It all started because of a short sentence in a press Vivendi added, say, at the request of Vincent Bolloré. She suggested that "other options" remained on the table despite the entry into exclusive negotiations with Numericable for the sale of SFR. How to place the outset, Vivendi in a strong position to negotiate or to arrange its own relations with a State to which a merger-SFR Bouygues does not seem to displease? In the clan Bouygues, in any case, this is not a fold: the new strong man of Vivendi would be willing to help those who missed the door to go out the window.
Amazing wink history. In December 1998, the same Vincent Bolloré, after arriving friend, tried to take control of the construction group and Martin Bouygues had owed his salvation to his friend François Pinault, called for help to buy price Gold 12.6% stake in Bouygues raised by Breton raider. But since this episode, the water has flowed under the bridges. Chloe, niece of Martin Bouygues, married Yannick's son, Vincent, and the hatchet seems buried. "Our disputes with Vincent Bolloré rose long," said Martin Bouygues the "Echos" there two weeks. The two billionaires would think even bring their trouble free newspaper "Metro" and "Direct Matin". In the clan Numericable, it supports almost the opposite. Vincent Bolloré has he not voted Numericable the Supervisory Board of Vivendi on March 14? The leader, who rarely expresses told "Ouest-France" that the Management Board of Vivendi had considered offering Numericable "superior": "There are 450 million euros of difference and 5,000 job losses less. There is also a greater ease with Numericable, "he has said.
It's Bolloré in the text: a statement that confuses its own intentions. Indeed, Vincent Bolloré seems to fade before the decision of the Executive. We do not know what he really thinks. Later in his speech to "Ouest-France", he also speaks of "priority" and not"exclusivity", which sows confusion on his level of commitment vis-à-vis the solution. " In fact, everyone looks after their own door in the statements of Vincent, "says a close.
According to several observers, Vincent Bolloré has remained relatively neutral during the discussions. This is his lieutenant Marc Taieb, a member of
the Board of SFR, which will do the clearing account for its records, and consulted on all fronts. The discussions at the meeting were controlled by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Jean-René Fourtou.
It remains the real boss of a board that has forged itself as it has shaped Vivendi for twelve years. "Vincent Bolloré is aware.He had no interest in embarking on a fruitless confrontation. It was above all to preserve a certain harmony in the council, "says a source. The Breton business man seems to have chosen the peaceful cohabitation, pending the departure of Jean-René Fourtou, scheduled June 24