The Amalfi Coast is the protagonist of the sixth stage of “Panorama d’Italia”, the tour made by the newsmagazine Panorama across the country featuring news, culture, theatre, food and wine and entertainment.
From Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 September at various places along the coast – Salerno, Ravello, Paestum and Vietri Sul Mare – a calendar of 19 events open to all to establish a link with the excellence of  local Made in Italy, in particular in the world of business, the economy, culture and technology. A special stage of the tour, that, for the first time, involves a number of municipalities in the same occasion and in the same province.

“Panorama d’Italia” online

The main meetings will be available in streaming on panoramaditalia.it, with real time updates, photos and videos, as well as an area for online registration to the events.
You can share impressions and experiences of the events of Panorama d’Italia on all the leading social networks using the hashtag #panoramaitalia. The Twitter account of Panorama (@panoramadItalia) will comment in real time on all of the most significant moments involving the protagonists of the meetings and many events will be on Facebook Live.

Tour numbers

In the last year alone some 4 million people were reached by the tour, including live events, the print magazine, the web site, its social networks, television, radio and other media that  carried the content. The number of people who directly attended the events in the various cities totalled 110,000, with 375 guests and speakers (including 6 ministers, 8 Regional Presidents and 8 mayors), 500 media engaged, 191 entrepreneurs participating in round table discussions and the involvement of 600 companies, including also 180 innovative start-ups.

Panorama d’Italia can count on the support of high level partners, all committed to enhancing the value of Made in Italy around the country. They include: Autostrade per l’Italia, Banca Mediolanum, Cobat, Cruciani, Eicma, Enel, Eni, IBM, Invitalia, Poste Italiane, Sicily by Car, Università Telematica Pegaso and TgCom24 Mediaset. The charity partnership with the Lega del Filo d’oro will be present on all tour
Moreover, in every city on the tour media partnerships have been activated with the leading local newspapers, TV and radio stations.
“Panorama d’Italia” is produced in collaboration with Triumph Group International, for executive production, organisation and logistics.

Today, the meeting of the Board of Directors of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., chaired by Marina Berlusconi, reviewed and approved the Half-Year Financial Report at 30 June 2016, presented by CEO Ernesto Mauri.

GROUP PERFORMANCE AT 30 JUNE 2016

In 2016, the Mondadori Group enjoyed a rather positive start to the year, even more rewarding if one considers the persisting volatile macroeconomic environment.

Specifically, after almost four years, revenue grew versus the prior year, a performance which confirms, along with the improvement in EBITDA for the tenth consecutive quarter, the success of the measures adopted over the past two years, paving the way to accomplishing the targets set for the full year, and marking the transition to the new phase of the Group’s development.

2Q16 saw the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media, a major step in strengthening the leadership position in the Group’s strategic businesses, accelerating the growth process of the Company.

These acquisitions helped strengthen the already positive performance of revenue in 1H16, which increased by 8.6%.

In 1H16, consolidated net revenue amounted to 562.6 million euro, as mentioned, up by 8.6%. Net of the effects of the consolidation of the companies acquired in 2016, the Group reported a 1.1% increase.

Adjusted EBITDA amounted to 26.7 million euro, improving by 11.9% versus 23.8 million euro in 1H15. On a like-for-like basis, the growth is 15.9%, with a percentage on revenue increasing from 4.6% to 5.3%. This performance was the result of a constant and focused management policy successfully implemented in all of the Group’s business areas.

Consolidated EBITDA came to 22.5 million euro versus 19 million euro in 1H15, up by 18.7%, including the result of Rizzoli Libri (-1.5 million euro) and Banzai Media (+0.6 million euro). On a like-for-like basis, the increase amounts to 24%: a result that confirms the Group’s strong efficiency gains from its ability to stabilize revenue and the industrial and organizational review actions launched and implemented over the past two years.

Consolidated EBIT in 1H16 amounted to 8.5 million euro, including amortization and depreciation of 3 million euro relating to Rizzoli Libri; on a like-for-like basis, EBIT amounted to 12.4 million euro, improving by 34.7% versus 9.2 million euro in 1H15, despite the increase in amortization, depreciation and impairment losses (11.1 million euro versus 9.7 million euro at 30 June 2015), resulting from higher amortization following the upturn in investments.

The consolidated result before taxes amounted to 0.6 million euro, or to 4.6 million euro on a like-for-like basis, a sharp increase versus 0.6 million euro in 1H15, thanks also to the contribution of financial costs, which amounted to 7.8 million euro, decreasing sharply (-8.4%) as a result of the reduced average net debt in the period and average total cost of debt.

The Group consolidated net result amounted to -3.8 million euro, improving strongly versus -12.2 million euro at 30 June 2015, while on a like-for-like basis, the net result came to a positive 0.2 million euro.

Fixed-term or permanent staff employed by the Group at 30 June 2016 amounted to 3,404 units; the figure includes 438 resources coming from the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media; on a like-for-like basis, Group staff would be down by 2.5%.

The Group net financial position at 30 June 2016 came to -374.8 million euro versus -326.5 million euro at 30 June 2015, as a result of the Group’s significant cash generation, including of an extraordinary nature, over the past 12 months, which allowed net investments in acquisitions of 157.3 million euro.

At 30 June 2016, cash flow from operations in the last twelve months, on a like-for-like basis, came to a positive 79.4 million euro, while cash flow from ordinary operations (after outlays for financial costs and taxes for the period) came to 51.5 million euro, continuing the rising trend seen in the seven previous quarters.

Including the effects of Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media, the overall cash flow from ordinary operations amounted to 42.8 million euro, lower than the figure on a like-for-like basis, owing to the seasonal performance of the Rizzoli Libri business in 2Q16.

This performance was the result of constant and effective monitoring, and the ability to act and manage all of the economic and financial variables typical of all of the Group’s business areas.

OUTLOOK FOR THE YEAR

In light of the positive performance of the Group in the first half of the year and considering the integrations in progress, the forecasts previously announced on a like-for-like basis for the current year can be reasonably confirmed (basically steady revenue versus 2015 and a “high-single digit” growth in adjusted EBITDA, with a resulting increase in profit margins).

Including the effects of the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri (for 9 months) and of Banzai Media (for 7 months), revenue is expected to grow by approximately 14% versus 2015, while adjusted EBITDA is expected to increase by approximately 30%. The net financial position is expected to increase versus the figure at 31 December 2015, with a NFP/EBITDA ratio of about 3.5x, lower than the bank covenant of 4.5x.

CO-OPTATION OF A DIRECTOR

At today’s meeting, the Board of Directors took note of the resignation, for professional reasons, of non-executive director Bruno Ermolli, also member of the Remuneration and Appointment Committee.

Accordingly, the Board of Directors, pursuant to art. 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, and to art. 17.6 of the company by-laws, approved the appointment by cooptation of Paolo Ainio, who will remain in office until the next Shareholders’ Meeting.

At the same meeting, the Board of Directors, in accordance with the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code issued by Borsa Italiana S.p.A., approved the reintegration of the Remuneration and Appointment Committee, by appointing non-executive director Alfredo Messina, who replaces director Bruno Ermolli.

Mention should be made that director Bruno Ermolli, at the date of his resignation, holds no equity interest in the Company.

The curriculum vitae of director Paolo Ainio, who qualifies as a non-executive director, in accordance with the provisions of the Corporate Governance Code issued by Borsa Italiana S.p.A., is available on the Company’s website www.gruppomondadori.it, Governance section.

PERFORMANCE OF GROUP BUSINESS AREAS AT 30 JUNE 2016

• BOOKS

In 1H16, the Italian Trade Books market grew by +2.6% versus 1H15 (GFK, June 2016; figures in terms of market value). Against this backdrop, the Trade Books Area of Mondadori Libri was once again market leader, boasting a 22.9% share; following the acquisition of the Trade Books brands of Rizzoli Libri (Rizzoli, BUR and Fabbri Editori), the Group increased its overall Trade Books market share, reaching 28.8% (at 30 June 2016).

In the period under review, revenue from the Books Area of the Group amounted to 170.1 million euro, up by 37.9% versus 123.4 million euro in 1H15, as a result of the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri (with total revenue in the April/May 2016 period amounting to 36.6 million euro from the activities relating to trade, educational and Rizzoli International Publications, which operates in the high-end illustrated books market and through the activities of the Rizzoli Bookstore located in New York).

On a like-for-like basis, revenue from the Books Area of the Group increased by +8.2% versus 1H15.

Regarding the Trade Books Area on a like-for-like basis in 1H16 (net of the contribution of Rizzoli Libri), revenue amounted to 85.6 million euro, increasing by 14.3% versus 1H15, as a result of the positive performance of sales from the titles launched between the end of 2015 and the first half of the current year.

The Educational Area revenue grew by 17% on a like-for-like basis versus 1H15, as a result of supplies provided in advance in the school textbooks segment and of the positive performance of museum management activities.

Mondadori Libri’s adjusted EBITDA surged by over 29% on a like-for-like basis versus 1H15 to settle at 11 million euro, driven by the increase in revenue from the targeted publishing policy, by the remarkable success of the new titles published, and by the ongoing optimization of the operating processes implemented since 2015 in the Trade segment.

EBITDA on a like-for-like basis came to 10.7 million euro, doubling the result of 1H15 (5.2 million euro), thanks also to lower restructuring costs versus 1H15.

In the consolidation quarter (April-June 2016), Rizzoli Libri contributed negatively – 1.5 million euro – to the reported EBITDA of the Books Area, due mainly to the Educational Area’s seasonal performance, which generates most of its revenue in the second half of the year.

Reported EBITDA of the Books Area of the Group, including the effects of the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri, amounted to 9.1 million euro (+74.2% versus 1H15).

• MAGAZINES ITALY

In 1H16, Mondadori Group retained its leadership position in the magazines market, with a 32.1% share (Internal source: Press-di, figures in terms of value at May, newsstands + subscriptions).

In the period under review, revenue from the Magazines Italy Area amounted to 161.1 million euro[1], up by 1.1% versus 159.4 million euro in 1H15 (-0.8% on a like-for-like basis, net of the effects of the acquisition of Banzai Media).

Specifically:

• circulation revenue grew by 0.8%, due also to the contribution of the Mondadori Scienza titles;
• revenue from advertising sales dropped by 2%; print advertising sales of Magazines Italy lost 4%, in line with the market’s -3.6% (Nielsen; cumulative figures at May); sales on websites increased by 4.7%, outperforming the relevant market (-1.9%: Audiweb; cumulative figures at May). Overall, in the period under review (print+web), advertising sales on Mondadori brands in Italy were down by 2.7%.

Traffic data of Mondadori websites showed an overall audience rate of 8.4 million unique users (Audiweb, cumulative figures at May) versus 7.2 million at May 2015 (+16% on January-May average);

• revenue from add-on products sold in attachment to Mondadori magazines rose by 1.7% versus 1H15;
• distribution and revenue towards third publishers was in line with 1H15, thanks to the ongoing commitment to developing third-publisher portfolios;
• international operations achieved revenue of 3 million euro, down from the 3.5 million euro reported in 1H15, following the drop in licensing activities due to the deteriorated international macroeconomic environment and the negative effect of British and Chinese exchange rates;
• revenue from Digital Marketing Service activities (6.2 million euro) grew by 2%, as a result of the gradual expansion of the portfolio of solutions that had started last year.

In 1H16, Banzai Media contributed approximately 2.9 million euro to the Magazines Italy Area’s revenue (in June): with the acquisition of an audience of 16.4 million unique users (Audiweb, average figures at May 2016), Mondadori becomes the leading Italian digital publisher.

Adjusted EBITDA in the Magazines Italy Area improved considerably on a like-for-like basis (approximately +13%), rising from 8.8 million euro to 9.9 million euro, driven by the effective review of the publishing structure and of promotional activities, implemented while retaining the traditional focus on the publishing quality of the titles.

The half-year period saw a significant reduction in industrial costs, achieved also as a result of the renegotiation of printing contracts. Including the contribution of Banzai Media, the increase in the period is 20.4%.

Reported EBITDA in the Area more than confirmed the growth trend in 1H16, increasing by 17% on a like-for-like basis, and by 25% (including the consolidation of Banzai Media), thanks to the above measures and to lower restructuring costs.

• MAGAZINES FRANCE

In 1H16, revenue from Mondadori France amounted to 160.3 million euro, down by 3.8% versus 166.6 million euro in 1H15. Specifically:

• circulation revenue (making for approximately 75 of the total) lost 2.8% versus 1H15: revenue from subscriptions (53% of circulation revenue) was basically steady, partly offsetting the drop by the newsstand channel (-6.3%) and confirming the opportunity to continue investments in this channel;
• advertising revenue was down by 5.8% versus 1H15, but performance differed between offline (-10.9%) and online (18% of total advertising revenue) products, which reported a 27% increase.

The number of readers of Mondadori France magazines totaled 9.8 million unique users (Médiamétrie Netratings – Nielsen; average figure January/May 2016), up by approximately 19% versus 1H15, also as a result of the gradual digitization of the editorial teams.

Adjusted EBITDA came to 15.5 million euro, down by 3.8% versus 1H15, due mainly to M&A costs (0.6 million euro) incurred in the period. In keeping with the positive performance of 2015, digital activities enjoyed positive margins in 1H16 versus the loss in IH15.

Reported EBITDA, amounting to 14.2 million euro, dropped slightly versus 14.4 million in 1H15, as a result of the abovementioned M&A costs and of higher restructuring costs of approximately 0.3 million euro, arising from the voluntary redundancy plan launched in 2015, which has already produced benefits.

• RETAIL

In 1H16, the Retail Area achieved revenue of 88.2 million euro, improving by 2.8% versus 85.9 million euro in 1H15.

As of 1 April 2016, following the consolidation of the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri, Librerie Rizzoli activities, relating to the long-standing bookstore in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milan, and to the rizzolilibri.it ecommerce site, have been absorbed by the Retail Area. Accordingly, on a like-for-like basis, the Retail Area grew by 1.6%, thanks mainly to the growth of the Franchised channel (+5.2%) and the Megastores (+3.8%), which more than offset the structural decline of the Book Clubs (-8.8%).

In 1H16, Mondadori Retail adjusted EBITDA, on a like-for-like basis, came to -3 million euro, improving versus -3.2 million euro in 1H15 (-3.1 million euro, including the result of Librerie Rizzoli in 2Q16). A result achieved through cost-curbing measures for stores and central functions, which determined a lower percentage of personnel costs and overheads, and more than offset the reduction in the product margin arising from the different product mix/channel, related also to the effects of the structural decline of the book clubs channel.

Reported EBITDA came to -3 million euro (-3.1 million euro including the result of Librerie Rizzoli;   -2.8 million euro in 1H15 as a result of positive extraordinary items).

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

CLOSING OF THE DISPOSAL OF MARSILIO EDITORI S.P.A.

On 26 July 2016, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. completed the disposal, through its subsidiary Rizzoli Libri S.p.A., of its 94.71% interest in the share capital of Marsilio Editori S.p.A. to GEM S.r.l.. The amount cashed in from the transaction is 8.9 million euro, based on an enterprise value in line with the price of the acquisition of the interest, part of the Rizzoli Libri transaction completed last 14 April 2016; the amount includes an adjusted positive net financial position of 1.3 million euro.

The disposal of Marsilio Editori S.p.A. was completed in accordance with the remedies set out in the provision issued by the Antitrust Authority. GEM S.r.l., a company operating in the publishing industry, headed by the De Michelis family, had held an interest in Marsilio Editori S.p.A. from 1985 to April 2016.

Based on the 2016 budget, Marsilio Editori is expected to achieve revenue of approximately 9.4 million euro and EBITDA of 1 million euro.

* * *

The documentation relating to the presentation of the results at 30 June 2016, will be made available through the authorized storage mechanism 1Info (www.1info.it) and in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website www.gruppomondadori.it.

* * *

The Executive Manager responsible for the drafting of the corporate accounting documentation – Oddone Pozzi – hereby declares, pursuant to Art. 154 bis, par. 2, of the Finance Consolidation Act, that the accounting documentation contained in this press release corresponds to the Company’s accounting entries, books and results.

Annexes:

1. Consolidated balance sheet
2. Consolidated income statement
3. Consolidated income statement – second quarter
4. Group cash flow
5. Glossary of terms and alternative performance indicators used

* This document, in addition to the statements and conventional financial indicators required by IFRS, presents a number of reclassified statements and alternative performance measures in order to better evaluate the operating and financial performance of the Group, the definition of which is explained in Annex 5 “Glossary of terms and alternative performance measures used” .

[1] On 1 January 2016, following reorganization, Digital Marketing Services were transferred to Magazines Italy (previously included in Other Business, Corporate and Digital Innovation); the Area’s income statement has been reclassified, for information sake, also in the same half-year period of 2015.

Today Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. has completed the disposal, through its subsidiary Rizzoli Libri S.p.A., of its 94.71% interest in the share capital of Marsilio Editori S.p.A. to GEM S.r.l.

The amount cashed in today from the transaction is 8.9 million euro, based on an enterprise value in line with the price of the acquisition of the interest, part of the Rizzoli Libri transaction completed last 14 April 2016; the amount includes an adjusted positive net financial position of 1.3 million euro.

The disposal of Marsilio Editori S.p.A. has been completed in accordance with the remedies set out in the provision issued by the Antitrust Authority.

GEM S.r.l., a company operating in the publishing industry, headed by the De Michelis family, had held an interest in Marsilio Editori S.p.A. from 1985 to April 2016.

Based on the 2016 budget, Marsilio Editori is expected to achieve revenue of approximately 9.4 million euro and EBITDA of 1 million euro.

Il budget per l’esercizio 2016 di Marsilio Editori prevede ricavi per circa 9,4 milioni di euro con un ebitda di 1 milione di euro.

Inthera S.p.A. is the new Mondadori Group structure specialized in the strategy, design and development of data driven marketing solutions.

Inthera provides businesses with comprehensive and integrated services, building on the solid expertise and wealth of content that Mondadori, Italy’s leading publisher, is able to boast.

«Inthera marks a further step along the path of strategic evolution of our Group», said Ernesto Mauri, CEO of the Mondadori Group. «After gradually expanding our product portfolio to meet the needs of increasingly demanding customers keen on innovative digital marketing solutions, we are now ready to offer the market a new suite of well-structured and comprehensive services, building on the wealth and expertise of our Group, leader in the books and magazines field», concluded Mauri.

Part of the Magazine Area of the Group, Inthera offers a wide variety of solutions that  leverages on the combination of content and data management skills and the technologies of the digital world.

Inthera brings together, under a new structure led by Righel Anglois, the activities of Cemit, industry leader in direct marketing and CRM, and the digital and social engagement expertise acquired from Kiver.

Inthera is also a unique vantage point on individuals and their consumption patterns, as demonstrated by the over 50,000 interviews and 100 market surveys conducted each year for more than 300 customers and large business partners in over 10 consumer sectors – food, living, fashion, family, entertainment & lifestyle, health & wellness, women, kids, beauty and charity – where the Mondadori Group operates through its leading brands and activities.

Thanks to a team of highly skilled consultants and professionals and marketing automation technologies, Inthera enables businesses to build strong bonds with their audiences, leveraging on custom content and management of real-time conversations.

With 143 votes, La scuola cattolica (The Catholic School) by Edward Albinati (Rizzoli) has won the seventieth edition of the Premio Strega.
La scuola cattolica is a monumental work of one thousand-three hundred pages in which Albinati recounts the 1970s, starting from the years spent at a private school in the Trieste district of Rome, also attended by the authors of the notorious “Delitto del Circeo”, a widely covered crime committed in 1975 that shocked the whole country, that serves as a means to explore the world as a whole, focusing on key issues such as Catholic education, the Italian bourgeoisie, the relationship between males and females, the institution of the family, adolescence, sex, violence; money, friendship, revenge. Mixing real people with fictional characters, legendary teachers, priests, thugs, little geniuses and psychopaths, enigmatic young girls and terrorists, Albinati builds a powerful and unstoppable narrative that courageously and openly address the great questions of life and history, as well as showing the other side of things.

Albinati was born in Rome in 1956 where he still lives and teaches literature at the city’s Rebibbia prison, an experience he writes about in his diary Maggio selvaggio (Wild May) published by Mondadori in 1999. Among his most recent books published in Italy is Vita e morte di un ingegnere (The Death and Life of an Engineer) published by Mondadori in 2012 and now available in the Rizzoli Vintage series.

flairmagazine.it, the Panorama system’s upscale women’s lifestyle web site of, is online, completing the editorial offer.

Flair brings to the web all of its research, innovation and analysis of trends, with a rich online platform of news, photos and videos, created ad hoc and produced daily for the site, and enriched with content derived from the magazine’s print version.

An account of fashion, the great personalities of the fashion world and the star system, the icons and stories that every day inspire the most loved styles in the digital version of Flair, while retaining the spirit, attention to detail and editorial line of the its printed counterpart. The dominant feature is the images, which reflect with a strong visual impact the contamination of creativity, fashion, beauty, art and lifestyle. All through a linear and clean graphic design – in line with what we see on the newsstands, and perfectly accessible on your PC, mobile and tablet – which enhances the content and photographic section.

The site is divided into four sections, inspired by the editorial approach of the print version of the magazine: “Hotspot”, a catalogue of suggestions and trends that gravitate around the fashion system, a think-tank of art and culture, personalities and stories; “Fashion”, with the latest trends from the catwalks and the streets and interviews with the biggest names in fashion, enriched by fashion editorial content in pure Flair style; “Beauty”, presenting innovations in makeup and body care, new makeup trends and hairstyles as the essence of style; “Things”, a collection of iconic products that make the difference, accessories and objects that represent style and an attitude of life.

Central to the whole idea is also the international and cosmopolitan vocation that is part of the brand’s DNA: proudly Italian, the site is available in two languages, Italian and English, making it increasingly a landmark of made in Italy luxury in the world.

Along with the launch of flairmagazine.it, Flair is also joining social networks: Facebook (facebook.com/flairitalia) and Instagram (@flairitalia).

Chi, Italy’s most widely read people weekly, will this summer, for the first time, be the protagonist of a tour that will take in some of the most exclusive Italian beach resorts.

The ‘Chi Summer Tour 2016’ (#chisummertour) kicks off on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June in Forte dei Marmi (Ostras Beach); and in July there will be two more events, on Saturday 9 in Porto Cervo and Friday 22 and Saturday 23 in Milano Marittima (Palace Hotel).

This is a unique occasion to get up close to the world of Chi animated by the magazine’s editor, Alfonso Signorini, and journalists, as well as the may guest who will take part in the tour: chefs, writers and celebrities who will give life to a full programme of events and offer the public an opportunity to absorb the brand’s exhilarating atmosphere.

Each stage of the ‘Chi Summer Tour 2016’, will begin with an exclusive talkshow with Alfonso Signorini who, together with his guests, will entertain the audience on the summer’s trendiest issues: fashion, entertainment, TV and gossip.

Beach events will characterize the second day of the tour with the mornings starting with Gym on the beach, lessons and suggestions on how to keep fit by Chi’s personal trainers.

Followed by showcooking demos, spectacular performances by a great chef. In the afternoon, the exclusive Caffè d’autore, an encounter with some of Mondadori’s leading authors. And finally, the day will close at sunset with a fun show with professional barmen against the back ground of an exciting DJ set.

For more information and full details please go: www.chisummertour2016.it

Focus Junior –  the Mondadori brand conceived to satisfy the natural curiosity of children and kids will be available, from tomorrow 16 June, to its young readers with a completely new layout for the print, digital and web versions.

The new Focus Junior has been totally redesigned and the changes can be seen starting from the cover of the magazine, with higher impact images and a new logo. On the content side, in addition to the classic topics related to nature, science, animals and history, more space is given to issues of relevance to young people: technology, behaviour, feelings, sport, adventure, mystery.

The key words are curious and fun, thanks to the extra space devoted to games (also in English), jokes and cartoons; multimedia, with extra content (photos and videos) linked to the magazine’s articles; current affairs, with the new section Junior News, dossiers  and background detail to help kids understand the world; innovative, with greater attention to everything connected with new technology.

Another very significant new feature is the Reporter Junior initiative, which enables readers to submit photos, articles, stories, becoming authentic protagonists in the creation of content, both for the magazine and the web.

“The thought that underlies this profound process of renewal,” underlined the editor Sarah Pozzoli, “is that Focus Junior must just be a magazine or a web site, but a brand consisting of a magazine, the web, social network, initiatives and events around the country and cooperation with schools. Consequently, we decided to make a fundamental change in our approach: we have to go where the readers are, rather than waiting for them to come to us. This is why the editorial team is working non-stop to select the best for today’s kids and to intercept their needs. Our aim is to stimulate curiosity and to create engagement: to be a part of the Focus Junior world is to enter a di community that can help you and provide additional tools to become an aware adult.”

With a view to increased synergies and integration between print and the web, also FocusJunior.it has been completely renewed. The site has been updated both in terms of layout, making it more immediate and accessible, and in terms of content, with new areas including schools, animals, as well as scientific and technological background and authentic interactive workshops. The site is also totally responsive to provide a optimal  experience also on mobile devices, increasingly popular among the young, with a strong interactive focus that will enable users to send their contributions directly and have a direct channel to the editorial department of Focus Junior.

The launch of the new Focus Junior will be supported by a media campaign on kids’ TV on both satellite and digital terrestrial channels.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. announces that it has finalized the acquisition today of Banzai Media Holding S.r.l. (vertical content division of the Banzai Group)¹, in execution of the agreement previously disclosed to the market on 10 May 2016.

The transaction has a value of 24.6 million euro, based on an enterprise value (fixed component) of 41 million euro, and a net normalized financial debt of 16.4 million euro (including financial payables to the parent Banzai S.p.A. and 3.3 million euro for deferred price components related to previous acquisitions).
The price was settled in cash today through a dedicated credit line made available to the Group.
An earn-out of 4 million euro will be paid to Banzai S.p.A. if certain established results for the 2016-2018 three-year period are met.

In 2015, the acquired scope, which will be consolidated as from 1 June 2016, posted revenue of 24 million euro and EBITDA (before non-recurring items) of 4 million euro, and counted 17.1 million unique users.
In 1Q16, revenue grew by approximately 20% (6 million euro versus 5 million euro at 31 March 2015, also as a result of the consolidation of AdKaora, the mobile advertising platform acquired by Banzai in October 2015), while EBITDA before non-recurring items came to 0.7 million euro (0.5 million euro at 31 March 2015).

The transaction allows the Mondadori Group to become the top Italian digital publisher, boasting a strong leadership in key areas – women, food, health&wellness – that are complementary and synergistic with the brands held in its portfolio.
The combination of the innovative platform and skills of Banzai Media with Mondadori’s outstanding content, will enable the Group to develop the positioning of its brands in the digital segment, based on a business model capable, on the one hand, of intercepting new users and audiences and, on the other, of expanding its range of digital marketing services, also leveraging on product innovation and brand extension initiatives.

¹ The acquired scope does not include the news segment, composed of Banzai’s investment in Il Post S.r.l. and of the Giornalettismo website BU.