In a few hours, the Commercial Court of Nice will announce its decision regarding the takeover of the Nice-Matin group: Who will be the lucky winner… and the two (or more…) unfortunate losers?
The formula will designate those tasked with getting the regional newspaper group, an irreplaceable press organization but structurally loss-making company, back on track.
In addition to a more or less significant reduction in costs and personnel, the takeover plan will also need to implement a new and more effective strategy involving the editorial teams, the advertising agency, and the printing operation.
It is known that, in such cases, questioning and implementing corrective actions are not carried out without leaving some marks.
Decision-makers face two options: The classic one, a takeover by another press group (the Belgian media giant Rossel plus investors Mazzocco and Safa) that is well-versed in the industry and has put significant financial resources on the table but, in return, would cut a third of the jobs (376 people).
The group sent a letter to employees to explain the project, positioning itself in the medium term:
“We do not want to lie to employees today and make limited social cuts to win the project in front of the commercial court. That’s not our way. In twelve months, a broader PSE (Employment Protection Plan or social plan, ed.) would be necessary, and it would be disastrous,” they wrote.
The other alternative is represented by the Scop-Scic organized around the unions and several employees who have received support from the local political class and public financial aid, and at the last minute, that of Bernard Tapie.
A courageous and innovative initiative that follows just after the Social and Solidarity Economy law and would make employees the masters of their own fate.
This solution, considered bold by some, would have the advantage of fostering social peace (the social impact would be limited to 159 voluntary departures), with unions already threatening strong actions if not…
Actions that are reportedly already in place, as denounced in an open letter sent to the President of the commercial court Fabien Paul by a group of employees supporting (dozens? hundreds?) the Rossel project who request anonymity “because the pressure from Scic representatives is currently extreme.”
And they justify their position: “The Rossel group is able to offer Nice-Matin the tools for its sustainability and development. Sustainability in the very long term and not based on a few hypothetical months.”
The arrival of Bernard Tapie, personally, has given some breathing room to a tight financial plan, although the businessperson is not coming for charity: The promised 8 million will come with the transfer of 50% of Corse-Matin and repayment guaranteed by the company’s real estate.
Among the partnership projects, the owner of La Provence is also considering the creation of a single company for the advertising agency and, probably, in the longer term, a single printing facility.
However, the businessperson proclaims he will not have a role in the governance of the press group: Pure Bernard Tapie, always a storyteller, sometimes a liar!
In truth, his proposals are not without interest or logic, but, naturally, they will result in cost reduction by optimizing the… workforce!
Is the worm already in the apple? Time will tell.
On the side of predictions, the entry of Christian Estrosi, probably well-informed and influential, suggests that the balance might tip towards the “cooperative” solution, the “home” solution to which everyone adheres in a spirit of identity: Nice-Matin to the locals!
It remains to be proven whether they are capable of managing a company, which is quite different from producing a newspaper, whether in editorial activities, printing, or managing its advertising budget.
As they say: To each their trade…
