Anti-trust authorities on
Wednesday gave a conditional green light for Arnoldo Mondadori
publishing group to take over rivals RCS Libri, pending a
spinoff of its subsidiaries Bompiani and Marsilio to approved
buyers.
The 127.5-million-euro deal would give the group owned by
former premier and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi around 40% of
the book market.
Authorities also issued 10 "corrective measures aimed at
stimulating competition in publishing and book distribution".
Mondadori CEO Ernesto Mauri has said the group is ready to
shed its subsidiaries and that the deal to buy RCS Libri aimed
to "give Mondadori an international outlet".
However, Mauri denied rumours that Mondadori plans to sell
out to foreign buyers once the RCS Libri deal has gone through.
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