Press release
Paris, Le 04 septembre 2024
As ambassadors for an entire sector, the Diffusion Plus, Paragon and Riccobono groups, market leaders, are studying the possibility of forming a consortium, in order to formulate an offer to take over the activities of Milee, the only private global operator of addressed postal distribution in France with a national dimension.
Milee is the new name adopted in 2021 by the company Adrexo, a historic branch of Spir Sa within the SIPA Ouest France Group since 1979, a subsidiary of the HOPPS Group since 2017.
In the regulatory context of a possible generalization of the "Oui Pub" system, the company Milee, in receivership, is in the midst of a complete transformation of its historic activity, with the cessation of its unaddressed distribution activity (advertising print). Since August 19, it has thus focused on the addressed mail distribution activity (direct marketing, transactional, press, etc.).
The scope of the takeover currently under study by the consortium, subject to several conditions, would involve a temporary reduction in the scope of coverage of the national territory from 60% to 50%, including however the potential opening of distribution in Paris (department 75), an important element expected by ordering customers, in particular banks, insurance companies, press publishers and energy operators or even telecoms. An increase in this national coverage would then be planned in the next three years, to quickly return to 60%, or even more.
Up to 2,200 employees could be taken on in the consortium's offer, spread over nearly 60 maintained agencies. This would make it the largest takeover operation in the history of the "Marketing and Communication" sector in France.
For the consortium, the approach is primarily sectoral in order to be able to meet the expectations of ordering customers and the market in general. The strategic objective of this sector is indeed to be able to perpetuate the existence of a postal alternative in France and necessary competition in this area. As such, several other industrial operators and colleagues in the consortium have already expressed interest in participating in the takeover project. The members of the consortium have confirmed their agreement to open the capital to all those who would like to support the process.
For customers, the issue of the sustainability of Milee's activity is essential because it will allow them to maintain a competitive offer on postage. At a time when the planned shutdown of printed advertising campaigns is confirmed and even accelerated, the alternative of addressed mail is considered fundamental to maintain and amplify the performance of the paper media. The return to a postal monopoly is indeed considered by customers and service providers as a real threat and a danger for the entire profession. Thus, during the summer, several major customers also expressed their support for the buyers' project.
Finally, the industrial consortium taking over is currently studying the best solution for executive and operational governance, in order to enable a rapid and sustainable turnaround of Milee.
In a context of extremely limited time and limited access to data for a project of this magnitude, a judicial transfer offer outlining the scope of the takeover and the conditions of the consortium was submitted to the bodies of the Milee judicial recovery procedure on September 2 at 5 p.m.
About GROUPE DIFFUSION PLUS :
Specializing in the processing of physical and digital customer communications, Groupe Diffusion Plus, which has a long-standing presence in the Normandy region, has 800 employees spread across 10 subsidiaries. Organized around several business areas: document production (5 industrial publishing and direct marketing sites in Normandy, Occitanie and Savoie), digital services, dematerialization and managed services (5 service and consulting agencies in Paris, Albens and Reims), Groupe Diffusion Plus now has a turnover of €120 million and is positioned as the leading independent operator in its market. Offering a leading industrial offering, Groupe Diffusion Plus meets the economic performance challenges of players in commercial and transactional communication. Since the 2000s, its service offering has been enhanced in the digital sector thanks to the development of technological platforms dedicated to the dematerialization of documents and customer experience management. By combining industrial leadership and digital innovations, every day, the women and men of the Diffusion Plus Group support companies in improving customer interactions and transforming business processes.
About GROUPE PARAGON :
Paragon is a leading provider of outsourced services in Europe, co-built with its clients in a sustainable and innovative way. Its mission is to operate, secure and transform with confidence its clients' sensitive and strategic communications, interactions and business processes. Paragon organizes its offers according to seven key service lines: Digital Consulting & Agency ("DCX"), Customer Communications, Lead Supply, Business Process Services, Fulfilment & Supply Chain Solutions, Workplace Solutions and Print Solutions. With its 100 years of existence, the Paragon group has more than 9,700 employees in 20 countries, spread over 4 regions, including 2,000 employees within Paragon Western Europe (+ 23 operational sites in France). The group imposes its resolutely CSR values in all its strategic decisions: acquisitions, partnerships and investments. It is through the prism of sustainable development and social responsibility that Paragon is building its future. Paragon achieves a turnover of nearly €1,500 million at group level.
About GROUPE RICCOBONO :
The Riccobono Group, a printer for five generations, is notably the French leader in the printing of daily newspapers, its historical business, which represents 35% of its activities. The Group is also a major player in rotogravure, this activity of printing magazines, catalogs and leaflets also represents 35% of the activities. The other areas of expertise of the Group are distribution and carrying 20%, and 10% in routing, stitching and finishing. Its involvement in Milee is therefore logical. Today, the Riccobono Group represents more than 2,700 employees, for nearly 250 million in turnover.
Retrouver Riccobono Group sur :
Contact Presse :
Jean-Clément TEXIER - Coficom 06 60 68 93 95
Download this FRENCH press release in PDF format: