Serge Dassault has always said that a company must be profitable. Two years after having bought the Socpresse, the Figaro, the only assets of the company he kept, is in the simplicity. "In 2005, he earned a little money, and this year, the result should be even more significant", says Francis Morel, arrived in October 2004 at the controls of the company with Nicolas Beytout, Director of the editors. In 2004, the Group which, in addition to the daily, includes supplements ("Le Figaro Magazine", "Madame Figaro" but also "TV Hebdo" and 50 in "femina") as well as printing had been deficit in part because the financial impact of the assignment clause.
Serge Dassault has perhaps not yet received satisfaction on the line. Taken in isolation, the daily is still in the red, but account achieve balance in 2008. All in with significantly slowed the decline of dissemination (3 in 2004), the new format launched in October 2005 not yet brought all its fruits. According to the OJD, paid circulation France decreased by 1, to best 321.490, over the period July 2005 - June 2006. The decline in sales to the number has partially offset by "increased 6 to 7 of subscriptions (about 30 of sales)", according to Francis Morel. For their part, revenue NET drawn from advertising would be 9 increase over the first nine months of 2006. Including supplements, the increase is less than 6.
Enrich the editorial offer
Daily builds on the enrichment of the editorial offer to improve the figures. A sports book was launched Monday. To energize the package over the weekend, in two years, saw its sales fall by 4, a supplement called "Mademoiselle Figaro" girls of 18 to 25 years will be tested and a health supplement will increase the supply of the Figaro Magazine", in November.
Next to the paper, the Internet strategy journal, started more slowly that some competitors, mobilizes now also big efforts. Still deficit, the site has expanded its editorial content, with successive redemptions "sport24", then "AG Press", specialized in financial information. The idea is to develop, alongside News continuously and the news, "lines" themed on sport, the stock market and heritage probably in synergy with the Journal of finance, which the Figaro Group took control and, soon, women.
To retrieve parts of the print edition to Web ads, "Le Figaro" also decided to build on the classified online advertising market. After the merger of its two sites Cadremploi and Explorimmo, with Mandy, the group became the first shareholder with 43 of the capital of the leader on the French market.
The 2008 horizon, the printing of the "Figaro" will be more centralized to Roissy Print. Part of the load will be provided on the new site under construction near Nîmes. Investment a heavy, EUR 35 million, but by lower transportation costs, generate economy of EUR 5 million per year.
"In view of the profits made by the group, the shareholder is assured." "He gave us the green light to resume investment", said Francis Morel. Doubled by "The world" and Bolloré, which convinced the members of the network of free city more to alliance with them, "Le Figaro" was nevertheless forced to suspend his free project in Paris.
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