Ferrari “wins” on the stock exchange – a substantial operation to the tune of at least 10 billion euros. The FCA is getting ready to list Ferrari on Wall Street, a project bound for success (The Times, July 5 – Ferrari races towards blockbuster £7bn float*) that should probably take place in October (Bloomberg, July 7 – Ferrari Said to Pick UBS to Manage New York Stock Listing). Meanwhile, Bloomberg also reported that after the spin off of the Cavallino rampante, Maserati will become the Fiat Chrysler group’s top brand (July 7 – Fiat Bets Maserati Can Replace Ferrari as Prestige Profit Driver)
Foreign investments – The international press discussed news of foreign investments in Italy. The Chinese Central Bank, for instance, has just acquired part of the capital of Unicredit and Monte Paschi (Les Echos, July 6 – La banque centrale chinoise entre dans UniCredit et Monte Paschi). And the Finanical Times reported that after its purchase of Italian Loro Piana, the French luxury group LVMH has given the brand free rein (July 6 – LVMH gives Italian luxury textile and clothing group a free hand*). As Bloomberg explained it, foreign investors are whetting their appetite for Italian groups in the agrifood sector (July 9 – Pasta Anyone? Investors Build Appetite for Italian Food Firms). In addition, Italian investors are showing an interest for acquisitions beyond the borders as Enel looks at the Brazilian Celg, according to Valor Economico (July 3 – Enel conferma interesse na venda da Celg*).
Design – As always there are numerous leads on Italian design. The Financial Times celebrated the Italian tradition of tile design that continues today with works of art that can decorate any interior (Financial Times, July 3 –Mosaics for modern times*). The British daily ran another article about design, including a Milanese penthouse among its proposal of five luxury homes available on the real estate market (Financial Times, July 3 – Five homes with designer interiors*). Design is also the subject in discussion of the restyling of the Fiat 500, a car that El Mundo says retains the character of the model that put Italians on the roads 58 years ago (El Mundo, July 6 – Fiat 500: continuista y tecnológico).
Cooking and lifestyle – Other reports on Italian living included an article in The Sunday Times with the best summer pasta recipes (July 5 – The Dish: buon appetito*), while L’Express explains how to make an all-Italian sandwich with ham, mozzarella and tomatoes (July 3 – Sandwich au jambon de Parme, mozza et tomates séchées). Instead, the New York Times takes its readers on a visit to the Apulian vinyards of the Amastuola farm designed by landscape artist Fernando Cartucho (July 7 – Fernando Caruncho’s Shock Waves*). The Times also visited Apulia and suggested an itinerary that would take its readers around the entire region (July 8 – Instant Escapes: postcard Puglia). Finally, Sueddeutsche Zeitung went to Como to interview Roberto Pozzi, mayor of Laglio, the vacation home of George Clooney (July 5 –Ein Anruf bei . . . Roberto Pozzi, Bürgermeister von Laglio).
* marked articles viewable online upon payment or registration