‘Destination ITALY’ was a success at MAPIC (Cannes, Nov. 14-16) - the most important international trade fair for the commercial development of urban centers, large-scale retail trade and franchising. This year’s edition registered 10.600 visitors from 67 countries and over 900 exhibiting companies.
For the second year in a row, ‘Destination ITALY’, a marketing initiative created by GMPR (MAPIC representative in Italy for Local Authorities), participated in MAPIC to showcase the commercial and urban development projects, as well as the investment opportunities, proposed by the exhibiting Italian cities and regions. Continua »

The Nuance Group has won the contract to manage a series of stores in the four villages run by the Center Parcs Group in the UK, which are visited by more than 1.5 million people each year. This concession, which will cover an area of more than 2,100 sq.m. selling apparel and accessories, will last for five years from 2008 and is expected to generate total revenues of around GBP 70.0 million (€ 100.0 mn).
The Nuance Group –- The Nuance Group, world leader in the field of Airport Retailing, held 50% by Stefanel Spa and 50% by Gecos Spa (PAM Group), operates with 320 stores in 56 airports in 17 countries.

With reference to recent press news regarding a possible shareholding in a combination between Alitalia and AirOne, upon request of Consob Intesa Sanpaolo confirms that it is contributing to a feasibility study on an entrepreneurial project concerning a combination between Alitalia and AirOne, which will be examined with the seller within the set time frame and which may also envisage a minority shareholding on the part of Intesa Sanpaolo.

France is the world’s 4th most attractive market for investment in biofuels, according to the Ernst & Young Biofuels Country Attractiveness Indices 2007. France also takes top ranks for competitiveness in individual markets, placing 2nd for biodiesel and 4th for ethanol.
“There is immense potential for innovative biofuel projects in France: we are the second-largest biofuel consuming country in the EU, and consumption is up by nearly 63%,” says Philippe Favre, president of the Invest in France Agency. Continua »

Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A., Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., Mediobanca S.p.A., Sintonia S.A. comunicate that as Telco S.p.A. – a company participated by them together with Telefonica S.A. – has received 749,827,264 ordinary shares of Telecom Italia S.p.A., representing 5.6% of its share capital by means of contribution by companies of the Generali group and Mediobanca S.p.A. and purchased for a total price of Euro 4,161 million 100% of the Olimpia S.p.A. share capital, which in turn holds 2,407,345,359 ordinary shares of Telecom Italia S.p.A., representing 18% of its ordinary share capital.
On October 23, 2007, ANATEL (the brazilian TLC Authority) has resolved to authorise the closing of the transaction, providing with regard to the Barsilian market certain measures to be implemented following completion of the acquisition. The contents of ANATEL resolution has been published on ANATEL’s website www.anatel.gov.br.
The acquisition of Olimpia S.p.A. has been funded, as to Euro 3,248 million by means of a share capital increase of Telco S.p.A. and as to the remaining part through a financing made available by Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. and Mediobanca S.p.A., for a maximum amount of Euro 1,100 million, which has been utilised as of today for an amount of approximately Euro 925 million. Telco S.p.A.’s shareholders meeting has also resolved a further capital increase up to Euro 900 million, to be used to reimburse the abovementioned financing and aimed at allowing the entrance into the shareholding of Telco S.p.A. of other qualified Italian investors.
In addition, the following directors have been appointed to the board of Telco S.p.A.: Aldo Minucci (Chairman), Filippo Maria Bruno, Enrico Giliberti, Clemente Rebecchini, Gustave Stoffel, Maurizio Verbich, Ángel Vilá Boix, Ramiro Sánchez de Lérin García-Ovies, Miguel Escrig Melia and Sohail Qadri.
Finally the following directors have been appointed to the board of Olimpia S.p.A.: Aldo Minucci (Chairman), Filippo Maria Bruno, Enrico Giliberti, Giancarlo Olgiati, Clemente Rebecchini, Maurizio Verbich, Ángel Vilá Boix, Ramiro Sánchez de Lérin García-Ovies, Miguel Escrig Melia and Sohail Qadri.

Telecom Italia presented its latest range of imminent offers in Berlin, where the company took orders for 3.450 million mobile phones, of which over 50 % were UMTS/HSDPA models. This exceeded the May 2007 Convention, where orders for 3.1 million cellphones were placed.
The TIM “Home Zone”
Telecom is rolling out “Maxxi TIM Casa” from November 15, a new offer that allows people to use mobile phones to make calls from home at particularly convenient rates. For €5 per month (including VAT), customers can make calls for up to eight hours a day (500 minutes of daily traffic) to landlines and TIM mobile phones for just €0.16 per call. TIM Casa Home Zone calls cost €0.16 per call, regardless of how long they last; the longer the customer stays on the phone, the greater the saving. “Home Zone” is also available in a fixed-only formula for €3 per month (including VAT). Continua »

Costa Crociere, the leading cruise line in Italy and Europe, has announced an order for two new 114,200-ton ships to be delivered in 2011 and 2012. Costa Crociere S.p.a, the Italian subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE CUK), signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the two new vessels at an all-in cost of approximately €1 billion (€510 million per ship). The two new ships will be built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and be sister ships to the Costa Concordia, Costa Serena and Costa Pacifica, the latter of which is currently being built at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard. The new ships will each be able to accommodate 3,780 passengers in total (including all upper berths) or 3,012 guests based on double occupancy. Continua »

MKK-Atakas, a joint-venture between the Russian company Magnitogorsk Iron & SteelWork and the Turkish company Atakas, has awarded Danieli & C. S.p.A. the supply of anew steelmaking complex to make 2.4 million t/year of flats, which will be installed inIskanderun (Turkey), as well as a factory to make coated strip, which will be installed inIstanbul (Turkey). Continua »

Fincantieri and Cunard Line (Carnival Group) have reached an agreement to build a new super-luxury cruise ship of 92,000 gross tonnes, worth approximately 500 million euros. Following the approval of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the new vessel will be named the “Queen Elizabeth”.
Cunard Line, a well-established British shipping company, boasts a glorious tradition dating back almost 170 years providing transatlantic services with liners whose names are written in the history of merchant shipping. Continua »