Tomorrow, as part of the Milano Design Week, sees the start of Icon Design Talks, an important appointment in the world of architecture and design, produced by Icon Design, featuring the protagonists who are re-designing our cities, our homes and our lifestyles.

A special event of the meetings will take place on Friday 7 April at 11.30 am, “Writing and the city”: a talk between Rem Koolhaas, winner of the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, and Stefano Boeri, the Italian architect and urban designer.

The Icon Design Talks, that will continue to Sunday 9 April at the Microsoft House, spring from the desire of Icon Design, the Mondadori Group magazine edited by Michele Lupi, to offer the city an authoritative, useful and curious overview of the future of design, and to speak to the many international visitors who come to Milan for one of the most eagerly awaited weeks of the year.

“A laboratory of ideas to extend our reach in the design area,” said the editor Michele Lupi, “giving the entire city the opportunity to know the personalities and stories of some of the leading protagonists of the world of architecture, a characteristic trait of a magazine with a unique formula, that is widely appreciated by both enthusiasts and professionals.”

This is the spirit that has led to the first edition of Icon Design Talks, an extensive programme of events that will enliven Milan during the Design Week. The heart of the event will be at the new Microsoft headquarters, in Viale Pasubio 21, in the dynamic Porta Nuova – Porta Volta district, a brand new space which aims to welcome over 200,000 visitors by offering technologies, skills, as well as opportunities for training and exchange in the digital area. This is where the six days of meetings, open to the public, will take place with more than 20 events including master classes, lectures and round table discussions featuring more than 40 guests from all over the world.

In addition to Rem Koolhaas and Stefano Boeri, taking turns on the stage of Icon Design Talks will be Mario Bellini, Alberto Alessi, Piero Lissoni and Antonio Citterio, Patrik Schumacher – Zaha Hadid Studio, Gregg Jones – Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, Marcel Wanders, Max Lamb, Alice Rawsthorn and the chef Bruno Barbieri, Massimiliano Locatelli Barber & Osgerby, Michele Brunello, Dror, Barbara Radice, Giovanni Gastel, Marco Amosso, Silvia Robertazzi, Patricia Urquiola and Alberto Zontone.

THE PROGRAMME

The Icon Design Talks will officially begin on Tuesday 4th at 6:30 pm with “Unconfined: The New Galaxy Design” at the presence of Patrik Schumacher, director of the Zaha Hadid Studio since 2016, Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Marketing, at Samsung Electronics. Moderator: Michele Lupi.

The marathon will begin on Wednesday 5 April at 10:30 am with the first master class  “Porta Nuova: sustainability and innovation in architecture and design” in the presence of Alida Catella, CEO of Coima Image, Kelly Russell, Managing Director and Marketing & Investor Relations Manager of Coima and the architect Gregg Jones, of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. Together they will talk about the great adventure that began many years ago involving the Porta Nuova project, one of the biggest architectural and urban redevelopment projects in Europe, developed and managed by COIMA SGR, and now a symbol of the new Milan which has transformed the Garibaldi, Isola and Varesine districts. Moderator: Michele Lupi.

Then at 5:30 pm, the second master class entitled “Timeless Design” promoted by B&B Italia where, under the guidance of Manolo De Giorgi, architect and professor of interior architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, three key figures of Italian architecture and design: Mario Bellini, Antonio Citterio, Piero Lissoni will discuss how the concept of timeless design can change compared to a historical period characterised by rapid technological development and the contamination of increasingly expanding multiculturalism.

On Thursday 6 April  at 10:30 am Alice Rawsthorn, the New York Times design critic, will give a lecture entitled “Design Now” followed by a series of lectures by Max Lamb, Massimiliano Locatelli and Barber & Osgerby.

The afternoon begins with a round table that will launch “Manifesto for Urban Creative District“ promoted by China House Vision between Asia and Europe: neighbourhoods conceived on the basis of high aesthetic canons, functional, sustainable and socially inclusive. Live bodies linked to the territory, flexible enough to adapt to changes in a society in continuous transformation. These are the objectives that House Vision Future Life Lab, the Sino-European Innovation Centre, and Dontstop architecture, sponsored by UNESCO ICSSD, brought together in a manifesto with guidelines for new standards of design, for use in thinking about the development potential and urban renewal of Asian countries. Host: Michele Brunello, architect and co-founder of the Sino-European Innovation Centre, together with Vittorio Sun Qun and Caterina Fumagalli.

The afternoon continues with a lecture by Dror Benshetrit at 5:30 pm, followed by another round table dedicated to “Smart working: transparency and dynamism in the workplace” that will focus on the Microsoft case and the AGC Glass Europe Headquarters, and featuring Paola Cavallero, Marketing & Operations director of Microsoft Italia.

At 5.30 pm, Alberto Alessi will talk about “Italian Design Factories and the Alessi case history (1921-2017)” and at 6.30 pm Giovanni Gastel will take part in the presentation of the book “Why death doesn’t separate us” by Barbara Radice, published by Mondadori Electa.

Friday 7 April – Special Event

On Friday 7 April, at 11:30 am, “Writing and the City”, an unmissable conversation between Rem Koolhaas and Stefano Boeri, moderated by Manuel Orazi.

Starting from the their publications, the two ‘archistars’ will discuss the relationship between architecture and the city while trying to answer the question “Why should an architect write about a city when the modifications that he or she makes are already a powerful act of writing on the physical body of the city itself?”

“Language can be seen as an ancient city: a maze of narrow streets and squares, of old and new houses, and of houses with additions from various periods; all surrounded by a network of new suburbs with straight regular streets and uniform houses”.

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophische Untersuchungen, 1953

Rem Koolhaas is one of the most influential and discussed theorists of contemporary architecture, some of his books have even become genuine best sellers. In 1975, with Madelon Vriesendorp and Elia and Zoe Zenghelis, he founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), of which in 1977 also Zaha Hadid become a member. In addition to designing buildings around the world with OMA, Koolhaas works in non-architectural disciplines – including politics, publishing, media, fashion and sociology – through the AMO think tank, founded in 1999, which is a counterpart of OMA on the research side. In 2000 he was awarded the Pritzker Price for Architecture.

Stefano Boeri is professor of urban design at the Politecnico di Milano and has taught as a visiting professor at many international universities, including the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD), the Berlage Institute in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Strelka Institute in Moscow, the Accademia di Architettura in Mendrisio and the Politecnique du Lausanna. He is the architect of many notable buildings , such as the Bosco Verticale in Milan (winner of numerous international prizes), the Villa Mediterranée in Marseille and the Casa del Mare on La Maddalena. His studio, Stefano Boeri Architetti, is currently working on urban development plans around Europe and in other parts of the world.

The location for this special event will be the Maria Teresa Room at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense (Maria Teresa room), in Via Brera 28.

IDD – Innovation Design District is a new district of in the city that looks at the contemporary Milan: an innovative place in the heart of the city, where ideas are turned into projects. Its boundaries take in the area between Porta Nuova and Porta Volta which, in recent years, has undergone large-scale urban redevelopment to become an authentic symbol of a changing Milan.

IDD, conceived and developed by the Mondadori Group and Mediamond, aims to create connections, by promoting the area and supporting all of the cultural and commercial activities related to the values of experimentation and creativity. It does this by talking about this part of town: mapping what’s new, the architecture and design, trends in culinary and gastronomic excellence, technology and the digital world, fashion and cinema, exhibitions and the most stimulating cultural and entertainment events.

“The debut of the Innovation Design District is part of the City’s broader plan to bring the vibrancy and creativity of the Design Week in all areas of the city, convinced that they are not only an opportunity for exposure or for meetings between professionals and experts but, above all, an occasion to offer the city and its people the chance to discover new creative languages ​​and young talents in tune with the many craftsmen and businesses in the neighbourhood,” explained Cristina Tajani the City Councillor for Labour, Production, Fashion and Design who continued: “the Design Week continues to grow in the city and the entire metropolitan area of ​​Milan. The meetings and vitality in the design areas are increasingly attractive; an achievement that has been made possible thanks to the team work between the Milan City Council and the various operators united in a desire to promote Milan and its characteristic creativity and innovation.”

The inauguration of IDD – Innovation Design District coincides with the 2017 Design Week and at the same time as the launch of the first edition of Icon Design Talks, a new appointment with architecture and design created by the magazine Icon Design. Thanks to the support and cooperation of the City of Milan, the new district will continue its activities during the whole year involving – in view of the weeks dedicated to fashion, design, food and cultural festivals – the district’s key players and becoming the theatre for events of international significance and a magnet for the city.

“The Milan Design Week is one of the most significant moments of the year for the Mondadori Group for which architecture and design is one of its particular areas of excellence,” said Carlo Mandelli, General Manager, Magazines Italy of the Mondadori Group. “We have the most extensive and varied editorial offer in the Italian market – with successful brands that range form Interni to CasaFacile, Icon Design and Casabella – which enables us are able to talk to an already huge audience of enthusiasts and professionals and that today, thanks to the Icon Design Talks, will expand even further. Moreover, the development, with the support of the City of Milan – who along with Mediamond I want to thank – a city district dedicated to innovation and creativity, allows us to take a step further and to extend our reach. It is also a reflection of our approach to publishing, one that includes promoting new initiatives and projects able to make exclusive concepts and content. linked to the most innovative aspects of our city and the great names of design, appealing also for the general public”, Mandelli concluded.

“IDD means creating a network and to facilitate dialogue between some of the biggest brands in technology, finance, food and design in an initiative which sees Milan at the centre of the international stage”, said Davide Mondo, CEO of Mediamond. “In fact, the creation of the district has two meanings: to amplify all of the initiatives that companies want to develop and organise a programme of quality events of which, along with the Mondadori Group, we will be the creators and directors”.

THE NEW IDD

The Porta Nuova project, one of the largest urban and architectural redevelopments in Europe, developed and managed by COIMA, has completely redesigned the Garibaldi, Isola and Varesine areas – a mix of skyscrapers and designer architecture, a business centre with restaurants, green spaces and pedestrian areas – transforming the area into one of the most dynamic and popular areas of Milan. So much so that  a number of international giants of finance and hi-tech have chosen to locate their headquarters right here.

The impetus for change has extended to Porta Volta, in the area between Viale Pasubio and Viale Crispi, along the route of the ancient Spanish Walls, where today stands the steel and glass architecture of the Feltrinelli Foundation. Here, cafes, art galleries, concept stores and artisan’s workshops live alongside start-ups, digital classes, video games and next-generation consoles.

On the occasion of the 2017 Fuorisalone, IDD is launching a partnership with the Porta Nuova Smart Community (PNSC) to promote initiatives related to architecture and design in the area. PNSC is a programme of civic projects, cultural and educational activities on the theme of environmental sustainability, green and public spaces, wellness, architecture, design and film promoted by the Riccardo Catella Foundation, active in the area for more than 10 years.

The area offers a wide range of content, from architecture and art, to food and wine technology: the added value that makes it unique and even more appealing for visitors, is that everyone can choose to pursue a path according to their own tastes and inclinations.

THE PATHS OF THE NEW IDD AREA

Architecture. An exclusive tour around the “New Milan” exploring the ambitious urban regeneration project in the Garibaldi, Isola and Varesine area. In collaboration with CASABELLA at the Casabella lab – a space for exhibitions, conferences and meetings located in Via Marco Polo 13 – IDD organises guided tours for professionals with the award of professional credits. Ad hoc architectural tours open to all interested parties are currently under development.

Art  & Culture. From Via Maroncelli and the block formed by Via Carlo Farini, Via Pasubio, Via Tito Speri and Via Quadrio, the nineteenth-century buildings and charming courtyards, fashion and jewellery workshops and art galleries – unmissable those of the collectors and talent scouts Paola and Rossella Colombari, the former dedicated to contemporary art design and the latter to modernism – are the backdrop for exhibitions and events. It is also the site of the Sino European Innovation Institute, an organisation that focuses on exchange projects between Asia and Europe and whose programme of cultural events is supported by UNESCO (ICCSD office – Creativity International Center for Sustainable Development). Just a few steps away is the Galleria Carla Sozzani, the original core of the 10 Corso Como project and a reference point for art photography in Milan, where Helmut Newton, Elliot Erwitt and Mario Giacomelli, as well as emerging photographers are regularly shown. In the same area, in Piazza Gae Aulenti, there is the new UniCredit Pavilion, designed by Michele De Lucchi. In the programme of events in the area, the cinema will have a major role with the Anteo Spaziocinema, which, for 38 years, has consistently gone beyond the traditional boundaries of cinema. From the Fuoricinema event to the Milan Design Film Festival in October, the Anteo is an historic piece of Milan as well as a cultural location that is turning into a “Palazzo del Cinema”, with 10 screens, new spaces and and a wide ranging offer, including thematic programmes and film classes.

Food & wine. Starred excellence. trend-setting, organic for light lunches and oriental flavours. Eataly, Ratanà, Berton, Alice, Le Vrai, Vin Han Long, la Griglia di Varrone, That’s Vapore. These are just some of the many names of Milan restaurants that will find ample space in the paths and communication to IDD – Innovation Design District consumers. The area will also show fans the secrets of the gourmet experience through show cooking events, tasting and baking courses, children’s workshops: ideas that have already been successfully promoted by Eataly.

Technology. Around the area you can find the offices of some of the most important international groups in the computing and digital sector. From Google, which is based in a 5,000m² building in Via Confalonieri, to LinkedIn on the 19th floor of Tower B of the Porta Garibaldi complex and Samsung, that occupies the Diamantino, in Via Mike Bongiorno. Microsoft, too, recently unveiled the “Microsoft House” building in Viale Pasubio, designed by Herzog & De Meuron which, from tomorrow, will host the Icon Design Talks: meetings, open to the public, with international architects and designers organised by the Mondadori Group magazine  Icon Design magazine.

Under the arcades of Gae Aulenti you can find the latest proposals in electric mobility at the Tesla store and it has been confirmed that by the end of the year Amazon will transfer its operating offices in Via Monte Grappa. The restructuring by GBPA Architects consists of ten floors, plus five underground floors, covering an area of ​​17,500 square metres. Technology and innovation will therefore clearly be issues on which to focus part of the area’s activities. Bearing in mind that, along with the city’s skyline, the area has already also changed the Milanese geography of finance and business. In fact, some of the largest banks in the world have chosen the area for their Italian headquarters. From HSBC to the China Bank of Construction, Unicredit and BNP Paribas, as well as the scheduled arrival in 2018 of the Unipol elliptical tower, designed by the architect Mario Cucinella.

For more information, please go to: innovationdesigndistrict.it

The IDD corporate identity was developed by Studio FM Milano, a design studio founded in 1996 by Barbara Forni, Cristiano Bottino and Sergio Menichelli. The project for the district is based on visual codes and chromatic values form the digital world and interface languages.

“MATERIAL IMMATERIAL” is the name of the much anticipated exhibition event conceived by the monthly magazine INTERNI, which this year reaches the significant milestone of its twentieth edition.

With the patronage of the City of Milan, “MATERIAL IMMATERIAL” will run as part of the FuoriSalone from today until 15 April in the courtyards of the University of Milan, at the Orto Botanico in Brera and, for the first time, in Corso Venezia 11, where INTERNI has expanded the reach of its urban animation.

In addition to protagonists from Italy, the magazine has involved many designers from around the world, from – Japan, China, Brazil, Russia, Denmark, USA, Great Britain and Poland – in collaboration with companies, start-ups and institutions, it an attempt to create a varied mosaic of styles and vision. The designers include: Ron Arad with Illy, Alessandro and Francesco Mendini with Elegant Living, Shop Architects with NBK and Metalsigma, Simone Micheli with Valsir, Italo Rota with MR, Kat Von D and Another Space with Sephora, Michele De Lucchi with Ferragamo Parfums and Moretti Costruzioni, the studio BIG with Artemide, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel with Marazzi, Massimo Iosa Ghini with Ceramiche Cerdisa, and many more.

“The theme of our exhibition event, now in its 20th edition, invites visitors to explore the double soul of the design: on the one hand the universe of actual production, which with materials – wood, ceramics, metals, plastics and natural fibres – constitutes the physical essence of design; and, on the other, the immaterial dimension of creation, starting from the thinking of the designer, increasingly supported by digital technologies and upcoming virtual reality, who identifies the areas of research for the near future,” explained Gilda Bojardi, editor of INTERNI. “In creating these experimental and interactive installations, we work with leading companies in the field of innovation and research, with companies representing internationally established brands and small niche producers that support entrepreneurship and creativity,” the magazine’s editor concluded.

Co-producer of the initiative is Audi, the premium brand of the Volkswagen Group, which at the Audi City Lab, in Corso Venezia 11, presents with INTERNI a series of meetings entitled the Future Needs Stories. The spaces of the former Seminario Arcivescovile, the gate to which will be illuminated by an installation created by Ingo Maurer, will host discussions about the relationship between man and artificial intelligence along with the presentation of the  installation Sonic Pendulum by Yuri Suzuki.

Also the music of R101, the official radio of “INTERNI MATERIAL IMMATERIAL”, will enliven the evening of Friday 7 April (from 9 pm) with a exclusive concert by Levante, followed a Vinyl DJ Set curated for by its music designers. The radio station will also have an interactive installation designed by Lorenzo Palmieri that will invite visitors to play the role of a DJ and select and play their own playlists in the Main Courtyard.

The INTERNI system

In April of the INTERNI integrated communication system multiplies: 4 print publications (INTERNI, INTERNI Panorama, the free sheet INTERNI King Size and the FuoriSalone Guide), a big event (“INTERNI MATERIAL IMMATERIAL”) and INTERNI online (website, apps, and social). These tools enable readers and users to be updated in real time on trends, innovations and advances in design and reaffirm the role of INTERNI as a leading information system for the world of design. In fact, the magazine is transformed from a trade into mass market media publication, an authentic guide and handbook for anyone who wants to know about and orient themselves within a unique event like the FuoriSalone.

The numbers of the INTERNI system

With this event, that gives Milan unique and exceptional visibility, INTERNI confirms its absolute leadership in the professional living segment but also in the design communication system. Further evidence can be seen from the data of the entire INTERNI ecosystem: 55,000 copies of INTERNI, 200,000 copies of INTERNI/Panorama, 120,000 copies of INTERNI King Size, 250,000 copies of the FuoriSalone Guide, a total print run of over 620,000 copies, 4,000,000 readers and 1,200 pages.

The strength of the brand is also clearly visible outdoors: in fact, for “MATERIAL IMMATERIAL” an important campaign of street advertising has been planned including banners in 15 locations in central Milan, 1,000 flags for around 500 events, 10 shuttle bus backs, as well as totems, decorated newsstands, floor-graphics, station domination (Rho and Cadorna), window display and/or LED walls (Megastore Mondadori in Piazza del Duomo and the Rizzoli Store in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele).

To find your way around the increasingly rich  landscape of events during the Milan Design Week, we could not forget the FuoriSalone® Guide – also available as a free app for iPad, iPhone and Android operating systems (tablets and smartphones) – which offers a detailed summary of over 400 events and a day by day calendar of events involving the companies, designers and architects participating in the FuoriSalone, Milano and the Zee Guide Milan (in digital form only and included with the app) with a selection of new itineraries and fashionable spaces in the city: from design to shopping, department stores to restaurants and hotels.

Download the press pack here: http://www.internimagazine.it/press/leaflet.pdf

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. hereby informs that the following documents are available from today at the Company’s registered office, at the authorized storage mechanism 1Info (www.1info.it) and on the website www.gruppomondadori.it (Governance section):

• the 2016 Annual Report, which includes the draft financial statements, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016, the Directors’ Report on Operations, and the certifications pursuant to art. 154 bis, par. 5 of Legislative Decree no. 58/1998;
• the annual financial statements of Banzai Media S.r.l.;
• the Independent Auditors’ reports;
• the Statutory Auditors’ report;
• the report on corporate governance and ownership structure for the year 2016;
• the remuneration report pursuant to art. 123-ter of Legislative Decree no. 58/1998.

Grazia Russia, the country’s leading and most authoritative glossy fashion weekly, and one of the most important editions of the Grazia International Network, is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a extensive calendar of activities.

Grazia has established itself over ten years as a strong vehicle for the promotion of fashion and lifestyle, as well as Italian excellence, in a country that is among the most dynamic and interesting for Italian companies, thanks to the enormous success of Made in Italy.

Over the coming the year a number of celebratory events have been organised and, in April, an exclusive dinner and a big hipster-chic themed party, combining the glam soul of the magazine, an international benchmark for style and fashion, with the attention it has always given to street style, and during which the 400 guests will receive a gift of a special celebratory fragrance, #Grazia10, created exclusively for Grazia Russia in collaboration with Atelier Cologne.

A special issue of the magazine, edited by Aliona Peneva, will remain on newsstands throughout the month of April in a larger format, with a special 24-page section, 4 different covers with 4 celebrities, and more than 200 pages of photo shoots, articles, interviews and news from the world of fashion and beauty.

The anniversary of Grazia Russia confirms the success of the formula of the Grazia International Network (www.graziainternational.com), the network created by the Mondadori Group for the development of Grazia around the world, by building around the brand a global multi-channel system that, with its publications and sites, reaches an overall community of 17 million readers with a monthly circulation of 10 million copies.

During the 2017 Fuorisalone, the ideal home proposed by CasaFacile, during the celebrations for the twentieth anniversary of the magazine, comes to life in Via Solferino 14 in the heart of the Brera Design District.

This will be the launch of the CasaFacile Design Lab, a space designed by the Mondadori Group brand, in collaboration with designers of Studiopepe, and made up of a living area, a cosy kitchen and two outdoor spaces in perfect CF style.

“For twenty years we have been coming into your homes every month with the magazine’s ideas and suggestions and together (readers and editorial staff) we have reshaped the geography of living. Now we are inviting you to really get into ‘our’ ideal home, nice to see and easy to live in, to meet us in person and create new things together during the workshops … because CasaFacile is always in action!” announced Giusi Silighini, editor of CasaFacile.

The CasaFacile Design Lab will host all the magazine’s activities and will be open from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 April, from 10 am until 9 pm, and on Sunday 9 April ​​until at 5 pm. Trends and styles to enjoy the home of your dreams, labs and workshops organised by Scavolini and Whirlpool, with MT masking tape, with Fujifilm Instax and Sistem Air, just some of the proposals that will animate the events at the CasaFacile Design Lab. There will also opportunities to meet and share the passion that unites both the editorial team and readers. On Friday 7 April  from 10 am to 11:30 am, there will be a community breakfast, a special breakfast with the editor Giusi Silighini (for information on how to participate go to www.casafacile.it).

Every day, from 6 to 9 pm, the evenings at the CasaFacile Design Lab will continue with a number of initiatives organised by GialloZafferano. The first will be on Tuesday 14 April 4 at 6 pm with the chef Andrea Berton who will be interviewed by the editor of the magazine Laura Maragliano. Every evening there will also be show cooking events with food bloggers offering both classic and international recipes. On Saturday 8 April 8 at 7 pm, there will be a performance by the barlady Carmen Clemente.

The CasaFacile Design Lab has also been chosen as the location for the presentation of the first gift box set dedicated to the house created by CasaFacile with Mondadori Store. By buying  Facciamo casa, la professionalità al tuo servizio, you will be able to choose between the architectural service at home, a shopping assistant or a mini course in interior design.

CasaFacile is now much more than a magazine. After seven active years in the web, the title now has a team of 24 creative bloggers who share the style and participate actively in the magazine’s events and initiatives, but mainly cultivate a dynamic and passionate community which includes 257,000 fans on Facebook and 82,200 followers on Instagram, who meet every day online to exchange tips, little discoveries and big projects.

CasaFacile has also confirmed its role as a strategic brand for advertisers, not just in the furniture sector: in fact, after closing 2016 with an increase of +6% in advertising revenues, the positive trend continues and has led CasaFacile leads to a +19% increase in terms of value in the first four months of 2017, an increase that reaches +40% if we include the additional revenues generated by the event.

A complete programme of the Design Lab CasaFacile is available at www.casafacile.it, on the magazine’s Facebook page and the Brera Design District circuit.

The co-producers of the initiative are Scavolini and Whirpool. Sponsors: Agridè, Arquati, Barilla, Cavit, Ortoromi, Fuji Instax, MT Masking Tape, Nardi, O bag, Saba, Sistem Air, Gruppo Gabel with the Vallesusa brand, Caffè Vergnano, Wilson & Morris. Partner: R101.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. hereby informs that the notice of call of the Annual General Meeting on 27 April 2017, and the Directors’ reports, pursuant to art. 125-ter of Legislative Decree 58/1998 of the Italian Civil Code, on the following items on the agenda, to be discussed at both ordinary and extraordinary sessions, are available at the Company’s registered office, at the authorized storage mechanism 1info (www.1info.it), and on the website www.gruppomondadori.it (Governance section):

– proposed confirmation of Director Paolo Ainio, co-opted pursuant to art. 2386 of the Italian Civil Code, and consequent resolutions;

– authorization for the purchase and sale of treasury shares, pursuant to the combined provisions of articles 2357 and 2357-ter of the Italian Civil Code;

– resolutions, pursuant to art. 114-bis of the TUF, on the granting of financial instruments;

– amendments to articles 7 and 17 of the Company by-laws.

Also made available, in the above manners, the Information Document on the 2017-2019 Performance Share Plan, prepared in accordance with Annex 3A, under the provisions of art. 84-bis of the Issuer Regulation.

The notice of call of the AGM was published today also in the newspaper indicated in the notice.

The additional documents regarding the AGM will be made available, in the manners above, within the time limits established by current laws.

Grazia, the Mondadori Group magazine edited by Silvia Grilli, and interpreter of Italian fashion and style around the world, is expanding its editorial system with the launch on newsstands, on Thursday 23 March, of  Grazia Beauty, an upscale special that interprets the trends in beauty.

Grazia Beauty offers its readers high quality content to keep them up to date, to provide inspiration and customise their look in the form of a beauty book to use and keep for six months, created by the editorial staff of the weekly, with the same characteristics used to produce Grazia itself: style, class and elegance.

“Our readers look to us for a vision on beauty trends and insights about innovations in skin care,” said Silvia Grilli. “This new twice-yearly supplement to Grazia responds to such needs with outstanding visual content so that reading it is also a memorable sensory pleasure,” Grilli added.

This first issue of Grazia Beauty is focused on the theme the ’80s, in terms of image and look: from full mono-colour eye shadow to red highlights, and from a review of the perfumes that were the protagonists of those years, to thick and wavy hairstyles as well as self-tanners and aerobic exercises for a sculpted physique.

The star of the features is the actress Sveva Alviti who embodies and encapsulates the idea of ​​women and contemporary beauty: confident, beautiful, elegant, international.

The graphic design of Grazia Beauty combines the approach linked to the news aspect of the magazine with the enhancement of the visual content. The photos are highlighted and treated with the maximum respect by the great photographer Florian Sommet.

Grazia is the leader in the beauty segment, with a 31% volume market share and an increase of 4% in terms of pages compared with 2015.

“Beauty is one of the sectors that most appreciates print media for its capacity to position clients and its ability to engage readers with images and narrative texts,” said Davide Mondo, chief executive of Mediamond. “Moreover, the possibility of being a qualified sampling vehicle for a profiled audience is often a key element for the entire sector,” Mondo continued. “From our Mediamond observatory, thanks also to the leadership achieved on digital by the Mondadori Group – which in this area is now Italy’s leading publisher – we are seeing a remarkable growth in web investments. The most requested and appreciated area by beauty clients is linked to special events and projects, relatively new strands for this industry. To give just one figure, in 2016, with Grazia alone we created as many as 60 projects for companies in the beauty sector,” Mondo concluded.

The new word on the subject of beauty is “mix”: that is, mixing formulas and textures to customise your beauty routine. With the special feature Make your mix readers can use the advice offered for the best personalised results based on the characteristics of their skin type. From Back of vitamin C to the Guru of fitness on the web, Grazia Beauty is also related to current events and 360° fitness. And, thanks to the Coolest gyms, also be up to date on these temples of fitness.

Grazia Beauty will be on newsstands on Thursday 23 March banded with Grazia at the price of €1.50.
The initiative will be supported by a range of different activities: point of sale posters, targeted distribution at hotels, airports and shopping malls and communication on Grazia’s social networks.

Today, the meeting of the Board of Directors of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., chaired by Marina Berlusconi, reviewed and approved the draft Parent Company and Group consolidated financial statements at 31 December 2016[1] presented by CEO Ernesto Mauri.

2016 was a truly important year in the history of the Mondadori Group, a year in which it successfully completed its strategic repositioning and laid the structural foundations to address the challenges of its new phase of growth.

To start with, the Group confirmed the positive outcome of the path of change that it embarked on in 2014 which, thanks to the steadfast commitment to focus on its core businesses – achieved also through a number of extraordinary transactions – and contain operating costs and overheads, brought a sharp improvement in results and in Mondadori’s ability to generate financial resources.

Over the last three years, the Group has, in fact, doubled adjusted EBITDA, up from 49.1 million euro to 108.5 million euro (approximately 100 million euro pro-forma), and reduced net debt at end 2016 (-263.6 million euro) by approximately 100 million euro versus end 2013 (-363.2 million euro), despite capital expenditure for the acquisitions made in 2016 (approximately 133 million euro, net of disposals).

In 2016, a crucial step was taken with the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri, which has allowed the Group to increase the contribution of the Books business, to consolidate its presence in the Italian Trade market, and to gain a leadership position in the school textbooks market and in the international illustrated books business (USA in particular).

The acquisition of Banzai Media operations was a cornerstone in the growth strategy of Mondadori’s magazine brands: thanks to this deal, the Group has become Italy’s top publisher also in the digital area with a leadership in key areas – women, food, health&wellness – that are complementary and synergistic with the brands held in its portfolio.

2016 also marked a turning point in the relations with the financial market, following admission to the STAR segment of Borsa Italiana, the start of a path that will shine greater light on the Mondadori Group to enhance the value of the Company and of its activities.

Group performance at 31 December 2016
In 2016, consolidated net revenue totaled 1,262.9 million euro, up by 12.4% versus 1,123.2 million euro in 2015.

Pro-forma revenue (based on the consolidation of the acquired companies as from 1 January) would amount to approximately 1,280 million euro.

On a like-for-like basis, the Group dropped by 2.9%.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA improved sharply in 2016 (+48.5%), amounting to 108.5 million euro versus 73 million euro in the prior year (pro-forma adjusted EBITDA, including the results of Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media as from 1 January, would amount to approximately 100 million euro).

The Books Area contributed 75.3 million euro, up by 76% (net of the negative contribution in the first quarter of Rizzoli Libri) versus 42.7 million euro in 2015, while Magazines Italy tripled its contribution to reach 10.5 million euro (Banzai Media consolidated for seven months only).

Even on a like-for-like basis, the Group achieved a remarkable performance, with adjusted EBITDA at 88.2 million euro, up by over 20% versus 2015.

The quarter-by-quarter results confirm the Group’s ability to constantly improve its operational effectiveness, despite the challenging scenario of its relevant markets, deriving from the industrial revision actions and re-organization launched and implemented over the last three years, while still maintaining continuous improvement in the publishing quality of its brands as a key objective.

On a like-for-like basis, operational effectiveness improved from 6.5% to 8.1% of consolidated revenue.

Total EBITDA grew by 15.3%, from 81.6 million euro in 2015 to 94 million euro in the reporting period. 2015 benefited from net positive non-recurring items of 21.2 million euro (from the disposal of certain assets) versus net negative non-recurring items of 3.7 million euro in 2016 related to expenses deriving from acquisitions made.

Consolidated EBIT in the year amounted to 60 million euro, improving by approximately 10% versus 54.5 million euro in 2015, as a result of the abovementioned improvement in EBITDA, despite increased amortization of 7.6 million euro from the changed consolidation scope.

Consolidated profit before taxes came to a positive 42.3 million euro, up by 10.4% versus 38.3 million euro in 2015. Financial costs in 2016 amounted to 17.7 million euro versus 16 million euro in 2015, which had benefited from the positive contribution of 1.6 million euro from the derecognition of a number of put options (Kiver, MUK and NaturaBuy), despite the significant investments made in the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media, which increased average net debt for the year by approximately 20 million euro, offset by a decrease in the average debt rate (inclusive of amortized costs) of approximately 0.5 bps.

Consolidated profit from continuing operations, after minority interests, came to a positive 21.6 million euro, up by 43% versus 15.1 million euro at 31 December 2015.

Group profit at 31 December 2016 came to a positive 22.5 million euro, improving by 16.1 million euro and tripling the 6.4 million euro reported in 2015 (which included the loss of 8.7 million euro from the disposal of Monradio operations). Net profit in 2016 includes a capital gain of 1 million euro, net of relating expenses, from disposals.

The Group’s net financial position at 31 December 2016 came to -263.6 million euro versus -199.4 million euro at 31 December 2015, as a result of cash outlays for extraordinary transactions of 132 million euro, despite the Group’s positive cash generation from ordinary operations of 68 million euro (48 million euro on a like-for-like basis).

At 31 December 2016, cash flow from operations came to a positive 99.4 million euro (74.4 million euro on a like-for-like basis); ordinary cash flow (after the cash-out for financial charges and taxes for the year) amounted to 67.9 million euro, which is net of the cash outlays in the January-March quarter (not consolidated in 2016) of Rizzoli Libri, attributable to the investments made and to the seasonal nature of the Education business; on a like-for-like basis, Group cash generation from ordinary operations came to 48.4 million euro, improving versus 45.4 million euro in 2015.

Cash flow from extraordinary operations came to -132.1 million euro, as a result of capital expenditure net of disposals of 132.6 million euro, restructuring costs of approximately 15 million euro, and cash-ins from prior-years’ taxes amounting to 15.5 million euro.

In 2016, Group employees amounted to 3,261 units (3,076 units in 2015); on a like-for-like basis, the headcount dropped by 6.9% versus 31 December 2015, as a result of the ongoing reorganization process implemented both in Italy and in France.

Business outlook
In 2016, the Mondadori Group accomplished the goals of strategic repositioning and business-financial stability it had set three years ago, securing itself a leadership position and positive profitability in all its business areas, while continuing to push strongly on efficiency measures consistent with the relevant market trends.

Additionally, overall profitability improved significantly in the period, with adjusted EBITDA (pro-forma)[2] at approximately 100 million euro, as well as cash flow from operations, reducing total net debt to adjusted EBITDA (pro-forma) within 2.6x.

Over the 2017-2019 three-year period, the Group will continue efforts to strengthen its competitive position and improve the business and financial performance of its core businesses, through ongoing focus on publishing quality and optimization of operational processes and cost structure, while paying particular attention to the achievement of synergies arising from the integration of Rizzoli Libri, to the development of the Digital Area of Magazines Italy, and to the plan to expand the Franchising channel in the Retail Area.

In line with the above strategy, the plan sets operational targets which, based on the current scope, allow the Group to estimate for 2019 consolidated revenue above 1.3 billion euro, adjusted EBITDA of approximately 115 million euro, a net profit of 35 million euro, cash generation from ordinary operations close to 60 million euro, and a negative net financial position of around 155 million euro, net of the impact of any dividend distribution.

In light of today’s relevant context, it is reasonable to predict for 2017 basically steady pro-forma3 revenue versus 2016 and a “high single-digit” growth of adjusted EBITDA, with a resulting improvement in profit margins. The net profit for the year is expected to rise sharply by approximately 30%. Lastly, net debt at end 2017 is estimated to drop versus 31 December 2016, with a debt/adjusted EBITDA ratio at 2.2/2x.

Business areas
Books
In 2016, the Mondadori Group confirmed its leadership position in the Trade market with a 29.3% share (23.1% on a like-for-like basis, net of Rizzoli Libri brands), and secured itself the top position also in the school textbooks market, following the integration of Rizzoli Education activities, with a 24% share of textbook adoptions[3].

In the reporting period, the Area’s revenue totaled 475.1 million euro, up by 48.1% versus 320.8 million euro in the prior year, due basically to the effects of the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri from the second quarter.

On a like-for-like basis:

• Trade revenue grew by 1.7%, despite the selective publishing policy focused on improving efficiency and profitability;
• the Educational segment was basically steady (-0.4%);
• distribution activities fell sharply due to the termination of a number of distribution contracts.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by approximately 76% to reach 75.3 million euro versus 42.7 million euro in 2015. A result ascribable to the consolidation of Rizzoli Libri as from 1 April 2016 and to the 30.8% increase on a like-for-like basis. The reporting period reaped the benefits of the new management policy launched in 2015, focused on a targeted publishing policy and on the ongoing optimization of the operating processes in the Trade segment, which significantly increased the contribution margin; concurrently, action continued on containing fixed costs which, together with the increased performance of Mondadori’s Educational Area, contributed to further improving profitability, which stood, on a like-for-like basis, at 18.2% versus 13.3% in the prior year.

In the April-December consolidation period, Rizzoli Libri contributed 19.4 million euro to reported EBITDA, mainly as a result of the positive performance of the schools segment, which excludes the negative contribution in the first quarter from the seasonal nature of the Education business.

The Area’s EBITDA amounted to 72.5 million euro, up by 57.7% versus 45.9 million euro in 2015, which included the capital gain of 7.6 million euro from the transfer of the interest held in the Harlequin Mondadori joint venture, despite a higher percentage of restructuring costs versus the prior year (4.3 million euro in 2016 versus 0.5 million euro in 2015). 2016, instead, included charges of 2.3 million euro for the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri.

Retail
In 2016, revenue generated by the Retail Area amounted to 199.6 million euro, in line with the prior year on a like-for-like basis. As of 1 April 2016, following the consolidation of the acquisition of Rizzoli Libri, activities relating to Librerie Rizzoli have been absorbed by the Retail Area; as a result, the Area increased revenue by an overall 1.6%.

The analysis by channel of the Area shows the following:

• a growth in Megastores (+2.4%), driven by the openings of Milano San Pietro all’Orto in June 2015 and Arese in April 2016 (-5.5% on a like-for-like basis);
• the good performance of franchised Bookstores (+0.2%), driven by the development of the network (-1.9% on a like-for-like basis);
• the 4.8% drop of directly-managed bookstores (+2.7% on a store like-for-like basis);
• the growth of the online channel (+8.6%), specifically in the Book product (+12%);
• a more moderate drop by the Bookclub (-3.4%) than in prior years.

In 2016, the Retail Area’s adjusted EBITDA amounted to 2.3 million euro on a like-for-like basis, up by 3.6% versus the prior year (1.8 million euro including the result of Librerie Rizzoli).

A result achieved through ongoing cost-curbing measures, which led to a lower percentage of overheads and personnel costs, despite the reduction in the product margin arising from the different product/channel mix, related also to the structural decline of the book clubs channel.

EBITDA in 2016 amounted to 1.9 million euro (1.4 million euro including the result of Librerie Rizzoli) versus 1.8 million euro in the prior year.

Magazines Italy
In 2016, the Group retained its leadership of the magazine market, with a circulation share, in terms of value, of 31.7%, steady versus December 2015[4].

In the reporting period, the Area’s revenue amounted to 310.8 million euro, basically steady (+0.4%) versus 309.6 million euro in the prior year (-3.8% on a like-for-like basis, net of the effects of the acquisition of Banzai Media, consolidated as from 1 June 2016).

Specifically:

• circulation revenue: down by approximately 3%;
• revenue from add-on products: basically in line with 2015 (-0.6%);
• total advertising revenue: up by approximately 13%, pushed by the acquisition of Banzai Media; on a like-for-like basis, gross advertising sales on Group brands in Italy (print+web) fell by 3.8%.

Banzai Media, consolidated as of June 2016, contributed approximately 12.8 million euro to Magazines Italy revenue, bringing overall revenue of the properties at approximately 18 million euro, basically tripling the figures of 2015, and accounting for 21% of total advertising revenue.

In 2016, the Group reached a unique audience of 16 million/month,[5] becoming Italy’s top digital publisher, a position corroborated by comScore surveys, which reported in December 2016 an audience of 23.7 million unique users/month.

Adjusted EBITDA in the Magazines Italy Area improved sharply, rising from 3.5 million euro to 10.5 million euro, despite the drop in revenue triggered by the market context, driven by the effective review of the publishing structure and by the containment of promotional activities, while retaining the traditional focus on the publishing quality of the titles. The reporting period additionally saw a sharp drop in industrial costs, achieved also as a result of the renegotiation of printing contracts.

The Area’s EBITDA confirmed the growth trend, increasing from 0.4 million euro in 2015 to 3.8 million euro in 2016, as a result of the above actions and despite higher restructuring costs.

Magazines France
Mondadori France’s revenue came to 321.6 million euro in 2016, down by -3.9% versus 334.6 million euro in 2015.

Against a shrinking market backdrop, Mondadori France retained its position as second player in the magazine advertising market, with its share (in terms of volume) steady at 10.9%.

Advertising revenue (print-digital) fell by 6.5% versus 2015: digital advertising (almost 18% of total advertising revenue) grew by over +16%, partly offsetting the decrease from print advertising sales (-10.3% in terms of value).

Circulation revenue (newsstands+subscriptions), which accounts for approximately 75% of the total, showed an overall -2.9% decline, slightly improving versus the prior year, thanks to the steady performance of subscriptions, which make for over half the total (53%).

Digital activities grew by an overall 11.6%, driven by the digital activities of the properties (+9.5%) and by NaturaBuy activities (+23.5%).

Adjusted EBITDA came to 33.2 million euro, down by 8% versus the prior year, due in particular to M&A costs in the year with margins on revenue again above 10% (10.3% in 2016 versus 10.8% in 2015).

In 2016, Mondadori France continued to focus its strategy 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 the reporting period versus 2015.

The Area’s EBITDA, amounting to 30.8 million euro, was down by 5% versus 2015 (32.4 million euro), to a lesser extent as a result also of lower restructuring costs.

Performance of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A.
The financial statements of the Parent Company Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. show a loss of 15.2 million euro for the year ended 31 December 2016, improving versus 32 million euro reported in the prior year.

Main significant events after year-end
On 29 September 2016, the Board of Directors approved the plan on the merger by incorporation of the subsidiary Banzai Media S.r.l. in Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., prepared pursuant to art. 2501-ter and art. 2505, par. 1, of the Italian Civil Code, concurrently approved by the Board of Directors of Banzai Media S.r.l.

The transaction aims to achieve the full integration of Banzai Media activities with the digital properties of Magazines Italy. The value of Banzai Media’s brands will, instead, remain separate and distinct. The merger will give birth to a unified product range with the potential to present itself as a leader to both advertisers and users, improving time to market and sharing the wealth of mutual assets and know-how, leveraging on greater streamlined business processes.

On 8 November, the Board of Directors approved the merger by incorporation, with no share exchange, of the wholly-owned company Banzai Media S.r.l., in accordance with the previously approved merger plan.

The merger, signed on 10 January, took effect for statutory purposes as from 15 January 2017, and for accounting and tax purposes as from 1 January 2017.

The Board of Directors of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. called the Shareholders’ Meeting on Thursday 27 April 2017 in first call.

Renewal of the authorization to purchase and sell treasury shares
Following the expiry of the preceding authorization resolved upon by the Shareholders’ Meeting on 21 April 2016, with the approval of the financial statements at 31 December 2016, the Board of Directors will propose to the next Shareholders’ Meeting the renewal of the authorization to purchase and sell treasury shares with the aim of retaining the applicability of law provisions in the matter of any additional re-purchase plans and, consequently, of picking up any investment and operational opportunities involving treasury shares.

Here below are the main elements of the proposal made by the Board of Directors:

Motivations
The motivations underlying the request for the authorization to purchase and sell treasury shares refer to the opportunity to attribute to the Board of Directors the power to:

• to use the treasury shares purchased as compensation for the acquisition of interests within the framework of the Company’s investments;
• to use the treasury shares purchased against the exercise of option rights, including conversion rights, deriving from financial instruments issued by the Company, its subsidiaries or third parties and to use the treasury shares for lending, exchange or transfer transactions or to support extraordinary transactions on the Company’s capital or financing transactions that imply the transfer or sale of treasury shares;
• to undertake any investments, directly or through intermediaries, including for the purpose of containing abnormal movements in share prices, stabilizing share trading and prices, supporting the liquidity of the share on the market, in order to foster the regular conduct of trading beyond normal fluctuations related to market performance, without prejudice in any case to compliance with applicable statutory provisions;
• to possibly rely on investment or divestment opportunities, if considered strategic by the Company, also in relation to available liquidity;
• to sell treasury shares as part of share-based incentive plans pursuant to art. 114-bis of the TUF, and of plans for the free allocation of shares to Shareholders.

Duration
Until the Shareholders’ Meeting called to approve the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2017.

Maximum number of purchasable treasury shares
The renewed authorization will enable the Company to reach the cap of 10% of its share capital, also considering the shares held directly and indirectly from time to time, in line with the previous authorization.

Criteria for purchasing treasury shares and indication of the minimum and maximum purchasing cap
Purchases shall be made on regulated markets pursuant to the combined provisions of art. 132 of Legislative Decree no. 58/1998, of art. 5 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014, (ii) of art. 144-bis of the Issuer Regulation, (iii) of the EU and national legislation on market abuse, and (iv) of Accepted Practices.

Specifically, purchases shall be made on regulated markets, according to operating criteria which do not allow the direct combination of the purchase negotiation proposals with pre-determined sale negotiation proposals.

The minimum and maximum purchase price would be determined under the same conditions established by the preceding Shareholders’ Meeting authorizations, i.e. at a unit price not lower than the official Stock Exchange price of the day preceding the purchase transaction, reduced by 20%, and not higher than the official Stock Exchange price of the day preceding the purchase transaction, increased by 10%.

In terms of daily prices and volumes, the purchase transactions would be completed in compliance with the conditions established in art. 3 of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.

With regard to the sale of treasury shares, the Board of Directors resolved to propose to the Shareholders’ Meeting to sell the shares in any appropriate manner in the interest of the Company, for purposes which include the sale on regulated markets, the exercise of option rights, including conversion rights, deriving from financial instruments issued by the Company or third parties, and support to incentive plans approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting.

To date, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. holds a total of no. 80,000 treasury shares, equal to 0.031% of the share capital.

For further information on the proposed authorization for the purchase and sale of treasury shares, reference should be made to the Directors’ Explanatory Report, which will be published within the time limits and in the manner prescribed by current laws and regulations.

Proposed adoption of a Performance Share Plan
The Board resolved, on a proposal from the Remuneration and Appointments Committee, to submit to the approval of the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting, the adoption of a Performance Share Plan for 2017/2019, in accordance with art. 114-bis of Legislative Decree no. 58 of 24 February 1998, intended for the CFO-Executive Director and/or other executive managers with strategic responsibilities and/or second-line managers/executives of the Group.

With the adoption of the Plan, the Company aims to incentivize Management to improve medium to long-term performance, in terms of both industrial performance and growth in the value of the Company.

The Plan envisages the right for beneficiaries to receive a bonus in the form of Company shares, subject to the achievement of specific targets set and measured at the end of the three-year performance period from 2017 to 2019.

These targets are structured to include both shareholder remuneration indicators and management indicators functional to raising the share value, ensuring maximum alignment of Management remuneration and the creation of value for the Company.

For details on the proposed adoption of the Performance Share Plan, the beneficiaries and the main characteristics of the Regulations of the Plan, reference should be made to the information document drawn up by the governing body, pursuant to art. 84-bis and annex 3A of the Issuer Regulation, and to the explanatory report, which will be published within the time limits and in the manner prescribed by current laws and regulations.

Proposed amendments to the company by-laws
The Board resolved to submit a proposal to the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting on amendments to art. 7 (adoption of increased voting rights pursuant to art. 127-quinquies of Legislative Decree no. 58/98) and art. 17 (amendments to appointment procedures for the Board of Directors by means of a so-called blocked lists system) of the Company by-laws. For further information on the amendments, reference should be made to the explanatory reports, which will be published within the time limits and in the manner prescribed by current laws and regulations.

Sustainability Report
The Board of Directors of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. also aligned financial and non-financial disclosures by approving its 2016 Sustainability Report, drafted according to the GRI Guidelines, standard G4, based on the “in accordance – core rating”.
A summary of the Sustainability Report in line with the provisions will be supplemented in the Annual Report; the complete document will be made available at the Shareholders’ Meeting.

The 2016 results, approved on today’s date by the Board of Directors, will be presented by the Mondadori Group Management to the financial community today, 5:00 PM, at the Mondadori Megastore in piazza Duomo, Milan.

The corresponding documentation will be made available on 1Info at www.1info.it, www.borsaitaliana.it and www.mondadorigroup.com (Investors).

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 (see attached pdf):

1. Consolidated balance sheet;
2. Consolidated income statement;
3. Consolidated income statement – fourth quarter;
4. Group cash flow;
5. Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. balance sheet;
6. Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. income statement;
7. Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A. cash flow statement;
8. Glossary of terms and alternative performance measures used.

[1] On 30 September 2015, the transfer of 80% of the share capital of Monradio S.r.l. to R.T.I. S.p.A. was completed for a consideration of 36.8 million euro. Pursuant to IFRS 5 (“Non-current assets held for sale”), the Group’s radio business was classified as “discontinued operations” and as such entered in these consolidated financial statements. As a result, in the income statement for 2015, the results achieved in the period, along with the depreciation of operations made in order to bring their value in line with the consideration from the transfer, were classified under “Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations”.

[2] Pro-forma figures: consolidation of the companies acquired in 2016 (Rizzoli Libri and Banzai Media) assumed as from 1 January 2016.

[3] AIE, 2016 ministerial data based on textbook adoption (number of sections).

[4] Internal source: Press-di, December 2016.

[5] Source: Audiweb at December 2016

From Italy’s number one cooking web site comes a new magazine Giallo Zafferano. The Mondadori Group’s new monthly, on newsstands from Saturday 18 March, can already boast of two firsts: it has the same name as a brand leader in the digital world and is the first cooking magazine, in Italy and in Europe, to have been born from a web site.

Giallo Zafferano offers readers the opportunity of enjoying an experience that begins on the site and is completed with the magazine, with a distinctive offer compared to others on the market, thanks to continuous interaction between the web, social networks and the magazine, giving the brand an increasingly wide total audience.

The starting point is the 6.8 million unique users per month (source: Audiweb view total digital audience, December 2016) and a strong presence on social networks, where Giallo Zafferano already has a total of  4.6 million fans on Facebook.

The magazine, edited by Laura Maragliano, is an ideal bridge to “bring the kitchen into the hands of the reader” and enjoy an even richer experience. “This is the first time a cooking title has been born from a site: Giallo Zafferano is the result of two worlds and two experiences that meet and merge. Our team is made up of long-established professionals working alongside experts under 30, to share ideas and skills. We have begun to build a magazine with a unique, positive and interactive character. And we are confident that readers will welcome it with the same enthusiasm we have brought to this new project,” said the editor Laura Maragliano.

Giallo Zafferano has five distinctive features:

• 100 new recipes every month, created and tested by the editorial staff;
• a innovative square format and a layout that plays with white space and with all the dishes photographed from above;
• the creation of a community that includes the three much-loved faces of the Giallo Zafferano web site, as well as the magazine’s bloggers and journalists: in each issue three teams will face a new culinary challenge;
• the augmented reality app “Gruppo Mondadori AR+”, available for iOS and Android, to access filmed recipes, videos and extra content, and to interact with other users who are looking through the magazine;
• interaction with readers, who can vote on the site or using the app for their favourite dish from the monthly challenge and take part in the final contest by proposing a recipe that the editorial team will select for publication in the next issue, in a continuous online and offline dialogue.

The first issue of the magazine will be available on newsstands and at all the major retail chains both as a stand-alone product, at the special introductory price of €1, or in combination with the leading Italian weeklies, Donna Moderna, Chi, Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni, Grazia, Tustyle, Starbene and Confidenze (at €0.50, plus the price of the weekly), with a total print run of 1 million copies.

Giallo Zafferano makes its debut on newsstands with good numbers, also from the point of view of advertising sales with a total of 47 pages and out of the total 136 pages of the first issue.

The launch of this new magazine enhances the food system of the Mondadori Group, an offer able to cover, with its online and offline brand, all segments of the food sector: from historical publications such as Sale & Pepe, which this year celebrates its 30^th anniversary, to Cucina Moderna, the current market leader with sales of 249,000 copies (source: Ads December 2016), which celebrates its 20^th anniversary, as well as Cucina no problem, launched 15 years ago, and the more recent Guida Cucina and the newcomers CookAround and Giallo Zafferano and the Sale & Cucina School.

A brand portfolio which, with 96 issues per year, already has a circulation market share of over 60%, and a total overall audience of more than 9 million contacts, of which 7.4 million unique users per month and around 2 million readers per month (source: Audiweb view total digital audience, December 2016 + Audipress 2016 /III).

THE CONTENT OF THE MAGAZINE GIALLO ZAFFERANO

The magazine opens with the presentation of what’s new inside, a calendar of significant dates during the month, the products of the season and an extensive feature on a popular ingredient, easily found in our kitchens, with 30 new recipes quick and easy to prepare recipes, one for each day of the month.

The centre of the magazine gives space to the three teams, each headed by a well-known face from the web site – Manuel, for fast ethnic cuisine; Giovanni, for traditional cooking; Aurora, for vegetarian food – while bloggers and staff journalists each month will propose a new dish, with video-recipes available using the augmented reality app, a menu and 8 themed dishes. The three team leaders will also compete in a culinary challenge that will change every month and that readers can vote for on both the website or app.

Supporting each section readers will find fact sheets on food, both fresh and packaged, practical advice on the what and how to buy and at the centre of the magazine a poster to remove and keep.

The final pages are given over to the cooking school: sweet and savoury specialties meticulously explained with step by step, in pure Giallo Zafferano style, with technical information on cuts of meat and fish, advice on etiquette and do-it-yourself, a list of wines and a focus on kitchen items, from utensils to the latest electrical appliances.

For the launch of Giallo Zafferano a communication campaign has been planned on print media, the web and large-scale retail outlets, with creativity managed by Hi! Communication.

To mark the publication of the first issue, Giallo Zafferano will also be the protagonist of a series of meetings during the Milan Design Week, with show cooking and themed evenings that will take place in the exclusive location of the Casa Facile Design Lab in Via Solferino 14, in Milan, form 4 to 9 April from 7 to 9 pm.