is the new line of short eBooks on wellness and self-help Sperling Tips, expressly developed for a digital reading.

THE KOBO TOUCH – At the affordable price of €99

Built by booklovers for booklovers, the award-winning Kobo Touch offers a best-in-class reading experience, with an amazing touch screen that uses Infrared Touch Technology, allowing readers to easily swipe or tap to turn pages. The Kobo Touch delivers an amazing eReading experience using infrared touch technology allowing readers to swipe or tap the screen to quickly turn pages. With Pearl eInk™ technology, reading on the new Kobo eReader is just like reading print on paper—and it is easy on the eyes, even in bright sunlight. A reading lover’s dream, Kobo Touch boasts storage of up to 30,000 books with expandable memory. The Kobo Touch eReader will be available for €99 both in-store and online.

ABOUT MONDADORI GROUP

The Mondadori Group is among the most important publishing companies in Europe and it is Italy’s biggest magazines and books publisher, through its publishing houses Edizioni Mondadori, Einaudi, Piemme, Sperling & Kupfer and Electa. Its wide-ranging production covers all market segments, including the ebook market. Mondadori operates also in the retail sector, with the largest network of stores in Italy. Mondadori Group also works in the book sector with two JVs with leading international subjects, such as Random House Mondadori and Harlequin Mondadori. As far as consumer magazines is concerned, Mondadori has strengthened its leadership by launching new titles and pursuing a policy of international expansion, which received further impetus with Mondadori France, the France’s third-largest magazine publisher with a portfolio of 28 titles, and two JVs in China and Russia. This expansion strategy has been supported by the introduction of Italian magazine brands on foreign markets through licensing agreements with international publishers, among which 20 editions of Grazia’s international network is the best example.

For more information, visit www.mondadorigroup.com

ABOUT KOBO, INC.

Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s fastest-growing eReading services offering more than 2.5 million eBooks, magazines and newspapers. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo has built an open-standards platform to provide consumers with a choice when reading. Inspired by a “Read Freely” philosophy and a passion for innovation, Kobo has expanded to nearly 200 countries, where millions of consumers have access to localized eBook catalogues and award-winning eReaders, like the Kobo Touch. With top-ranked eReading applications for Apple, BlackBerry, Android, and Windows products, Kobo allows consumers to make eReading social through Facebook Timeline and Reading Life, an industry-first social experience that lets users earn awards for time spent reading and encouraging others to join in. Headquartered in Toronto and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten, Kobo eReaders can be found in major retail chains across the globe.

For more information, visit www.kobo.com

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. has today announced that, in the period between 12 and 15 June 2012, the company bought a total of 166,000 its own shares (corresponding to 0.0673% of the company’s share capital) on the automated share market at an average price of € 0.86678 per share, for a total of € 143,886.20 in the context of the authorisation of the company’s AGM, held on 19 April 2012 (previously communicated as per Art. 144 bis of Consob regulation 11971/1999), to effect share buy back operations.

The details of the operations, as conducted daily, are indicated below:

Date N° of shares bought Weighted average price 12/06/2012 66,000 0.88245 13/06/2012 60,000 0.85421 14/06/2012 30,000 0.84874 15/06/2012 10,000 0.89297

Following these operations and taking account of the shares already in the portfolio, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. now directly holds 10,436,014 its own shares. A further 4,517,486 Mondadori shares are hold by the subsidiary Mondadori International S.p.A..
Consequently, as of today the total number of shares held now amounts to 14,953,500 corresponding to 6.06% of the share capital.

***

It should be noted that the Shareholders on 19 April 2012 authorised the buy back of a further 11,090,625 company shares, with respect to the shares already held, either directly or indirectly on the date of the authorisation issued by the AGM, bringing the total up to the limit of 10% of the share capital.
The authorisation is valid until the meeting for the approval of the Annual Report for the year to 31 December 2012.
In line with the Shareholders’ authorisation, buy backs are effected on regulated markets as per art. 132 of the legislative decree 58/1998 and art. 144 bis, para. 1, B of Consob regulation 11971/99 according to operating procedures established by the regulations for the organisation and management of the markets themselves, which does not permit the direct combination of offers to buy with predetermined offers to sell.
It should also be noted that, in line with the norms foreseen by the EU regulation 2273/2003, the daily quantities of purchase does not exceed 25% of the average daily volume of Mondadori shares traded on the regulated market and calculated in the 20 trading days prior to the dates of purchase.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. has today announced that, in the period between 4 and 8 June 2012, the company bought a total of 153,791 its own shares (corresponding to 0.0624% of the company’s share capital) on the automated share market at an average price of € 1.01459 per share, for a total of € 156,034.85 in the context of the authorisation of the company’s AGM, held on 19 April 2012 (previously communicated as per Art. 144 bis of Consob regulation 11971/1999), to effect share buy back operations.

The details of the operations, as conducted daily, are indicated below:

Date N° of shares bought Weighted average price 04/06/2012 30,000 1.00774 05/06/2012 30,000 1.02071 06/06/2012 30,000 1.01612 07/06/2012 30,000 1.02082 08/06/2012 33,791 1.00835

Following these operations and taking account of the shares already in the portfolio, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. now directly holds 10,270,014 its own shares. A further 4,517,486 Mondadori shares are hold by the subsidiary Mondadori International S.p.A..
Consequently, as of today the total number of shares held now amounts to 14,787,500 corresponding to 6.00% of the share capital.

***

It should be noted that the Shareholders on 19 April 2012 authorised the buy back of a further 11,090,625 company shares, with respect to the shares already held, either directly or indirectly on the date of the authorisation issued by the AGM, bringing the total up to the limit of 10% of the share capital.
The authorisation is valid until the meeting for the approval of the Annual Report for the year to 31 December 2012.
In line with the Shareholders’ authorisation, buy backs are effected on regulated markets as per art. 132 of the legislative decree 58/1998 and art. 144 bis, para. 1, B of Consob regulation 11971/99 according to operating procedures established by the regulations for the organisation and management of the markets themselves, which does not permit the direct combination of offers to buy with predetermined offers to sell.
It should also be noted that, in line with the norms foreseen by the EU regulation 2273/2003, the daily quantities of purchase does not exceed 25% of the average daily volume of Mondadori shares traded on the regulated market and calculated in the 20 trading days prior to the dates of purchase.