Rakuten Kobo, one of the world’s leading companies in the eReading sector announced a new initiative “6 novels in search of an author”, using its self-publishing platform, Kobo Writing Life, in collaboration with Mondadori Store, Italy’s most extensive bookstore chain, and PassioneScrittore.it, a portal that provides services for self-publishers. The initiative is aimed at Italian writers who want to rise to the exciting challenge of winning the possibility of realising the dream of a lifetime: being published and distributed.

With the continuous growth of the self-publishing phenomenon, which in recent years has led to publishing successes such as that of Andy Weir, with “The Martian”, and Anna Todd, with “After”, more and more authors are opting for self-publishing. So much so that, according to Bowker, the US government agency that manages the ISBN (International Book Standard Number) for the identification of books,  in the last 12 months the self-publishing sector has grown globally by 21%. It is precisely for this reason that Kobo, that has always paid close attention to the needs of both its readers and innovative publishing developments, has decided to launch an initiative that aims to offer visibility to new generations of Italian creative writers.

“6 novels in search of an author” is a contest with two different sections: on the one hand a “Self-publishing tournament” and, on the other, a “Writing competition”.

For the first category, participants, as well as being over 18, must enrol between 15 November and 15 December 2016. They will need an active account on https://it.kobo.com/writinglife and their work, which should be not less than 200,000 characters (including spaces), must be available on the portal https://store.kobobooks.com/it-it from the moment of enrolment until the end of the tournament, even if they are already available on other platforms. as well as the publication of an extract, of a maximum of 25,000 characters, on Kobo Writing Life by 1 December 2016 and not be in violation of copyright or any other form of intellectual property rights held by third parties. Consequently, the competition will be divided into two parts: a collective review on the pages of the Kobo Store Italia, which, from 21 December 2016 to 20 February 2017 will call on the platform’s readers to vote and comment on all of the work in competition, and a professional review, by a jury of experts, chaired by the literary agent Maria Paola Romeo, that will draw up a shortlist by 30 May 2017.

For the second category, meanwhile, users, only if over 18, can register, again between 15 November and 15 December 2016, and create their own account on https://it.kobo.com/writinglife and by filling in a special form on www.kobowritinglife.it, in which a file in the Word of PDF format can be uploaded. The document must only contain the title and a synopsis of the work, in a total of not more than 5,000 characters, in addition to the complete work, that must be not less than 200,000 characters (including spaces), and that, to be admitted, must also be unpublished, in prose and in Italia, completed at the time of enrolment in the competition and  not be in violation of copyright or any other form of intellectual property rights held by third parties. Subsequently, a jury of experts will select the winners by 30 May 2017.

From a shortlist of 12 finalists, each section will choose three winners, a total of 6 participants, who will receive a publishing contract from Kobo, both for a printed and digital version of their work, along with promotion and distribution on the Kobo Store Italia and the main outlets of the Mondadori Store chain, also through the innovative “Book on demand” service offered by the network.

In addition, until 15 December 2016, to assist all those who would like to participate and to register correctly, a help line will be available on this link.

For more information, please go to: www.kobowritinglife.it

What is Carlo Cracco doing next to Linda Evangelista? And Gualtiero Marchesi alongside Charlotte Rampling?  In the collective imagination, little could be as distant as a chef and a model. Two antithetical worlds,  in opposition but… are they also incompatible? Not if the observation point is fame, notoriety, beauty. When food and its, now immortalised, creators are on the same plain as the image of a beautiful woman. With a keen and deep eye, and at the same time, with an irony that has always characterised him, Bob Krieger proposes his latest work: iCONS. Alongside familiar faces of timeless beauty from fashion and world cinema, which his lens captures with an unmistakable style, Krieger presents the new stars of Made in Italy, the “ambassadors of taste”, of an exquisitely Italian capacity to express the excellence of our food. iCONS is a fun, irreverent and, at the same time, current way of portraying authentic icons of style and passion.

“This show,” says Ferruccio De Bortoli in the preface of the volume iCONS (Electa), “brings together the  Krieger’s photographs of the fashion of the moment, cooking, with the fashion we are familiar with, and of which he is the high priest with a camera instead of scissors. The chefs and the models. A bold approach because the latter, in order to stay on catwalk, have to keep away from the kitchen. But it has within it, a socially useful message, and can be safely described as a small manifesto against anorexia… And in the work of the chefs – who not only satisfy our tastes but with maniacal precision oversee the aesthetics of their dishes – there is an artistic inclination that brings them closer to designers. Bob Krieger’s photographic wit captures the curious expressions of Cracco, Oldani and his colleagues, and offers us again the timeless charm of the most acclaimed models. Krieger has stopped time, with a click. The subjects portrayed give themselves up to him with a surprising abandon. But great photographers also have a hypnotic power.”

The exhibition will be presented, during a special evening,  on 15 November by the chairman of Mondadori Retail, Mario Resca, the inspiration behind “St-Art. Artist of the month. Today’s and tomorrow’s masters on show”, a cultural project designed and promoted by Mondadori Megastore in collaboration with Milo Goj’s Art Relation.  For over a year, at the Mondadori Megastore in Piazza Duomo 1 and Via Marghera 28, important young talent have alternated with established artists, on collections that aim to draw the public in to contemporary art and, thanks also to accessible prices, enable the general public to begin collecting.

Mondadori Store is once again the “Retalier of the Year Italy 2016-2017” in the “bookstore” category, the leading Italian award based on consumer assessment which, for the third consecutive year, rewards the buying experience offered by Italy’s most extensive chain of bookstores.

Mondadori Store obtained the highest score among the eligible candidates  in the “bookstore” category. Nine main aspects in the buying process were judged by customers who in recent months were asked to express their evaluations: the price/quality ration, price levels, special and promotional offers; service, training and courtesy of staff, assortment, atmosphere and innovation.

With 600 sales outlets across the country, and three different shop formats – Megastore, Bookstore and Point – every year Mondadori Store serves more than 20 million customers, that in addition to books and a variety of other products, offers service from qualified staff and experience in entertainment. This award is an encouragement to Mondadori Retail to continue to offer its clientele an environment that is increasingly stimulating and surprising.

Retailer of the Year is an international award, first launched in 2003 under the name Beste Winkelketen in the Netherlands and  subsequently expanded as Retailer of the Year to Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and, from this year, also Russia.

It has been present in Italy for 9 years, 3 of which with the name “Insegna dell’Anno Italia” (www.insegnadellanno.it). Insegna dell’Anno Italia is an initiative by Q&A Research & Consultancy, organised by SEIC – Studio Orlandini.

Donna Moderna launches DM LAB (#dmlab), a new initiative dedicated to women and the whole family with more than 50 free meetings, workshops, laboratories and talks that will take place on Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November, at the Spazio Open in Milan (Viale Montenero 6).

“DM Lab is a dream come true: bringing the content and values ​​of Donna Moderna to a physical space and making them accessible to readers,” said Annalisa Monfreda, the magazine’s editor. “This initiative offers us a three-day opportunity to come into direct contact with our community, in the sense of a real community of people gathered in one place thanks to the strength of our brand,” Monfreda concluded.

DM Lab is a new way of exploiting the experience and content also of some of the Group’s other brands who are working with Donna Moderna on the initiative, from Starbene to CasaFacile and Sale&Pepe, as well as Focus Junior, Focus Pico and ‪Nostrofiglio.it. A system that in print already embraces an overall audience of 11 million net contacts (Source: Audipress February 2016 and Audiweb July 2016) and that is able to expand and develop further thanks to this type of event around the country.

DM LAB will kick off in the morning with the editor of Donna Moderna, Annalisa Monfreda who, over coffee, will talk with special guests about a range of topical issues and closing in the evening with talks by five major personalities who will go up on stage to launch, in ten minutes, ideas and provocations around the great themes affect the world of women.

On Friday at 7 pm a generational clash on the theme: Who is the youngest between you and me? in which three couples will face each other in a debate moderated by psychologist Beatrice Toro on love, work and family relationships. On the stage, the many guests include: the writers Enrica Tesio and Manuela Stefani, journalist Roberto Parodi, Alessandro Rosina, who teaches demographics at the Catholic University in Milan and the YouTubers Jaser and Daniele Brogna.

The talk on Saturday at 7 pm will catalyse the attention of participants where the subject will be women’s bodies and beauty, that of normal women who always seem to feel they are not quite attractive enough. Here the guests include fashion photographer Settimio Benedusi, Cristina Fogazzi,  the well-known online beauty consultant Anna Turcato, image consultant.

With workshops on fitness, home decor, beauty and money, participants will also find a corner with expert nutritionists from Starbene, a desk for advice from the best architects of CasaFacile, and meetings with chefs promoted by Sale&Pepe.

And on Saturday afternoon the Spazio will be the theatre – at 5 pm – for a meeting with Davide Oldani who will talk about a taste for lightness: less fat, more flavour and aromas.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the chef Roberto Rinaldini, will explain how to turn every dessert into a tailor-made masterpiece based always on the pursuit of quality. And, from 7 to 8 pm, on stage, five well-known writers – Alessandra Appiano, Roberto Moliterni, Michela Murgia, Aldo Nove and Pulsatilla – will be the protagonists of “5 scrittori per 5 storie di donne moderne” (5 writers for 5 stories about modern women).

There will also be workshops for children, in collaboration with Junior Focus, Focus Pico and Nostrofiglio.it, to learn while having fun while mothers can follow the debates about the family, safety and education with psychologists, educators and experts.

Donna Moderna has thought of everyone with DM LAB and at Spazio Open there will alos be yoga and fitness classes in collaboration with Starbene. But the pursuit of health does not end there: a nutrition area, open on Friday from 4 to 6 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 pm, expert nutritionists from the European Institute of Oncology and dietician Carla Lertola will be available for advice for personalised diets, supplements and natural remedies.

The DM LAB format has been developed by  the advertising sales company Mediamond that has received very positive feedback from the market. Thanks to the popularity and audience of the Mondadori Group brands involved, along with the strength of the Mediamond network, this type of initiative is able to reach a very broad audience that interacts with the events and generates spontaneous buzz; a result that is due to the  active participation of the brands involved in the construction of the project and its implementation, and providing an opportunity to get in touch with their audience to present the products and the corporate values ​​that the brands represent.

The following partner companies contributed to the creation of DM LAB:

L’Oreal Paris, L’Oreal Professionel, Compagnia della Bellezza, MetLife, BioNike, 10 Buoni Propositi, Ferrarelle, Vitasnella, Rescue®- Fiori di Bach Originali, Caffè Vergnano, Pruneaux D’Agen.

A complete programme is available at: www.donnamoderna.com/labweekend

Today, the meeting of the Board of Directors of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., chaired by Marina Berlusconi, reviewed and approved the Interim Report on Operations at 30 September 2016 presented by CEO Ernesto Mauri.

GROUP PERFORMANCE AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2016

In 9M16, Mondadori Group reported a rather encouraging performance. After almost four years, revenue kept steady – on a like-for-like basis – versus the prior year; these results, together with the improvement of EBITDA for the eleventh consecutive quarter, laid the groundwork to improve the outlook for the full year.

Additionally, 2016 marked the transition to the new phase of the Group’s development, as a result of the consolidation of the recently acquired Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media, a major step made to strengthen the leadership position in the Group’s strategic businesses.

In 9M16, consolidated net revenue grew by 14.3% to 935.3 million euro; net of the effects of the consolidation of the companies acquired in the year, the Group’s performance remained basically steady versus 818.3 million euro posted in the prior year.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA[1] grew by 58.7% (76.1 million euro versus 48 million euro in 9M15), thanks also to the positive contribution from the companies acquired in 2016, from Rizzoli Libri (16.5 million euro) in particular. The Books Area increased by 65%, while Magazines Italy tripled its performance. The Retail Area, despite the negative impact (from the seasonality of the Rizzoli bookstore in Milan), improved by over 13%.

On a like-for-like basis, the Group’s adjusted EBITDA grew by 23.7%, with a percentage on revenue increasing from 5.9% to 7.3%. This performance is the result of a constant and focused management policy, launched and successfully implemented in all of the business areas; Books (+18.2%) and Magazines Italy (from 1.7 million euro to 6.5 million euro) performed strongly.

Consolidated EBITDA was up by 44% to 70.3 million euro, including the result of Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media. On a like-for-like basis, the increase amounts to 9.9% (from 48.8 million euro to 53.7 million euro), confirming the Group’s strong and constant efficiency gains from its ability to stabilize revenue and thanks to the industrial and organizational review actions launched and implemented over the past three years, despite the benefits felt in 3Q15 from the capital gain of 7.6 million euro arising from the disposal of the Harlequin Mondadori joint venture (Books Area).

In 9M16, consolidated EBIT was up by 60.1% to 48 million euro, including amortization and depreciation of 5.2 million euro relating to Rizzoli Libri; on a like-for-like basis, EBIT amounted to 37 million euro, improving by 23.4% versus 30 million euro in 9M15, also as a result of the decrease in amortization, depreciation and impairment losses by 16.7 million euro versus 18.8 million euro at 30 September 2015, which included the impairment of 4 million euro of the interest held in the Greek Attica Publications subsidiary (Magazines Italy Area).

The consolidated result before taxes amounted to 35.3 million euro, up versus 16.1 million euro, or to 24.5 million euro on a like-for-like basis, rising sharply (+52.1%) versus 9M15, thanks also to the contribution of financial costs (12.5 million euro), which decreased sharply (-9.2%) as a result of the reduction in the average debt rate from the renegotiation of the loan agreement made at end 2015 (from 3.72% to 3.05%), and of a lower average debt in the period, despite the acquisitions made in 2016.

The Group consolidated net result amounted to 17.9 million euro, improving by over 20 million euro versus -2.8 million euro at 30 September 2015, which included the capital loss from the disposal of the Group’s radio business; on a like-for-like basis, the net result came to a positive 11 million euro.

At 30 September 2016, Group employees amounted to 3,330 units. The 7.8% increase in headcount versus September 2015 is due solely to the acquisitions made over the last 12 months; on a like-for-like basis, Group employees would be down by 5.8%.

The Group net financial position at 30 September 2016 came to -329 million euro versus -243.6 million euro at 30 September 2015, as a result of the Group’s significant cash generation over the past 12 months, which allowed net investments in acquisitions of 135.7 million euro.     

At 30 September 2016, cash flow from operations – on a like-for-like basis – in the last twelve months came to a positive 83.9 million euro; ordinary cash flow (after outlays for financial costs and taxes for the period) continued the upward trend of the seven previous quarters and came to 56.3 million euro. Including the contribution from recent acquisitions, cash flow from ordinary operations in the last twelve months amounted to 53.3 million euro.

This performance is the result of constant and effective monitoring, and the ability to act on 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 Group’s performance and of the results of the acquired companies, the forecasts previously announced on revenue for the current year can be reasonably confirmed: including Rizzoli Libri (for 9 months) and Banzai Media (for 7 months), revenue is expected to increase by approximately 14%, while, on a like-for-like basis, it is basically steady versus 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA estimate improves: including Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media, adjusted EBITDA is forecast to grow by approximately 35% (from the previous estimate of +30%), while, on a like-for-like basis, forecasts point to a double-digit growth (from the previous high single-digit estimate) versus 2015, with a resulting increase in profitability.

The net financial position is expected to improve versus the previous forecast (3.5x), with a NFP/EBITDA ratio of about 3.3x, lower than the bank covenant for the year of 4.5x.

PERFORMANCE OF GROUP BUSINESS AREAS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2016

• BOOKS

In 9M16, the Trade Books market in Italy grew by +2.3% versus 9M15 (GFK, September 2016, figures in terms of market value), confirming the positive signs reported in the first half of the current year.

Against this backdrop, Mondadori Libri retained its market leadership position with a 22.8% trade share.

At 30 September 2016, following the acquisition of the Rizzoli Libri brands (Rizzoli, BUR and Fabbri Editori), the Group increased its overall market share to 27.8%.

In the school textbooks segment, following the integration of Rizzoli Education, the Group increased its market share to 24.1%, becoming the leading player in the segment in Italy.

In the period under review, revenue from the Books Area of Mondadori Group amounted to 355.5 million euro, up by 52.5% as a result of the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri from April 2016 (+1.8% on a like-for-like basis versus 233.2 million euro in 9M15). Rizzoli Libri contributed an overall 118.4 million euro to the period.

On a like-for-like basis, the Trade Books Area revenue increased by 15.7% versus 9M15, 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. Regarding the Educational Area, revenue in 9M16 grew by 2.5% on a like-for-like basis versus 9M15.

Adjusted EBITDA in the Area came to 58.6 million euro, rising sharply (+65.1%) versus 9M15 (35.5 million euro); in the reporting period, Rizzoli Libri contributed 16.6 million euro, mainly as a result of the positive performance of the schools segment.

The Books Area performed strongly also on a like-for-like basis, surging by +18.2% (42 million euro at 30 September 2016), propelled by the increase in revenue from the targeted publishing policy and by the ongoing optimization of the operating processes implemented in the Trade segment, which helped slash the percentage of costs of goods sold on revenue. Concurrently, the cost containment policy aimed at cutting fixed costs and discretionary expenses continued and resulted in improved profitability.

Reported EBITDA in the Area amounted to 57.9 million euro versus 39.6 million euro at 30 September 2015, which included the capital gain of 7.6 million euro from the disposal of the interest held in the Harlequin Mondadori joint venture, partly offset in the reporting period by lower restructuring costs versus the prior year.

• MAGAZINES ITALY

Revenue from the Magazines Italy Area amounted to 234.9 million euro, up by 0.8% versus 233 million euro in 9M15 (-2.3% on a like-for-like basis, net of Banzai Media, consolidated as from 1 June 2016)[2].

Against this backdrop, Mondadori Group retained its market leadership position with a 31.8% share (Internal source: Press-di, August).

In 9M16, Banzai Media contributed approximately 7.2 million euro to the Area’s revenue. Following the acquisition, Mondadori has reached a total digital audience of 16.6 million unique monthly users (Audiweb, average figures at August 2016), becoming the leading Italian digital publisher.

Circulation revenue of the Magazines Italy Area dropped by 2.4%; on a like-for-like basis of titles, the drop was basically in line with the relevant market performance (-8.3%, internal source Press-Di, cumulative figures at August 2016: newsstands+subscriptions at cover price) in both the newsstand and subscription channels.

Revenue from advertising sales fell by 2.6%; print advertising sales in Italy dropped by 4% (in line with the market’s -3.6%, Nielsen, cumulative figures at August 2016); sales on websites increased by 0.6% and outperformed the relevant market trend (-1.6%, Nielsen, cumulative figures at August 2016), with the contribution of the consolidation of Mondadori Scienza properties (Nostrofiglio.it and Focus.it).

Revenue from add-on products was steady versus 9M15, thanks to the positive contribution of the home-video business (50% of total), which offset the drop in gadgets and music CDs.

Looking at distribution and revenue towards third publishers, the Area was in line with the prior year, thanks to the ongoing commitment to developing third-publisher portfolios.

International operations achieved revenue of 4.3 million euro, down versus 5.3 million euro reported in 9M15, as a result of the drop in licensing activities caused by the deteriorated market environment.

Revenue from Digital Marketing Service activities (8.7 million euro) grew by approximately 2% versus 9M15, as a result of the gradual expansion of the portfolio of solutions that had started in 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA in the Magazines Italy Area improved significantly to 6.9 million euro (including the contribution of Banzai Media), or to 6.5 million euro on a like-for-like basis versus 1.7 million euro in 9M15, driven by the effective review of the publishing structure, implemented while retaining the traditional focus on the publishing quality of the titles. The reporting period also saw a sharp drop in industrial costs, achieved also as a result of the renegotiation of printing contracts.

The Area EBITDA more than confirmed the growth trend, increasing by over 4 million euro (from 0.8 million euro to 5.4 million euro), despite the higher amount of negative non-recurring items; on a like-for-like basis, reported EBITDA came to 5.1 million euro.

• MAGAZINES FRANCE

In 9M16, revenue from Mondadori France amounted to 239.3 million euro, down by 3% versus 246.8 million euro in 9M15.

Specifically:

• Circulation revenue, accounting for approximately 75% of the total, fell by 2.4% versus the prior year.

Specifically, sales revenue in the subscription channel was basically stable, partly offsetting the decline in the newsstand channel (-6.1%, basically in line with the market trend) and confirming the strategic opportunity for further investments in this channel, which accounted for 53% of circulation revenue in 9M16, representing the major and most growing contribution to revenue of the area.

These positive performances were achieved with the constant attention paid to publishing quality and innovation. In the period under review, Mondadori France, in fact, launched various brand extensions, including Grazia Hommes.

• Advertising revenue fell by an overall 4.6% versus 9M15, but performance differed between offline and online component: digital advertising (accounting for about 20% of total advertising revenue) was up by approximately 22%, partly offsetting the drop in traditional print advertising (-8.9%). Against this backdrop, Mondadori France retained its 6% market share (Kantar Media: cumulative figures in terms of volume at June 2016) and was, once again, the second top player in the magazine advertising market.

Digital activities (approximately 5% of total revenue) grew by an overall 14.8%, propelled by the development of the properties, in addition to the positive performance of NaturaBuy (+29%). The web audience of Mondadori France magazines totaled 8.9 million unique users (Médiamétrie Netratings-Nielsen, January-August 2016 average figure), up by approximately 9% versus 9M15.

Adjusted EBITDA came to 21.3 million euro, down by 3.8% versus 9M15, due mainly to costs for M&A managed in the period (0.7 million euro). Focus continued on editorial and overhead cost containment to counter the lingering weakness of the relevant markets, with a view to further adjusting the organization to market changes, while retaining the ability to make investments in quality and in the gradual digitization of publishing activities. Digital activities continued to enjoy positively growing margins in 9M16 versus the loss in 9M15.

Reported EBITDA, amounting to 19.4 million euro, was down by 3.1% versus 20.0 million euro in 9M15, as a result of the abovementioned M&A costs and of restructuring costs of approximately 1.9 million euro (2.1 million euro in 9M15).

• RETAIL

In 9M16, the Retail Area revenue – on a like-for-like basis – rose to 135 million euro, increasing by 1.1% versus 131.9 million euro in 9M15, due mainly to the growth of the Franchised channel (+3.3%) and of Megastores (+3.8%), which more than offset the structural decline of the Book Clubs; the online channel posted a positive performance (+2.2%), driven mainly by the good results of school textbooks. As of 1 April 2016, following the consolidation of the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri, activities relating to the Rizzoli bookstore have been absorbed by the Retail Area; as a result, in 9M16, the Area increased revenue by an overall 2.4%.

In 9M16, Mondadori Retail adjusted EBITDA, on a like-for-like basis, came to -2.5 million euro, improving versus -3.1 million euro in 9M15 (-2.7 million euro, including the result of Librerie Rizzoli in the April-September six-month consolidation period). A result achieved through cost-curbing measures involving stores and central functions, which more than offset the effects arising from the structural decline of the book clubs channel. On a like-for-like basis, reported EBITDA came to -2.1 million euro versus -2.8 million euro in 9M15, as a result of a number of positive extraordinary items (0.4 million euro).

Designation of the Lead Independent Director

The Board of Directors, in accordance with the Corporate Governance Code, designated Independent Director Cristina Rossello as Lead Independent Director.

The Lead Independent Director remains in office for the same period as the members of the Board of Directors, thus until the Shareholders’ Meeting called to approve the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2017.

The Board of Directors also approved the merger by incorporation, with no share exchange, of the wholly-owned company Banzai Media S.r.l., in accordance with the merger plan made available, as announced on 29 September, at the Company’s registered office, through the authorized storage mechanism 1info (www.1info.it) and on the Company website www.gruppomondadori.it (Governance section). The conclusion of the merger deed and the required entry in the Company Registry are scheduled by 15 January 2017, following expiry of the objection period for creditors pursuant to art. 2503 of the Italian Civil Code.

 The documentation relating to the presentation to analysts of the results for the first nine months of 2016 is made available to the public on the authorized storage mechanism 1info (www.1info.it) and on www.gruppomondadori.it (Investor section).

 Publication of the Interim Report on Operations at 30 September 2016

This Interim Report at 30 September 2016 was approved by the Board of Directors and is made available starting from today’s date at the Company’s registered office, on the authorized storage mechanism 1info (www.1Info.it) and on www.gruppomondadori.it (Investor section).

The Executive Manager responsible for drafting 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 (see pdf attached):

1. Consolidated financial situation
2. Consolidated income statement
3. Consolidated income statement – third quarter
4. Group cash flow
5. Glossary of terms and alternative performance measures used

[1] This document, in addition to the statements and conventional financial measures 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” .

[2] On 1 January 2016, following reorganization, Digital Marketing Service activities and the central unit focused on the digital business of the Mondadori brands were transferred to Magazines Italy (previously included in Other Business, Corporate and Digital Innovation); the Area’s income statement was reclassified, for information sake, also in 9M15.

Studenti, the web site by Banzai Media (Mondadori Group) market leader in the student segment 4.7 million unique users per month (Audiweb, May 2016), is now online in an innovative version completely dedicated to study support: with improved functionality and a new look, the new Studenti is characterised by  mobile first usability.

The new release was conceived to make it easier to use and easier to find the most useful and relevant content for study topics: the offer has been divided by areas of interest and, in turn, rigorously split into subjects and topics, with special attention to the most frequently searched items.

“The mission of Studenti has always been to help students with their school work and to pass their exams, as well as orient themselves in their post-diploma choices. Thanks to this new release, Studenti strengthens its value proposition, becoming even more useful and focusing on innovative content and services,” declared Andrea Santagata, the Mondadori Group’s deputy general manager of Magazines Italy.

“The world of young people and millennials is a premium target for our advertisers and in the publishing context Studenti is a natural choice for them. With this new release we will also increase users’ participation and involvement; in fact native formats and engagement are among the property’s driving elements in its aim to be mobile first in terms of day to day use,” underlined Davide Mondo, chief executive of Mediamond.

An update and re-invigorated editorial offer

Within each subject, students can identify the most relevant didactic issues. The new organisation of the content also makes it possible to  look at the subjects in different levels of detail: advanced filters and related allow users to highlight a range of important conceptual connections.

In addition to the didactic content of Studenti, traditionally made up of notes, thousands of previously prepared mini-dissertations, a rich selection of video-lessons and a series of interactive modules specifically for the teaching of mathematics for high school students, is a range of new quality content. In fact the editorial content of Studenti has been enhanced with contributions from graduate students and university professors with the aim of providing students with exhaustive and accurate materials: background notes by teachers have been gathered together in structured and indexed files including summaries, glossaries and margin notes, in order to give an even better study experience.

The offer is completed with study guides and a range of interactive tests: those for orientation and matriculation, as well as simulations of multiple choice tests and exams in various subjects.

Thanks to responsive graphics, the new Studenti is easy to use on both a PC or a mobile device, effectively supporting students in a range of different situations.

Studenti.it is online at:

Link : www.studenti.it
Facebook: facebook.com/Studenti.it

The new completely redesigned and more functional corporate web site of the Mondadori Group www.gruppomondadori.it is now online.

The site enriches the digital identity of the Mondadori Group with a communication ecosystem which, though the site itself and social media networks, provides daily updates on the company’s products and people.

“For a company that for over 100 years has been a leading player in publishing, culture and entertainment, and today, more than ever, is in continuous evolution and projected towards a future of innovation and development, it is fundamental to have a means for communication and dialogue that is in step with the interactive habits of the public,” declared Ernesto Mauri, chief executive of the Mondadori Group. “A strong, multichannel digital presence enables us to talk about who we are and what we’re doing in books and magazines while enormously enhancing our relationship with all out stakeholders and contacts.”

The new site has been designed to improve the user experience, making it easier to navigate, facilitating sharing on social networks and providing information in a clear and immediate way for readers, customers, investors and media professionals.

The content, organised by areas – About us, Our brands, Governance, Investors, Sustainability, Media, Work with us – are enhanced with images, figures and infographics, in a design developed to ensure access also on tablets and smartphones.

Updates about the Group, as well as brand activities and products will appear immediately on the home page, giving visitors an overview of Mondadori’s activities and situation in Italy, France and around the world.

Particular attention has been given to the pursuit of sustainability and the Group’s commitment to create social and cultural value, with an approach that cuts across all the different sections of the site.

The development of the site will continue through a process of ongoing updates, conceived especially for users, to enable the company to dialogue also on social networks.

The Mondadori Group has a corporate account on LinkedIn, to interact with professionals from other Italian media companies; on Twitter to keep track of business and financial news with the hashtag #MNMI and the most important news about the brands; on Facebook, to report on the company’s activities and listen to customers, users and readers, and, finally, on Instagram, where the Group made its debut with the #NoiDellaMondadori project, dedicated to the people who work for Mondadori, at Mondadori and with Mondadori.

Milan is the stage of stages for Milano “Panorama d’Italia”, the tour that the newsmagazine Panorama has made over the last three years around the country taking in information, culture, food, wine and entertainment. From Sunday 16 until Saturday 22 October Lombardy’s capital will host a special stage of the tour with a calendar of 54 events open to everyone.

“Milan is undergoing a phase of great change,” writes the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, in an article in the magazine welcoming the arrival of the tour to the city.  “Thanks also to the extraordinary experience of the Expo, Milan has become a model. The city is also a point of reference around the world for fashion, art, design, food, voluntary service, care for the environment: a desirable tourist destination, an example of the efficiency and quality  that this country is capable of. The events organised by the “Panorama d’Italia” initiative will reflect the spirit of this Milan, as well as the originality and enterprise of its citizens.”

The editor of Panorama, Giorgio Mulè, explained the sense of this stage: “During this week we will talk to the people of Milan of all ages and we will offer opportunities to meet and exchange ideas, attempting to enrich the prospects and culture of everyone: work, food and wine, theatre, cinema and music with testimonials worthy of this great city and its international vocation.”
With lots of guests and over 30 different locations, the Milan stage of the Panorama d’Italia tour, now in its third year, after visiting 27 towns and cities and engaging thousands of people with the best of the country, arrives in the Italian city with the most international outlook.

Politics and institutions

The greetings of President Mattarella, the presence of government ministers Giannini, Galletti and Calenda; the Governor of Lombardy Roberto Maroni with the councillor of economic development Mauro Parolini and other members of the council, the Mayor Giuseppe Sala, deputy-minister Enrico Zanetti: are just some of the guests form the world of politics and institutions participating in the meetings organised by Panorama d’Italia. An opportunity to meet and exchange ideas face to face on issues of direct relevance to national development: from education to economic growth, social as well as and labour policies. Conferences, exclusive interviews and talk shows: and on each occasion a direct relationship with the public will be fundamental as participants interact with the speakers and follow the debates live.

Training, business and jobs

Central to the whole event  will be a discussion on “The schools of the future”, on Thursday 20 October at the headquarters of the Mondadori Group in Segrate: the meeting with high school students involved in the competition “Il bello di Milano” will begin with an introduction by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in the presence of education minster Stefania Giannini. During the week of Panorama d’Italia, young job seekers will have the chance to meet HR specialists from some of Italy’s leading companies and will be able to follow debates between some of the prime examples of business excellence  in the city.

Culture and entertainment

A parade of stars, from the worlds of music, cinema and literature will be a feature of the Panorama d’Italia marathon in Milan, with open interviews, showcases, concerts, readings and exclusive presentations. Some of the names include: Alessandra Amoroso, Nek, Emis Killa, Fabio Rovazzi, Niccolò Agliardi, Benji and Fede, Alfonso Signorini, Dan Peterson, Geronimo Stilton, Antonio Casanova, Sofia Viscardi, and many more; as well as the presentation, in collaboration with the Festival del Cinema di Roma, of the film, “Florence” starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. There will also be space for DJ sets and fashion events, thanks to the collaboration of the magazine Icon.

Panorama d’Italia will also offer an opportunity to meet prestigious authors and discover the city’s artistic delights with exceptional guides. Starting on Sunday 16 October with Ken Follett, an author who in Italy has sold over 14 million copies of his novels. The Welsh writer has chosen Milan to meet his Italian readers and talk about his future plans. Interviewed by Panorama editor Giorgio Mulè, the author will talk about his books, but also about his private life, politics and current affairs.

Also during the week will be events featuring Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Vittorio Sgarbi, Maurizio De Giovanni, Stefano Zecchi, Davide Rampello, Massimiliano Locatelli, Roberto Giacobbo and many more. The Milan stage of the tour will also give space to meetings with Focus, among the most appreciated new features of Panorama d’Italia 2016: the astronaut Umberto Guidoni, the editor of Focus Jacopo Loredan and many other guests from the world of science will accompany participants “around space” with meetings and ad hoc events, including live coverage of the arrival of the space probe Exomars on Mars.

Haute cuisine

In an anthology of excellence, it is impossible not to involve the stars of Italian cooking, one of the jewels in the crown of Made in Italy food and wine around the world. So space will be given to star chefs such as Andrea Berton, Giovanni Bon, Bobo and Chicco Cerea, Carlo Cracco, Filippo La Mantia, Davide Oldani, the famous faces of TV chefs such as Benedetta Parodi and Antonio Martino, and, exceptionally, heading the list the great maestro Gualtiero Marchesi, the cornerstone of a generation of outstanding chefs now working around the world and representing the very best of Italy’s food and wine culture.

All of the “Panorama d’Italia” events are free and the programme is available from www.panorama.it or www.panoramaditalia.it. To take part, all you need to do is register and book your place on www.panoramaditalia.it and following the instructions (any programme changes will be announced on the site). All of the events can be followed in live streaming on the site and on social networks.. At all of the “Panorama d’Italia” event locations it will be possible to buy the bracelets produced especially for the tour by Cruciani: the proceeds will contribute to the creation of a new national centre for the Lega del Filo d’Oro, the charity that assists people with aural, visual and other sensory impairments, in Osimo (Ancona).
Tour figures

Last year alone 4 million people were reached by the tour through physical events, the printed weekly magazine, its sites, social channels, television, radio and other media that used the content. The audience directly involved in the events in the various towns and cities totalled more than 110,000 with 375 guests and speakers (including 6 minsters, 8 regional presidents and 8 mayors), 500 media outlets, 191 business people in round tables and the involvement of over 600 companies, including 180 innovative start-ups.
Panorama d’Italia enjoys the support of high level partners who share a commitment to enhancing Italian excellence 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 throughout the tour.
In addition, at every town and city on the tour, media partnerships have been established with the leading local TV and radio stations and newspapers.

“Panorama d’Italia” has been organised in collaboration with Triumph Group International, for executive production, organisation and logistics.

Grazia, the magazine edited by Silvia Grilli, and The Blonde Salad, the web site created by digital icon Chiara Ferragni, with the support of the City of Milan, present at the Triennale in Milan YOU  – THE DIGITAL FASHION REVOLUTION.

The exhibition, which is free and open to the public from 7 to 13 October, will for the first time illustrate the revolution that the leading players in digital and web influencers have brought about in the world of media, fashion, luxury and photography.

An authentic digital fashion revolution that Grazia, the magazine edited by Silvia Grilli, and interpreter of fashion and Italian style around the world with a global multi-channel system magazine-web-social network-TV, and The Blonde Salad by Chiara Ferragni, catalyser of followers on digital platforms, have decided to examine in collaboration with Tiffany&Co, the renowned New York jewellery brand.

From the birth of street style photography at the end of the twentieth century up to the consecration of digital influencers (who interpret styles and trends, spreading tastes and modifying the language) YOU illustrates what has changed and what will change in virtual worlds that have become more real than reality.

The real protagonist at the centre of the exhibition is TU: all of us who act and react on the web and also become a part of the content of the exhibition.

The location of the event is the Museo della Triennale in Milan, in the majestic Salone d’Onore where visitors will be immersed in the phenomenon that has revolutionised the media.

The exhibition YOU will also engage visitors with activities and workshops, making them an active part of the show. In addition to images and words, easy to follow and captivating interactive paths accompany the public on a virtual journey. Free workshops will also allow visitors to learn the secrets of the trade that enable certain personalities to become influencers. At the end of the exhibition, visitors come to a Mirror Box, an environment with counter posing mirrors and lights that represent the great stage that is the web.

The exhibition YOU – THE DIGITAL FASHION REVOLUTION by Grazia and The Blonde Salad is organised in collaboration with Tiffany & Co. For the occasion, the renowned New York jewellery brand will have a dedicated space with a photowall with a thematic  background.

The other partners of the exhibition are: American Express, Maserati and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Cocktail dînatorie prepared by chef Andrea Berton.

The exhibition catalogue YOU – THE DIGITAL FASHION REVOLUTION was conceived produced and published by Electa and is on sale at the Triennale and all good bookshops.

INTERNI, the interiors and contemporary design magazine edited by Gilda Bojardi, has been transformed from a printed title to an international integrated communication system that this month will launch its first editorial initiatives dedicated to Mexico City: a monographic issue  entitled “United Mexican Design” and a “Design Guide Mexico City/Milano”, with the aim of helping foreign visitors find their way around a megalopolis of around 21 million inhabitants with the aid of design-oriented itineraries.

The publications, both of which are in Spanish and English, will have a special print run of 10,000 copies and will be distributed around Mexico City  at bookstores, museums, schools, galleries, showrooms and hotels. The official presentation of the monograph and guide will take place on 4 October at the Italian Embassy in the presence of authorities, and on 7 October at the Soumaya Museum, with architects, operators and the organisers of the project.

Both publications look at issues related to the current situation of Mexico City/CDMX, with regard to architecture, design and art, also in terms of multiple and interweaving linguistic expressions.

INTERNI United Mexican Design

The monographic issue of INTERNI with over 260 pages, is introduced with  the institutional voice of Miguel Ángel Mancera Espinosa, head of the capital’s government, who underlines the dynamism of Mexico in the design field and Giovanni Anzani, chairman of Assarredo, who highlights how a dialogue between Italian design and the local reality offers new and significant opportunities for exchange. Pino Cacucci, the Italian writer of fiction and non-fiction, looks ate the colours of Mexico, the atmosphere and personalities, while a discussion of the leading figures in contemporary Mexican architecture is left to Fernando Romero, Javier Sordo Madaleno, Tatiana Bilbao, Victor Legorreta, Pedro Reyes and Carla Fernandez, and Mauricio Rocha.

Art, meanwhile, is examined the an emblematic overview by Pedro Friedeberg, Pedro Reyes and Raymundo Sesma/Advento Art Design, as well as authoritative testimony by the likes of Juan A. Gaitán for museums; Ricardo Salas Moreno for graphics and the design schools (Universidades Anahuac) and many more – as well as a look at the designers that represent Mexico in Italy and around the world. Finally, two studios created in Milan by the editorial team of INTERNI interpret “suggestions from Mexico”, where Italian design encounters the siesta and the idea of “relax”.

Guida “Design Guide Mexico City/Milano”

The first edition of the Mexico City/Milano Guide (which joins the other International Guides to Milan, New York, Paris, Moscow) meanwhile is a companion in the discovery of places and areas of the city through design itineraries: art and design galleries, museums, hotels, restaurants, specialised bookstores, schools, as well as flagship stores, monobrand and multistores where the best product of the companies that represent Italian design can be found.