UPDATE 1-RCS Mediagroup shareholders renew pact

(Releads with statement, adds details)

MILAN, March 14 (Reuters) - Key shareholders of RCS Mediagroup (RCSM.MI) renewed their pact controlling the publisher until March 2011, they said on Friday.

The pact was due to expire in a year and its renewal ahead of general elections in April, the Italian press has reported, would signal independence and stability for the publishing group and especially Corriere della Sera, one of Italy's most widely read newspapers.

"The decisions taken respond to our common goal of ... safeguarding the stability and development of RCS Mediagroup," pact chairman Giampiero Pesenti said in a statement.

Key members of the pact include Italian banks Mediobanca (MDBI.MI) and Intesa SanPaolo (ISP.MI), car maker Fiat (FIA.MI), holding company Italmobiliare (ITMI.MI) and insurers Fondiaria-Sai (FOSA.MI) and Generali (GASI.MI).

In a research report, Deutsche Bank foresaw "repeated editorial endorsement by Corriere della Sera of a centre-left government" as a risk for the media group as it could hurt newspaper circulation and advertising spending, he said in a research note.

RCS Mediagroup reports final 2007 results on Friday. (Reporting by Valentina Za and Sabina Suzzi)