5 million was committed to provide in cash

It was the major reform of the year in the press sector. Desired by all stakeholders of the profession, announced nearly two years at the States General of the press, the redesign of the distribution of the press in France was launched in June last on the basis of the report Mettling. It was a depth of Presstalis (ex-NMPP), messaging restructuring that distributes 80 of the press in France. Point of step on reform on track despite the hard ongoing social conflict.

To achieve economies

The plan was to restore sustainable manner balance of exploitation of Presstalis, who lost 40 million euros last year. The two principal measures envisaged for this have been launched. A plan of voluntary departures at the head office was opened, on 100 people: Presstalis issued a call for nominations on 29 November, which ends today. This measure represents a savings of EUR 8 million in the full year.

Second site, the restructuring of SPPS, the subsidiary responsible for the distribution of the press in Paris and immediate suburbs. It loses today EUR 24 million per year, due to what Bruno Mettling had called additional costs "incurred social" historical, both related to the status of the workers of the book and the Organization of the work. It is on this reform that the direction of Presstalis and the book Union oppose currently, causing blocking of the distribution of magazines and national newspapers since almost three weeks read in sidebar). According to the agreement which will be found, the SPPS deficit should be significantly reduced.

Reinventing governance

Since its creation in 1947, Presstalis was 51 owned by five cooperatives press and 49 by Lagardère (ex-Hachette), who was the operator. As early as January 1, five unions press will be replaced with a capital of Presstalis a "press distribution company", itself owned by two cooperatives, a magazine (75), other newspapers (at 25). The first was created on 2 December; It is chaired by Jean de Montmort, Deputy Head of the Group Marie Claire. The second was incorporated this Monday, December 20 and to President Francis Morel, Director General of the Group Le Figaro. In accordance with the agreements of May 27, 2010, Lagardère will withdraw before June 30, 2011: the Panel would give its 49 for 1 symbolic euro in the new company, who will then hold 100 of Presstalis.

The scales to redefine

As expected, the rates charged to publishers have been revised. First in their method of calculation: they now take into account the actual costs (based on volume, weight, etc.), and not only the sale price. But also in their amount. The magazines, voted in June, is applied since October 1. It allowed lower invoiced rate overall by 1 point. One of the dailies, voted Monday, matches, him, an increase of 1 point and a half.

Funding to ensure

As envisaged by the agreements of 27 May, editors, Lagardère and the State began to provide funding for the reform. It was, on the one hand, to reconstruct the own funds of Presstalis; on the other hand, to finance the restructuring and the deficit for the year. On January 1, Lagardère will have this brought to Presstalis its participation in Mediakiosk, valued EUR 20 million. The Group should also have made part of the 22.5 million was committed to provide in cash. The publishers have, in turn, began playing the 17.5 million euros that they must provide before next summer. The State, finally, had focused its assistance to the distribution of the daily 11 to 18 million euros in the month of June, and paid 7 million promised to the title of the 2009 catch-up. Finally, it should pay 20 million euros in the form of outstanding support, before the end of the year - assistance which was however conditioned to obtain an agreement on the restructuring of the Messaging.

The question now is whether this plan, set in April, enough, while the paper press sales continued to decline (the estimate is-6) and the time schedule for the restructuring of SPPS took a bit of delay...