Key Takeaways
- Sector: Media.
- Geography: Italy.
Analysis
In a significant shift within Italy's digital media sector, Marcello Antelmi has acquired full ownership of the online newspaper Affari Italiani. This move sees Brave Capital and Esclusiva srl exit their stakes in the publication, consolidating Antelmi's position as the sole proprietor of Uomini e Affari srl, the company that publishes the digital daily.
The transaction marks a new chapter for Affari Italiani, which was founded in April 1996 as Italy's first online newspaper. Antelmi, who initially joined the company's capital in 2024 alongside Brave Capital and Esclusiva srl, has now absorbed the remaining shares, including a 10% stake previously held by Luca Greco. This consolidation follows an earlier transaction where Antelmi, Brave Capital, and Esclusiva srl acquired a significant portion from the publication's founder, Angelo Maria Perrino, who had led the newspaper for 29 years.
Marcello Antelmi, who also serves as the company's administrator, expressed his vision for the future, stating, "This transition represents an arrival point but, above all, a new beginning." He highlighted the solid foundation built over the past two years, emphasizing the strengthening of Affari Italiani's identity and market position in an increasingly competitive environment. Antelmi extended his gratitude to the departing partners, acknowledging their crucial contributions to the company's growth trajectory.
Looking ahead, Antelmi outlined an ambitious strategy focused on further investment in the editorial product, technological advancements, and organizational enhancement. The objective is to elevate Affari Italiani's influence in public discourse, maintaining its core values of freedom, speed, and foresight. This strategic push aims to position the publication as a leader in shaping news rather than merely reporting it, a critical differentiator in today's fast-paced media landscape.
The operational leadership remains stable, with Marco Scotti confirmed as the editor-in-chief. Scotti assumed this role in April 2025, coinciding with the transition of leadership from founder Angelo Maria Perrino. The digital media industry in Italy has seen considerable M&A activity recently, with major publications like La Repubblica, La Stampa, and the EN-Editoriale Nazionale group (publisher of Il Resto del Carlino, La Nazione, and QN-Quotidiano Nazionale) also undergoing ownership changes, underscoring a period of significant consolidation and strategic realignment.
In 2024, Uomini e Affari srl reported revenues of €1.5 million, with an EBITDA of €40.4 thousand and net equity of €99.9 thousand. The previous ownership structure involved Holding Socrate srl (holding 90% of Uomini e Affari) and Giant srl (controlled by Giovanni Gionfreda and Cosimina Urso). Esclusiva is primarily owned by Barbara Giudice (80%) and Fabio Massa (20%), while Brave Capital is led by Antonio Parini (49%) and Andrea Felici.