The unhappy candidate for the acquisition of 89 % of the capital of the Marseille daily newspaper formed different modes of appeal against the approval pronounced on May 9 in favor of his competitor, the CMA-CGM shipowner
by
In Provence, the twist of May 9 could not remain without follow -up. Tuesday, May 24, Xavier Niel filed a request to the Commercial Court of Marseille in order to suspend and cancel the approval given that day by the Board of Directors, to everyone’s surprise and at the end of a incredible meeting, to the buyout offer of the CMA-CGM.
The time begins to press: the hearing intended to ratify the sale of the newspaper should take place on June 7, at the Bobigny court. Already holder of 11 % of the capital of the Marseille daily newspaper, the founder of Free (and individual shareholder of the world) wishes to acquire the remaining 89 % held by the Bernard Tapie group, in judicial liquidation.
A right of approval, negotiated during the lifetime of the former minister and previous owner of the newspaper (disputed in January by the liquidators, but recovered in court on April 9), should have allowed him to take the advantage on his competitor, CMA-CGM.
delayed process
But, during this board of directors, the CEO of the newspaper, Jean-Christophe Serfati, had refused to take into account the votes opposing the desire to buy back the shipowner, the first employer of the Marseille city. Denouncing a “coarse force passage”, Xavier Niel had immediately said that he would not remain there. According to information from letter A, that Le Monde is able to confirm, it is now done.
The action obviously aims to prevent Rodolphe Saadé, the boss of CMA-CGM, from seizing the newspaper, even if the liquidators and all the representatives of the group’s employees have never hidden a clear preference For its offer, better-editing (81 million euros, against 20 million for NJJ, the holding of Mr. Niel).
It could, at least, delay the process. “If Xavier Niel (…) has the time of legal close to legal business to satisfy his desires, protest the CGT and FO unions in a joint statement released on Wednesday May 25, Provence, Corsica morning, 850 employees of the group and the Health of the six companies that make up the latter, they no longer have the time of these procedures which endanger their future. “