Bolloré

History

The firm was founded in 1822, in Ergué-Gabéric, near Quimper, Brittany by Nicolas Le Marié (1797-1870), as a paper manufacturer named papeteries d'Odet. Beginning in 1863, it was directed by Jean-René Bolloré (1818–1881), a nephew by marriage who had obtained a medical doctorate in 1863.

The firm remained owned by the Bolloré family. Gwenn-Aël Bolloré was Vice-President of the Papeteries Bolloré from 1952 to 1974. In late 2004 the Bolloré group began taking an interest in the advertising sector, and started building a stake in Havas, becoming its single largest share-holder. In a boardroom coup Alain de Pouzilhac was deposed as President and CEO on July 12, 2005. The Bolloré stake in Havas stood at 26%, and the group had 3 seats on the Havas board as of June 2006. Vincent Bolloré's son Yannick Bolloré is now Havas' Chairman and CEO after the stepping down of its previous CEO in January 2014.

In 2005 Bolloré expanded its media interests by launching the television station Direct 8. The firm also began buying shares of the British media planning and buying group Aegis. Bolloré sold its 26% stake to Dentsu in 2012.

From June 6, 2006 to December 22, 2010, Bolloré launched a free evening newspaper Direct Soir. Lack of readers and advertising revenues made the group focus on its other free newspaper, "Direct Matin", launched in February 2007.

On February 17, 2009, Bolloré held talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales about the use of its lithium reserves for electric vehicle batteries.

Bolloré manufactures the Bolloré Bluecar, a small electric car, initially produced to showcase the company's range of electric power cells. The Bluecar was introduced in December 2011 as part of the Autolib' carsharing service in Paris. Bluecar deliveries to retail customers began in March 2012.

In 2014 Bollore increased its stake in Havas from 36 percent to around 83 percent through a public exchange offer of new Bollore shares for Havas stock. The company said at the time it would like to hold onto a stake well in excess of 50 percent. In March 2015, Bollore sold a 22.5 percent stake in the media group for a price of around €600 million.

The next month, in April 2015, Bollore raised its stake in Vivendi from 10.2 percent to 12.01 percent at a total cost of €568 million. As of 2016, it owns 20% of Vivendi (30% voting power), 60% of Havas and 9% of Gaumont

Operations

The Group's principal activities are as follows:

owns 60% of the media and communications company Havas

owns stake in French media giant Vivendi

Velib

There are plans to integrate payment for the bike and car hire schemes with the ticketing systems for traditional modes of public transport. Two electric vehicle manufacturers are said to be in the frame to supply the cars: the Dassault Group and Bolloré. The former has a vehicle called the Cleanova, which employs the body of the Renault Kangoo van, while Bolloré’s Bluecar has been developed with Italian styling house Pininfarina and is due to go on sale commercially in 2009.

Pininfarina B0

Pininfarina introduced its own electric vehicle concept, the Pininfarina B0 ("B Zero"). The four-seat hatchback features a solid-state lithium-polymer battery, supercapacitors, and a roof- integrated solar panel to achieve a range of 153 miles. Developed in partnership with the Bolloré Group, the vehicle was slated for limited production in 2009.

Bluecar

Bolloré manufactures the Bolloré Bluecar, a small electric car, initially produce to showcase the company's range of electric power cells. The Bluecar was introduced in December 2011, as part of the Autolib' carsharing service in Paris. Bluecar deliveries to retail customers began in March 2012. Bolloré's Bluecar will also be used in the London Autolib scheme in 2015.

Bluebus

Bolloré Bluebus has capacity for 22 passengers. Two copies of this electric vehicle transportation arrived mid-April 2015 to Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin.