Claude Perdriel publicizes having “agreed” with LVMH for a sale of the weekly “early 2026” | EUROtoday
The businessman Claude Perdriel, majority shareholder of Challengesintroduced, Tuesday, September 23 on the Agency France-Presse (AFP), to agree with LVMH for the sale of the newspaper to the group belonging to the billionaire Bernard Arnault.
The sale, which additionally contains magazines Sciences and future And Researchwill happen “Very early 2026”stated Mr. Perdriel, confirming info from The letter. “The important thing is that the newspaper is in good hands and continues with a shareholder determined to defend it”stated the 99 -year -old press boss. According to the alliance for press and media figures (ACPM), Challenges offered greater than 140,000 copies on common per quantity in 2024, in opposition to 183,000 in 2020.
Solicited by AFP, LVMH didn’t want to remark. In the media, LVMH already has the group Les Echos-Le Parisien, which incorporates each day newspapers of the identical title, and basic radio. LVMH additionally purchased your entire liberal each day newspaper this yr Opinion and the monetary information web site Agefifrom which he already held shares.
Preserved “their editorial independence”
Monday, journalists of Challenges have warned that within the occasion of shopping for Bernard Arnault ought to protect “Their editorial independence” and don’t take away the annual classification of the best fortunes of Challenges.
“Their editorial independence is an essential element for the credibility and quality of the titles concerned”write in a joint press launch the societies of journalists (SDJ) of Challenges And Sciences and future–Research in addition to the workers representatives of Croque Futur editions, who publish these magazines.
“The sustainability of strong markers of these titles, such as the annual classification of the 500 professional fortunes of challenges, must be guaranteed”proceed the signatories of the textual content by addressing, with out appointing it, at “Future buyer”. Mr. Arnault and his household occupy second place within the 2025 version of this influential rating on France. Leaders since 2017, they have been dethroned this yr by the Hermès heirs.
In 2020, LVMH had entered 40 % within the capital of Croque Futur editions, by which he purchased the journal Historia in 2023. It was then deliberate that the posh large will purchase Science and future-Researchthen the acquisition of Challenges was added to negotiations in early September.
From the attitude of the buyout, journalists from magazines and elected officers of the CSE (social and financial committee) of Croque Future need “Affirm several essential principles” of their frequent textual content. In addition to editorial independence, they declare that “All jobs as well as current working conditions” be “Preserved”. They lastly insist on “Respect for the results of scientific research, whose dissemination with the public is the raison d’être Sciences and future and Research »».
Claude Perdriel assured AFP that Bernard Arnault was “Particularly within the Sciences Party” of the buyout. “It is with somewhat unhappiness that I quit the press after sixty years on this universe”also said the industrialist.
https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2025/09/23/vente-de-challenges-claude-perdriel-annonce-etre-tombe-d-accord-avec-lvmh-pour-une-vente-de-l-hebdomadaire-debut-2026_6642677_3234.html