Investor Antoine Hubert takes over ailing business newspaper L'Agefi

The relaunch is possible thanks to investor Antoine Hubert. He is currently setting up a new company that will take over the L'Agefi brand, the 32 employees and the daily newspaper business in stages from May 1.

In addition, the business medium is to be given a digital makeover, including a new website. The transformation of the newspaper should be completed by September. The print edition will continue to exist, at least in the short term.

New editor-in-chief is FDP National Councillor

The future editor-in-chief and Vaud FDP National Councillor Fathi Derder expressed his motivation to lead the daily newspaper into the future via the newly founded company. "L'Agefi is not dying", Derder told the media in Lausanne on Thursday. Rather, the newspaper is daring to make a new start.

Derder can look back on a long career in journalism and has worked for French-speaking Swiss radio (RTS) and several French-speaking Swiss newspapers, among others. He takes over the position of Editor-in-Chief from François Schaller, who is stepping down at his own request.

Former SRG President Raymond Loretan will be Chairman of the Board of Directors of the new company. Loretan said at the press conference that the aim is to maintain an independent business newspaper with a national reach in French-speaking Switzerland. "It may be a niche market, but there is a real demand".

Red figures since 2003

Founded in 1950, the paper has had to contend with major financial difficulties in recent years. It has been in the red since 2003. At the end of November 2016, businessman Antoine Hubert submitted a takeover bid in his own name.

At the end of March this year, the District Court of Lausanne decided to grant the newspaper a six-month debt-restructuring moratorium. The court thus complied with L'Agefi's request. The newspaper intends to use this time to create the best possible conditions for the takeover.

Hubert is currently the only investor.