Media entrepreneur Bolloré wants to buy French AP
Bertrand Eveno, the former head of the French news agency AFP, and Parisian businessman Vincent Bolloré plan to jointly acquire the French subsidiary of the U.S. news agency AP. Bolloré is currently building up a veritable media empire.
Bertrand Eveno, the former head of the French news agency AFP, and Parisian businessman Vincent Bolloré plan to jointly acquire the French subsidiary of the U.S. news agency AP. Eveno confirmed reports to that effect in the Parisian newspaper *Le Canard enchaîné*. His future partner, Bolloré, is currently building a veritable media empire: he holds significant stakes in the advertising agency Havas, the marketing agency Aegis, the polling institute CSA, the free newspapers Direct Soir and Matin plus, and the TV station Direct8.
According to *Le Canard enchaîné*, his latest acquisition, the Associated Press (AP), is suffering from an acute lack of clients and financial problems: The agency is reporting a loss of 1.4 million euros on revenue of six million euros. The acquisition is therefore unlikely to cost Eveno and Bolloré very much. According to French media, Eveno stated that the project still needs to be approved. He intends to acquire 60 percent of AP France, with Bolloré taking the remaining 40 percent.
Incidentally, Bolloré is a good friend of Nicolas Sarkozy. In fact, he made his private yacht available to the French president after his election victory.
According to *Le Canard enchaîné*, his latest acquisition, the Associated Press (AP), is suffering from an acute lack of clients and financial problems: The agency is reporting a loss of 1.4 million euros on revenue of six million euros. The acquisition is therefore unlikely to cost Eveno and Bolloré very much. According to French media, Eveno stated that the project still needs to be approved. He intends to acquire 60 percent of AP France, with Bolloré taking the remaining 40 percent.
Incidentally, Bolloré is a good friend of Nicolas Sarkozy. In fact, he made his private yacht available to the French president after his election victory.
