A final step has just been taken in the Casino file. The Paris commercial court validated, Monday February 26, the rescue plan for the distributor in great difficulty. A highly anticipated green light which paves the way for its takeover by the consortium formed by billionaires Daniel Kretinsky and Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, accompanied by the Attestor investment fund. The switch between the teams has been scheduled for March 27, according to our information.
There was in reality little suspense, as it was difficult to imagine that the court would choose an outcome leading to a judicial liquidation, synonymous with a sale at the bar, and an unprecedented social breakdown. “It is difficult to see the judge putting a company of 50,000 people into liquidation when there is a rescue plan”we argued, shortly before the final verdict, on the side of the buyers.
However, at the end of the first hearings, the rescue plan received an unfavorable opinion, both from employee representatives and from the public prosecutor. Because when the group’s accelerated safeguard procedure was opened in October 2023, there was no question of any carving it up. However, the sale of all supermarkets and hypermarkets under the Casino brand was announced on December 18. A little less than 300 stores must be taken over by Intermarché and Auchan, but also Carrefour, after validation by the Competition Authority, which must study for each business whether no brand has a monopoly in the catchment area.
The employee representatives therefore considered that Casino managers should review their copy of the safeguard plan in order to integrate the social aspect linked to the sale of the large stores, the impacts of which will be felt on all support and management functions. logistic. For mee Françoise Marechal-Thieullent, lawyer for the central social and economic committee of the Casino distribution branch, “information-consultation procedures for elected staff” were not respected. “This was not at all what was originally announced to the elected staffshe continues. It was just supposed to be a financial backup. And the management branched off without playing the game”.
A real earthquake
Staff representatives did not obtain further information during their meetings with management. “When we ask questions to know how many employees will be affected, management and buyers are unable to answer”, annoys Jean Pastor, CGT union delegate, and one of the representatives of the inter-union. The discussion on the social component fund will therefore begin afterwards. “A negotiation started in January with the social partners on a method agreement and it is well advancedindicates a spokesperson for the Casino Group. This agreement should make it possible to define a framework for discussions and thus guarantee social support for employees for the next steps. »
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