This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22013321

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Moleskine shares rise on trading debut Moleskine shares end lower on first day of trading
(about 1 hour later)
Shares in upmarket Italian notebook-maker Moleskine have risen on their trading debut in Milan. Shares in the upmarket notebook and diary-maker Moleskine closed lower on their first day of stock market trading in Milan.
The firm's stock rose as much as 3% at one point, before easing back to stand 0.4% higher in mid-afternoon trading. The company's flotation raised 488m euros ($627m; £414m) and at one point the stock rose as much as 3%.
Moleskine priced its shares at 2.30 euros for the flotation, raising 488m euros ($627m; £414m). The shares later slipped back to end almost 1% below their issue price at 2.28 euros.
The firm, which also makes diaries and other stationery products, has sold shares in just over 50% of the business. The firm, which makes diaries and other stationery products, has sold just over 50% of the business.
The company - which was founded in 1997 - enjoys profit margins of as much as 43%. Its notebooks, which are priced at the high end of the market at around 15 euros, are based on those used by the famous authors Ernest Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin.
The company - which was founded in 1997 - enjoys profit margins of as much as 43% and has plans to build on its brand recognition by expanding on its range of goods.
"We are better than the average of luxury makers in terms of profitability," Moleskine chief executive Arrigo Berni told the Reuters news agency."We are better than the average of luxury makers in terms of profitability," Moleskine chief executive Arrigo Berni told the Reuters news agency.
Moleskine is controlled by pan-European private equity group Syntegra Capital, which prior to the float owned two-thirds of the business.Moleskine is controlled by pan-European private equity group Syntegra Capital, which prior to the float owned two-thirds of the business.