Italy's Eni mulls sale of newswire AGI amid conflict of interest row

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore

02/04/2024 17:40

MILAN, April 2 (Reuters) - Eni  ENI.MI  is evaluating an
expression of interest for its newswire Agenzia Giornalistica
Italia (AGI), a spokesperson for the energy group said on
Tuesday, adding the discussion was preliminary and
non-exclusive.
    The possible sale of Italy's second largest news agency to a
lawmaker from the rightwing, co-ruling League party, has been
widely reported in Italian media in recent weeks, triggering
opposition's alarm over a potential conflict of interest. 
    State-controlled Eni, which has owned AGI since 1965, is
ready to consider any other expressions of interest that may
come, the spokesperson added.
    Italian newspaper La Stampa reported last month that 
Antonio Angelucci - an healthcare entreprenuer who owns rightist
newspapers Libero, Il Giornale and Il Tempo - was in
negotiations to buy the newswire for around 40 million euros
($43 million).
    Publishing group Mondadori Editori  MOED.MI  could also be
interested, other media reported. 
        Angelucci did not respond to a Reuters' email asking for
comment. Mondadori said it declined to comment on media
speculation. 
  
    Workers at AGI, which employs around 70 journalists, plan to
strike on Wednesday and demonstrate in Rome against the
potential sale of the newswire and a lack of transparency over
the negotiations.
    The workers said in a statement they were ready to hold
further strikes in future if their requests are not met.
    ($1 = 0.9287 euros)

 (Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, Francesca Landini and Claudia
Cristoferi, editing by Gavin Jones)
 ((francesca.landini@thomsonreuters.com; +39 02 66129437;
Reuters Messaging: reutersitaly.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))