Anti-trust OKs Mondadori-RCS deal

(ANSA) - Rome, March 23 - 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.