S&P Capital IQ Initiates Coverage on Banzai SPA in S&P Capital IQ Factual Stock Reports

NEW YORK, June 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Capital IQ (MHFI) announced today that it has commenced Factual Stock Report coverage on Banzai SPA.

Banzai S.p.A. (BANZ) is an Italian e-commerce operator and digital publisher. Every month, 18 million unique users visit Banzai's e-commerce and media sites, including ePRICE, SaldiPrivati, Giallo Zafferano, Pianeta Donna, Giovani, ilPost and Liquida. Banzai S.p.A. was founded in 2007 and is based in Milan, Italy. ePRICE is an online store that specializes in the sale of high-tech (electronic) products and white goods. With over two million registered users, SaldiPrivati is an online outlet for clothing, shoes, accessories and household products. The two brands share a network of 70 Pick&Pay locations in 60 cities. These are pick-up and payment points that combine the advantages of online buying with the ease and security of a local store. Approximately one-third of Pick&Pays are located in northwestern Italy, 27% are in the northeast of the country, about 18% are in central Italy, and 22% of Pick&Pays are located in southern Italy.

The company sells millions of products every year on ePRICE and SaldiPrivati. ePRICE has a catalogue of about 1 million products and specializes in the sale of high-tech products and domestic appliances. The company supports its customers through the stages of selection, purchase and home installation. The website provides a technology platform that enables users to buy products sold directly by ePRICE itself or those offered by third-party vendors, thus offering multiple types of both technology and consumer products, such as computers, electronic equipment, televisions and small and large electrical appliances, household appliances and web services.

SaldiPrivati offers its subscribers clothing, footwear, accessories, household appliances, baby products and products for the family. For a limited period, the outlet offers its customers products that are heavily discounted compared with the prices recommended by the manufacturers and offered through traditional sales channels.

The company also operates a number of vertical publishing websites and mobile apps (18.3 million of users in February 2015, with an active reach of 59^ according to Audiweb Data). Its Pianeta Donna website is a web magazine dedicated to topics of interest to women including fashion, well-being and beauty. Giallo Zafferano is an Italian website dedicated to cooking.

Studenti is an Italian website dedicated to students from middle school to the university, offering educational content and study-support services. Studenti helps two million youngsters with their homework and exams every month. The company's products in the area of online news consist of ilPost, Liquida, Soldionline, Sportlive, Filmtv and Giornalettismo. ilPost, Liquida and Banzai's other information sites seek to offer a considered and individual daily view of current events.

On January 20, 2015, the company, through a subsidiary, completed the acquisition of MyTrainerCommunity S.r.l., which owns the website www.my-personaltrainer.it.

On February 12, 2015, Banzai completed the placement of its ordinary shares with the aim of listing on the STAR segment of the electronic share market (MTA) organized and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. On February 16, 2015, trading of the stock began with the full placement of 8,000,000 shares at Euro 6.75 per share.

Mr. Paolo Ainio is the President and CEO of the company. He is one of the founding fathers of the Internet in Italy. In 1995, he founded Matrix, where Virgilio, the first and most important Italian portal, was born along with other web products that have helped to shape today's digital landscape in Italy. He founded Banzai in 2007.

Mr. Edoardo Giorgetti, MD e-Commerce After graduating at Bocconi University and launching an online startup, in 1996 he joins Matrix-Virgilio as a web consultant. In 1999 is one of the fathers of FinecoBank, now a leading direct bank in Europe, listed on the Milan exchange. He starts as head of a Matrix-Fineco JV, he becomes Head of Online Banking & Brokerage, then deputy General Manager. In 2007, he joined Banzai as a partner and became Managing Director of E-Commerce business line, which includes ePRICE and SaldiPrivati.

Mr. Andrea Santagata, MD Vertical Content Graduated with honors in Engineering at University of Pisa, in 1999 joined Libero (Infostrada). From 2001 to 2007 worked in Matrix, where since 2004 he held the position of Marketing Director of Virgilio. Co-founder of Splinder (the first Italian blog platform), Liquid (semantic technology start-up in the field of user generated content) and Sitonline (leader for the creation of websites for professionals and SMEs in self-provisioning mode). Joined Banzai in 2007 and founded Liquida and Sitonline. Since 2009 he holds the position of Managing Director Vertical Content.

Mr. Emanuele Romussi joined Banzai in 2010 as Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Stefano Smareglia has been Chief Technology Officer of Banzai S.p.A. since January 18, 2010.

Ms. Vanessa Casagrande serves as Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs at Banzai S.p.A. Ms. Casagrande joined Banzai in May 2012.

S&P Capital IQ's Factual Stock Report coverage on Banzai SPA will also be accessible on an ongoing basis to the investment community by scores of buy-side institutions and sell-side firms that utilize S&P Capital IQ research and information platforms daily. Millions of self-directed investors also have access to the report via their e-brokerage accounts. Please visit http://www.banzai.it/ for additional information.

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Currently profiling approximately 400 issuers, S&P Capital IQ (MHFI) Factual Stock Reports increase market awareness of issuers in the investment community with insightful commentary, key statistics, and relevant corporate information.  The Reports provide factual research coverage about company fundamentals and business prospects, thereby enabling information on the covered companies to reach a wide spectrum of Buy and Sell-side investors. Updated weekly with the latest pricing, trading volume, and other data, the Reports also capture recent company developments, a financial review, key operating information, industry and peer comparisons, Street Consensus, performance charts, business summary, fundamental data, and timely news stories. Coverage of these reports is underwritten by the issuer, therefore S&P Capital IQ does not offer investment opinions concerning the advisability of investing in these stocks.

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