From 1990 on
As new PagineGialle Turismo and PagineGialle Giovani products were being
conceived, SEAT also continued to innovate its tried-and-true product offer and graphics: first,
with the launch of the new PagineGialle that would be printed in the four-colour, four-column
version starting with the Naples edition in 96/97 and then with the restyling of TuttoCittà and the
Alphabetical Directory. Colour was soon added to the Alphabetical edition: blue lent emphasis to
the advertising and information placed on top of page and soon began to appear on the covers of the
new graphic layout.SEAT conceived the 89.24.24 Pronto PagineGialle number to offer users a personalised solution to their searches, even from outside the home. On its debut, the service was structured as "PagineGialle on the phone" and offered "category" solutions 24/7, 365 days a year. However, the service quickly evolved and developed with the addition of specialised services such as train and plane schedules, open pharmacies and more, to become an authentic "assisted voice portal".
PagineGialle was no longer only a product, but a multimedia set of services.
In 1999, SEAT changed its company name by incorporating the name of its leading product. The new company logo began to appear on the cover page of PagineGialle. The parent company of SEAT, Otto, changed its name to SEAT PagineGialle S.p.A. while also retaining the abbreviated name, SEAT S.p.A.
The spin off resulted in Telecom Italia Media, which was made up of Tin.it, Virgilio, La7, MTV Italia, the Gruppo Buffetti and, starting from October, the APCom press agency. On 23 December 2003, the new SEAT Pagine Gialle S.p.A. was merged by incorporation into Silver S.p.A. and in turn, the company resulting from that merger was incorporated into Spyglass S.p.A. After executing the transaction, the brand new company took on the name SEAT Pagine Gialle S.p.A. These merger transactions did not substantially affect the revenue and costs of the company; the consolidation area was marginally smaller due to the exit of the French Consodata Group, Consodata Germany GmbH and sale of the American company, NetCreations Inc.
Since the early months of 2000, the
89.24.24
Pronto PagineGialle service was extended across the country. This was coupled in the fall
of 2005 with
12.40 Pronto PagineBianche which catered to a general user base.
SEAT became more and more interested in reaching local communities: in 2005, it
launched Inzona, a new product dedicated and conceived especially for families, retailers, small
craftsmen, and businesses located in various city districts;
Inzona was more than a guide to services and purchases, it was also a guide for
living and discovering their neighbourhood.
This directory was followed by InVacanza, a guide for planning holidays,
distributed initially in eighteen main Italian tourist areas. Complementing the range of products
for tourism was the launch of two new Kompass products: the Annuario degli Alberghi d'Italia and
the website
www.alberghieturismo.com
In 2006, through
PagineGialle Visual
SEAT gave users the opportunity to make virtual searches on the territory and stroll
along the city streets, while with
PagineGialle
NAV SEAT does not stop at meeting the search needs of users, but also offers to
guide them where their needs can be met.
In February 2007, SEAT launched its new portal,
www.annunci.it the virtual window for buying and
selling automobiles, homes and classified ads for any number of items, from collector's items to
leisure.
Finally, the company began the construction of the new SEAT headquarters, which was also fitted with an advanced research centre in the Internet evolution, which is scheduled for completion in 2008 in the "Spina 3" area of Turin.
Main facts
• End of 1996
Seat is spun off from STET and becomes an independent Company once again
• January 1997
Seat is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange
• November 1997
Acquisition of Seat by a concert party made up of private entrepreneurs (Ottobi), including
Telecom Italia, Comit, De Agostini and Investitori Associati
• November 1997
The new Board of Directors headed by Lorenzo Pellicioli takes office
• 1998
Seat S.p.A. is merged in Ottobi and becomes Seat Pagine Gialle S.p.A.
• September 1999
Seat and De Agostini acquire the controlling stake in Matrix and start operating in the
Internet business
• August 2000
Seat acquires a stake in Telemontecarlo
• November 2000
Following the Tin.it transaction, Seat Pagine Gialle joins the Telecom Group
• May 2001
The new Board of Directors appointed by the majority stakeholder takes office and Lorenzo
Pellicioli is appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
• July 2001
Paolo Dal Pino is the new Chief Executive Officer of Seat PG S.p.A.
• December 2001
Enrico Bondi is appointed Chairman of Seat PG S.p.A.
• September 2002
The Board of Directors of Seat Pagine Gialle co-opts Riccardo Perissich as Chairman to
replace Enrico Bondi
• 1 August 2003
THE NEW SEAT PG IS ESTABLISHED – On that date, the partial proportional spin-off
deed was filed with the Milan Register of Companies whereby Seat Pagine Gialle S.p.A. (as of then “
Telecom Italia Media S.p.A.”) transferred the directories activities of the company (telephone
directories, directory assistance and business information) to a newly-established Spun-off Company
that takes on the name Seat Pagine Gialle S.p.A.
• 8 August 2003
Silver S.p.A. acquires the controlling stake in the new Seat Pagine Gialle S.p.A.
Enrico Giliberti becomes Chairman of the Company and Luca Majocchi is appointed as Chief
Executive Officer
