The Czech billionaire and boss of CMI ("
Elle
", "
Marianne
"...), Daniel Kretinsky, lends 14 million euros to
Liberation
to guarantee "
the financing of the title until its return to equilibrium
" in 2026 , announced on Tuesday the independent press company, owner of the daily.
In addition to this loan, Daniel Kretinsky, via his foundation, is donating one million euros to the "
endowment fund for an independent press
" (FDPI), majority shareholder of Independent Press, according to an announcement made internally by the managing director of
Liberation
, Denis Olivennes.
Read alsoDaniel Kretinsky again increases the capital of Fnac Darty, to more than 20%
Paid “
in the form of bonds
”, the loan should make it possible to cover the losses of the title, in deficit despite strong growth in its sales, while preserving its “
independence
”, according to the independent press release.
The FDPI, to which Patrick Drahi's Altice group sold
Liberation
two years ago, "
welcomes the arrival at its side
" of a "
new quality partner
", seeing it as "
a pledge of confidence in the future of the newspaper
", according to the text.
Also quoted in the press release, Daniel Kretinsky says he is "
happy to participate in the sustainability of an independent newspaper that is essential to democratic debate
".
Return to balance for 2026
Denis Olivennes announced in July that he was looking for 15 million euros for
Libé
.
The return to equilibrium had been postponed from 2023 to 2026, due in particular to slower than expected development in advertising, aggravated by the pandemic.
In Tuesday's press release, the leader assures that "
Liberation has entered the revolution of digital subscriptions
" and praises the "
strongest increase in the distribution of the national daily press
" observed "
for a year and a half
".
According to the ACPM,
Liberation
sold more than 93,000 copies daily over the period 2021-2022, an increase of 11.14% compared to 2020-2021.
In 2021, its turnover reached 31.5 million euros, up 10%, and operating losses were reduced to 7.9 million against 12.3 million in 2020.
