Radio Monte Carlo now 100-percent owned by Berlusconi company

Radio Monte Carlo logo

RadioMediaset, a unit of Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset, on Wednesday bought 100 percent of RMC Italia which broadcasts Radio Monte Carlo, adding it to a portfolio that includes 105, Virgin, R101 and Subasio, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

Radio Monte Carlo logo

Mediaset CEO Pier Silvio Berlusconi – son of the former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi, Mediaset’s owner – said: “Mediaset’s investments in the new radio adventure are continuing: starting from scratch, in a little more than three years we have set up the top national group, RadioMediaset.”

The Berlusconi company already had a strategic partnership in Radio Monte Carlo.

Tourism booming along the Cote d’Azur

Nice, Coote D'Azur

Provisional figures for the 2018 summer season show a substantial increase in income for tourism businesses on the Cote d’Azur.

The regional tourism committee said that foreign visitors are fuelling the growth, particularly the Americans (+20%), the British (+13%), Middle Easterners (+35%) and the Japanese (+30%.)

Nice, Coote D'Azur

Hotel occupancy in towns during July was 84 percent, with turnover up by 13 percent. August is traditionally a busier month than July, and the indications are that it will be “excellent” in terms of business. Hotel occupancy reached 87 percent during the month.

The tourism sector is hoping for a similar trend in September and October.

Navios Maritime Containers announces IPO terms

Containers

Navios Maritime Containers LP, an MLP formed by Navios Holdings to own contracted container ships, announced terms for its IPO on Wednesday.

Navios Containers LP is currently listed on the Norwegian OTC under the symbol NMCI, Renaissance Capital reports.

The Monaco-based company plans to raise $100 million by offering 5.26 million LP units at a price range of $18 to $20.

Containers
Photo: navios-mlp.com

At the midpoint of the proposed range, Navios Containers LP would command a market value of $335 million.

Navios Maritime Containers LP was founded in 2017 and booked $98 million in sales for the 12 months ended June 30, 2018.

It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol NMCI. J.P. Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi and Clarksons Platou Securities are the joint bookrunners on the deal. It is expected to price during the week of September 10, 2018.

Princess Grace Academy starts new year on September 10

Princess Grace Academy dancers

Each year the Monte Carlo Ballet School, under the artistic direction of Luca Masala, welcomes nearly 50 young students from all over the world who come to Monaco to undertake training at the highest level of excellence.

They are between 13 to 18 years old and over the next four or five years follow classes in classical dance, contemporary, character, composition classes, pilates, and also study music and history of dance.

All these courses are provided by a teaching team composed of seven professors: Michel Rahn, Carole Patorel, Thierry Sette, Roland Vogel, Lucea Olivier, Gioia Masala and Asier Uriagereka, supervised by Valérie Projetti. There are also visiting teachers during the year.

Princess Grace Academy dancers

For this new season, the students of the Academy will present the fruit of their work after a first month of training, during an informal show that will take place from October 15 to 17, 2018, in the Atelier des Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

The annual Gala will take place from 21 to 23 June 2019 at the Salle Garnier of the Monte-Carlo Opera. A preview performance is scheduled for June 14, 2019 at the Minotaur Hall in Vallauris.

Last season, eight students were able to join international companies at the end of their training.

Government gets down to business after summer break

Conseil Gouvernement 2018

The Government made its return to work after the long summer holidays on Wednesday, September 5, with a full agenda for its first Council.

Conseil Gouvernement 2018

Much of the discussion centred on concerns expressed by the elected National Council, in view of forthcoming meetings dedicated to debating the 2018 Budget. Since its election seven months ago the present National Council has made its views known in a forthright manner on a wide range of issues.

In a press statement, the Government said: “On all these issues, the Government and the National Council share the desire to define the best solutions for Monaco.”

Monaco welcomes EFTA Group of the Council of the EU

Gilles Tonelli

Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, on Wednesday, September 5, welcomed the EFTA Group (European Free Trade Association) of the Council of the EU. The study group is in Monaco until September 7.

The Working Group, which visited Monaco for the first time in June 2013, consists of diplomats from the 28 EU Member States, as well as representatives of the Council Secretariat and the European External Action Service. In particular, it is responsible for monitoring the negotiations for the conclusion of an association agreement between Monaco and the EU.

The visit, organised on the initiative of the Prince’s Government, aims to present and explain to the main European partners the geographical and demographic realities of Monaco, as well as the institutional, economic and social specificities of the Principality.

Gilles Tonelli
Gilles Tonelli, Minister for Foreign Affairs. UN Photo: Jean-Marc Ferré

The EFTA group of the EU Council ensures cooperation in the European Economic Area and manages relations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). It also manages EU relations with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and the Holy See/Vatican City as well as with the Faroe Islands.