The professional organization of publishing in France called on Tuesday to “prevent any risk of abuse of a dominant position” with a view to the absorption of the Lagardère group by its competitor Vivendi
“The two largest French publishing groups are coming together at the initiative of a single media group, and with it the threat of a concentration such as the French book market has never known. “Wrote the National Publishing Union (SNE) in a statement.
Lagardère owns the number one publishing company in France, Hachette, while Vivendi, a media group controlled by Vincent Bolloré, which is due to file its takeover bid in February, is the parent company of number two Editis. The power of these two book giants combined would be difficult to counter, not only in book publishing, but also in their dissemination and distribution. However, the SNE says it is attached to the “editorial and commercial diversity” of the sector.
Defense of “cultural diversity”
“The National Publishing Union therefore calls on the competent authorities, both French and European, to guarantee respect for these essential values, in order to prevent any risk of abuse of a dominant position and any asymmetry affecting the free play of competition. and cultural diversity, ”added the organization.
The SNE brings together 720 publishing houses, including more than 60 from Hachette Livre, more than 70 from Editis, and their numerous competitors, belonging to other groups such as Madrigall and Média-Participations, or independent. This organization is chaired by the CEO of Média-Participations, Vincent Montagne, who had already said in December on Franceinfo his hostility to this merger.
“For many outlets, and the smaller ones, the two groups merged together would risk concentrating beyond the standards of competition and concentration […] As much as the growth of an international group is important, obesity in France is probably not a good idea, ”he declared.