Group Hersant

Now a solution is about to be found for Group Hersant. Rossel was willing to buy the whole group, including the overseas papers for 55 millions euros. The banks have not considered it to be  a fair price. They prefer to sell each title separately as they hope the operation to be more profitable. It seems that local investors could be interested by France Antilles and la Provence. Rossel will bargain for the eastern dailies which are losing several millions euros a year and need a full reorganization.

Still, it is doubtful that the banks will recover most of their loans. And yet, they face another deadline with Sud Ouest, heavily indebted and unable to pay back. That will be the next drama of the regional press.

Who is willing to put money in newspapers? We shall get the answer soon and it will not be pretty.