Héloïse Goy, with Alexis Patri 10:47 a.m., February 16, 2022

The name of Rodolphe Saadé, managing director of the Marseille maritime group CMA-CGM, was already known among the candidates for the takeover of the "La Provence" group.

We now know what sum he is ready to put on the table to overtake Xavier Niel, his main competitor in the acquisition of the press group.

81 million euros.

This is the sum offered by Rodolphe Saadé, the general manager of the Marseille maritime group CMA-CGM to buy "La Provence".

Or double the valuation of the press group.

No surprise on the identity of this potential buyer already announced, but the sum of this offer was unveiled Tuesday by the Commercial Court of Bobigny, which is in charge of the judicial liquidation of the companies of Bernard Tapie. 

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This offer is four times greater than that of Xavier Niel and his holding company NJJ Presse Sud, which already holds 11% of the capital of the press group.

For the moment, the founder of Free did not wish to outbid.

But he reaffirmed his desire to buy the group. 

What Rodolphe Saadé and Xavier Niel promise

The group of Rodolphe Saadé promises to maintain employment, maintain the headquarters in Marseille, the start-up of a printing press with two rotary presses, investments in digital technology and editorial independence guaranteed by a charter.

For its part, the subsidiary of Xavier Niel NJJ Presse Sud announced Tuesday in a press release that it would soon present to employees the prospects for development and investment. 

Employees now have a period of one month, renewable once, to render an advisory opinion to the court.

According to the timetable for the call for tenders procedure, the final decision must be taken by 4 July at the latest.