De Agostini To Acquire Marathon

MILAN, July 24: Italy's De Agostini is expanding its media
and communications unit with the acquisition of the Marathon Group from private
equity firm Bridgepoint Capital and the company’s senior management for an
undisclosed sum.

De Agostini Communications already owns the Italian
production firm Magnolia and Spanish broadcaster Antena 3, among other assets.

The French production and distribution company will be
chaired by Pascal Breton, aided by Vincent Chalvon-Demersay, the chairman of
Marathon Media, and Denis Mermet, the chairman of ALP. Segment leaders include
Nicolas Coppermann (drama), Franck Firmin Guion (entertainment), David Michel
(animation) and Laurent Boissel (finance). Paolo Ceretti (the general manager
of De Agostini) will be the chairman of the supervisory board.

Lorenzo Pellicioli, the managing director of De Agostini, is
quoted as saying: “We feel the sector has exciting possibilities and are ready
to seize any further opportunities for international development that might
come along.”