The Marseilles shipowner CMA CGM announced in a press release on Monday that it had finalized the acquisition of 100% of the shares of
La Provence
, an operation validated at the end of September by the Bobigny commercial court, detailing in passing the new governance of the press group.
After months of legal battle around the 89% of the shares of
La Provence
held by GBT, the holding company in compulsory liquidation of the ex-businessman Bernard Tapie, the heavyweight of maritime transport and NJJ, holding company of the founder of Free Xavier Niel, had buried the hatchet at the end of August.
In their agreement, the amount of which had not been communicated, NJJ sold its 11% stake in the press group to the shipowner.
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A month later, the Bobigny commercial court had definitively validated CMA CGM's offer, in the amount of 81 million euros, for GBT's 89% stake in the flagship of the press in southern France. France, which publishes the daily newspapers
La Provence
and
Corse Matin
.
"In order to implement the recovery and development project"
of the two press titles, CMA CGM has decided to entrust the chairmanship of a
"renewed and expanded"
board of directors to Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, the founder of the Compagnie du Ponant, a luxury cruise line based in Marseille.
The general management of
La Provence
falls to Gabriel d'Harcourt, described as
“recognized professional of the regional daily press”
, until then deputy general manager of
La Voix du Nord
after having directed the
Courrier Picard
from 2011 to 2015.
“He will take office from December 12, 2022”
, adds the press release.
First notable foray into the media
The functions of the former CEO of
La Provence
, Jean-Christophe Serfati, are therefore split in two in this new governance.
Among the group's nine new directors are Julie Davico-Pahin, president of French Tech Aix-Marseille and co-founder of the start-up Ombréa, which produces solar shades for orchards and vineyards, Muriel Bernard-Reymond, director of a incubator in the northern districts of Marseille, or two members of the Saadé family, owner of CMA CGM.
“The governance of Corse Presse will also evolve in order to give
Corse Matin
the best framework for its development”
, specified CMA CGM.
By purchasing
La Provence
and
Corse Matin
, the shipowner is making a remarkable first foray into the world of the media.
An incursion that it intends to continue since its CEO, Rodolphe Saadé, is also in the running to take over the M6 channel within a team led by Stéphane Courbit (FL Entertainment).
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