In early 2023, Vincent Bolloré meets with Pierre-Edouard Stérin at Villa Montmorency in Paris, discussing Stérin’s dreams, including a failed bid to acquire the Editis group. Stérin, a self-made billionaire from Evreux, built his fortune of 1.2 billion euros by creating and relocating the Smartbox gift boxes to Ireland over twenty years. Despite being relatively unknown to the public and residing in Belgium for tax purposes, Stérin is driven by a desire to “give back” and plans to disinherit his five children in favor of leaving his wealth to his philanthropic fund.
Stérin admires Bolloré as a “super entrepreneur” and respects the success of his conglomerate, which includes the ultra-conservative news channel CNews. He is unfazed by the downsizing of the Journal du dimanche’s editorial staff, believing that an owner has the right to do as they please with their property, including newspapers. Stérin’s interest in the media industry becomes apparent a year later when he becomes a contender for the acquisition of the weekly magazine Marianne, following investor Daniel Kretinsky’s decision to divest the publication.
Stérin positions his bid for Marianne as an opportunity to promote freedom and pluralism in media, emphasizing potential growth strategies to increase the magazine’s value. However, concerns arise within the magazine’s management, with Denis Olivennes warning that selling to Stérin could lead to negative consequences. Maurice Szafran, co-founder of Marianne, cautions against allowing the publication to fall into the hands of extreme-right individuals, citing three other serious offers with right-leaning ideologies as potential buyers.
As the acquisition process unfolds, Stérin’s ambitions for Marianne face challenges, with competing offers raising concerns about the future direction of the publication. The potential acquisition by a right-leaning entity raises worries about the magazine’s editorial independence and political stance. Stérin’s bid, driven by financial calculations and growth strategies, reflects his entrepreneurial mindset and vision for the media industry. Ultimately, the decision on Marianne’s new owner will have significant implications for the magazine’s future direction and editorial integrity.
