After over a century and a half of activity, the famous publishing house and bookshop Hoepli SpA begins the voluntary liquidation procedure. The decision was taken by the shareholders’ meeting following a proposal from the board of directors and marks a delicate transition for one of the most recognizable entities in Italian publishing.
For Milan – and for many Italians who have searched for manuals, studied or simply leafed through books among those shelves – the news has the bitter taste of the end of an era.
In the official press release, the company explains that the dissolution is the result of a “painful and in-depth reflection on the overall situation” of the company. Among the reasons indicated are negative economic results, the difficult prospects of the publishing and book market and an internal conflict between shareholders defined as particularly burdensome. The management of the procedure was entrusted to the lawyer Laura Limido, with the declared objective of guaranteeing a liquidation conducted in an impartial and efficient manner, protecting creditors, employees and all parties involved.
A library that has spanned three centuries
The news has particular weight in Milan. For generations of students and professionals, the Hoepli bookshop in via Hoepli was not just a book shop but a true cultural reference point. The story begins in 1870, when Ulrico Hoepli opened the first bookshop in the Galleria De Cristoforis, near Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Only a year later the publishing house was also born, destined to become one of the most important in Italy in the sector of scientific and technical publications. Among the symbolic works is the famous Engineer’s Manual, published for the first time in 1877 and in numerous editions over time. Over the decades, the Hoepli brand has accompanied generations of students, technicians and professionals with manuals, essays and specialist texts.
Workers’ protests
The assembly’s decision came after weeks of tension and a few hours after an employee strike in front of the company’s Milan headquarters. The workers protested against the uncertainty surrounding the future of the company and its approximately 90 employees. Disappointment over the choice is mounting on social media and the first online petitions are also arriving.
The CGIL also criticized the choice, defining it as a decision that risks sacrificing a cultural and employment heritage. The union invited citizens to participate in a flash mob in front of the bookshop, with the slogan: “The history of Milan cannot be dismissedIn the meantime, the mayor Giuseppe Sala had expressed the hope that a solution could be found to save what he defined as “a heritage of the city”.
The battle of those who want to save her
Not all shareholders, however, agree with the liquidation. Giovanni Nava, who holds around 30% of the shares, has announced his intention to oppose the decision. According to Nava, it would have been possible to attempt a relaunch of the company with new management. The partner declared that he will continue his legal battle to save the bookshop and the publishing house.
In the meantime, uncertainty remains about the future of a brand that has accompanied Italian cultural life for over 156 years. If Hoepli’s lights really were to go out, it would not only be the end of a company, but the closing of an important page in Milan’s publishing history.
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