Feltrinelli enters Saggiatore, new book risiko
After Adelphi, the group acquires 30% of the house founded by Alberto Mondadori. Formenton remains at 70% and retains editorial leadership
The Italian book publishing risiko adds another chapter. The news, relayed first by the Radiocor agency, was then confirmed by the official press release: Feltrinelli enters the capital of Saggiatore with a 30% share, sold by Luca Formenton, who remains at the helm.
Not a detail, but a signal. After putting its foot down in Adelphi with 10%, the group chaired by Carlo Feltrinelli and led by CEO Alessandra Carra is also moving in Italia, along the backbone of premium catalogues, while setting the primary objective of expansion in Spain and South America.
The official press release draws the operation as an alliance between two histories born in post-war Italia. Il Saggiatore brings as its dowry a catalogue that crosses philosophy, sociology, history, science, art and music: from Sartre to Husserl, from Popper to Simone de Beauvoir, from Lévi-Strauss to De Martino, up to Taleb and Žižek; and then Ginsberg, Louise Glück, Joan Didion, Mircea Cartarescu. Feltrinelli, for its part, brings in over 125 bookshops, e-commerce and eight publishing acronyms.
The price was not disclosed. As reported by Radiocor Formenton held until the signing 100% of the nominal capital of Il Saggiatore Srl, set at 105,000 euros. The share sold - 31,500 euro nominal - passed to Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore Srl.
This is not the first move of this kind for Feltrinelli. The group, as mentioned, has already put a foot inside Adelphi with a 10% share. Il Saggiatore is a further piece in a strategy that aims to build an independent publishing pole of weight, flanking brands with deep catalogues and recognisable identities without absorbing them.
