Founded in 1984, Lafont presse – Entreprendre is now part of DANAE Group, a company created in 2021 that specialises in digital communication. This is a major paradigm shift for this print media specialist. Here is an analysis by the experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
A friendly merger has taken place in the media world. In an off-market acquisition, DANAE Group, through its subsidiary Groupe Entreprendre, has acquired almost all the shares of Lafont Presse from Mr Robert Lafont and Société Robert Lafont Participations. DANAE Group, which specialises in digital communication, is now the majority shareholder in the press group.
A historic company
With 80 magazine titles, Lafont Presse is a historic force in magazine publishing in France. With 30 million copies sold on newsstands each year, the group is organised around ten themes: Business (Entreprendre, C’est votre argent or Placements), Information, Cars and Motorcycles, Home and Decoration, Cooking, People, Health and Psychology, Sports, Practical Life and Books. In 2023, the group generated a turnover of €10.6 million. Lafont Presse employs 14 people. Following the integration with DANAE Group, Entreprendre – Lafont Presse has been renamed Groupe Entreprendre.
Going digital
“By integrating DANAE Group, Entreprendre – Lafont Presse is marking a decisive turning point in the history of its company by choosing a resolutely digital path,” the group said in a press release. Faced with the exponential development of digital applications, reinforced by the use of generative AI, Lafont Presse must embrace the digital revolution. For the time being, the group, which claims one million page views on its websites, is far from completing its digital transition. “Danae Group will bring us what we’ve been lacking: financial resources and, above all, expertise in digital, communications, advertising and event management,” Robert Lafont told AFP.
An aggressive inorganic growth strategy
DANAE Group is led by Émeline Santerre, founder and CEO of the digital communications company. Backed by the Arkanum Partners fund, DANAE Group has already completed a major growth operation. In 2023, it acquired Cayola, publisher of eight specialist magazines, including BTP Magazine, and four websites. These are niche media specialising in hot topics such as the environment, construction and energy. Following the acquisition of Lafont Presse, the group aims to achieve a turnover of €160 million by 2025, compared with the €104 million forecast for 2024. The digitisation of the various media will be supported by a data-driven strategy to provide communication platforms for advertisers. In addition to the digital distribution of magazines, DANAE Group has implemented a diversification approach by introducing an events strategy.
Our experts at your side
The press sector is currently in a phase of concentration. In early June, billionaire Daniel Kretinsky entered into “exclusive negotiations” to acquire stakes in L’Opinion and L’Agefi. There could be further moves involving increasingly data-driven strategies, supported by technological tools to monetise content. AURIS Finance’s teams are ready to advise and assist you in your strategic thinking and equity transactions (disposals, acquisitions, capital restructuring, fund-raising, etc.).
