RCS Mediagroup will immediately resolve the problem of the group's eight chronically loss-making periodicals with "serenity and determination" after rejecting some expressions of interest, which are deemed inadequate. The editorial and organizational projects will be reviewed without ruling out a future sale.
This was stated by Antonello Perricone, the group's managing director, responding to the shareholders during the extraordinary meeting, announcing a first meeting on the subject in two days' time.
“In Rcs Periodici some newspapers have been identified – he said – because they are chronically losing money, despite various attempts to reverse the trend. Our advisor Mediobanca has carried out extensive market exploration, has submitted some proposals to the executive committee which has deemed them inadequate”.
The publications in question are Il Mondo, Max, Novella 2000, Visto, Astra, Build, Build Plants and Ok - Health first.
The extraordinary shareholders' meeting also approved some amendments to the RCS Mediagroup by-laws. They are aimed at simplifying the group through the merger by incorporation of the subsidiaries Rcs Quotidiani, Rcs Periodici and Rcs Pubblicità.
In particular, the corporate object of the holding company has been expanded, which will be able to directly carry out publishing activities and those concerning information in general, in addition to advertising activities. The possibility of carrying out real estate transactions is also foreseen.
The perimeter of the restructuring involves a dozen companies: Rcs Quotidiani with Rcs Digital and Trovocasa; Rcs Periodici with Editrice Abitare Segesta, Pubblibaby, Rcs Direct, Rizzoli Publishing Italia and Sfera Editore; Rcs Advertising.
Excluded from the reorganization Rcs Libri, because, as explained by the president Piergaetano Marchetti, it is not wholly owned by the group, and some companies such as TrovoLavoro and sports activities such as the Giro d'Italia because by law they must remain separate companies.
