Bolloré

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 shareholder. 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{{who?|date=January 2024}} son, Yannick, became Havas' Chairman and CEO after its previous CEO stepped down 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.{{cite web |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/dentsu-aegis-bollore-idUSWEA645620120712 |title = Bollore agrees to sell Aegis stake to Dentsu |date = 2012-07-02 |publisher = Reuters |access-date = 2017-06-30 |archive-date = 2017-01-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170107095808/http://www.reuters.com/article/dentsu-aegis-bollore-idUSWEA645620120712 |url-status = live }}

From 6 June 2006 to 22 December 2010,{{cite news |first=Alexandre |last=Debouté |date=10 January 2012 |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2012/01/10/04002-20120110ARTFIG00390-la-pub-a-progresse-de-44-dans-la-presse-en-2011.php |title=La pub a progressé de 4,4 % dans la presse en 2011 |publisher=Le Figaro |access-date=14 March 2014 |archive-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617072103/http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2012/01/10/04002-20120110ARTFIG00390-la-pub-a-progresse-de-44-dans-la-presse-en-2011.php |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite news |date=14 March 2013 |first=Delphine |last=Soulas |url=https://www.strategies.fr/etudes-tendances/dossiers/208421/207838W/presse-gratuite.html |title=Dossier presse gratuite |publisher=Stratégies |access-date=14 March 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019050312/http://www.strategies.fr/etudes-tendances/dossiers/208421/207838W/presse-gratuite.html |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.sustainableguernsey.info/blog/2011/12/autolib-electric-car-sharing-service-launches-in-paris-france/|title=Autolib' electric car sharing service launches in Paris, France|author=Richard Lord|publisher=Sustainable Guernsey|date=2011-12-05|access-date=2011-12-17|archive-date=2012-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124030650/http://www.sustainableguernsey.info/blog/2011/12/autolib-electric-car-sharing-service-launches-in-paris-france/|url-status=live}} Bluecar deliveries to retail customers began in March 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.avem.fr/news?id=2995|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213164154/http://www.avem.fr/news?id=2995|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2013|title=Bolloré Bluecar – 1000 immatriculations pour Autolib' et début des livraisons pour les particuliers|trans-title=Bolloré Bluecar – 1000 cars registered for Autolib’ and deliveries to individuals begin|language=fr|author=Michaël Torregrossa|publisher=AVEM|date=2012-03-07|access-date=2012-03-21}}

In 2014, Bollore increased its stake in Havas from 36% to around 83% 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%. In March 2015, Bollore sold a 22.5% stake in the media group for a price of around €600 million.{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Callus |date=26 March 2015 |title=Bollore sells 22.5 percent Havas stake for $662 million |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-havas-bollore-stake-idUSKBN0ML22F20150326 |access-date=30 June 2017 |publisher=Reuters |archive-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115193107/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/26/us-havas-bollore-stake-idUSKBN0ML22F20150326 |url-status=live }}

The next month, in April 2015, Bolloré raised its stake in media company Vivendi from 10.2% to 12.01% at a total cost of €568 million.{{cite news |publisher=Reuters| date=2 April 2015 |title=Bollore raises Vivendi stake again as AGM battle looms| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bollore-vivendi-idUSKBN0MT0OO20150402 |access-date=30 June 2017| archive-date=6 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006152258/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/02/us-bollore-vivendi-idUSKBN0MT0OO20150402| url-status=live}} As of 2016, it owns 20% of Vivendi (30% voting power), 60% of Havas and 9% of Gaumont.{{cite web|url=https://www.bollore.com/en-us/activities/portfolio-of-shareholdings|title=Portfolio of shareholdings - Bolloré|website=www.bollore.com|access-date=2016-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624184506/http://www.bollore.com/en-us/activities/portfolio-of-shareholdings|archive-date=2016-06-24|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/global/vincent-bollore-ups-stake-voting-rights-in-vivendi-1201885211/|title=Vincent Bolloré Ups Stake, Voting Rights in Vivendi|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|date=11 October 2016|access-date=11 December 2017|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122005426/https://variety.com/2016/digital/global/vincent-bollore-ups-stake-voting-rights-in-vivendi-1201885211/|url-status=live}}

In December 2021, After refusing to comment on market “rumors” announcing its intention to sell its transport and logistics subsidiary in Africa, Bolloré Africa Logistics (BAL), the Bolloré group announced that it had received an offer from the giant Swiss MSC for this subsidiary in Africa.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} In 2022 the sale of Bolloré Africa Logistics was completed. {{Cite web |title=MSC Group completes acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistics |url=https://www.msc.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022/december/msc-group-completes-acquisition-of-bollore-africa-logistics |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=MSC |language=en}}

In September 2024, Bolloré proposed a public buyout of Companie Du Cambodge, Fincière Moncey and Société Industrielle et Fincière de l'Artois in an effort to simplify the groups structure.{{Cite web |last=SE |first=BOLLORE |date=2024-09-12 |title=BOLLORE : PROPOSED PUBLIC BUYOUT OFFERS FOLLOWED BY MANDATORY SQUEEZE-OUTS ON THE SHARES OF COMPAGNIE DU CAMBODGE, FINANCIÈRE MONCEY AND SOCIÉTÉ INDUSTRIELLE ET FINANCIÈRE DE L’ARTOIS |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/09/12/2945486/0/en/BOLLORE-PROPOSED-PUBLIC-BUYOUT-OFFERS-FOLLOWED-BY-MANDATORY-SQUEEZE-OUTS-ON-THE-SHARES-OF-COMPAGNIE-DU-CAMBODGE-FINANCI%C3%88RE-MONCEY-AND-SOCI%C3%89T%C3%89-INDUSTRIELLE-ET-FINANCI%C3%88RE-DE-L-ARTOIS.html |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}

File:Bolloré ports in West Africa.jpg

Image:Bolloré Énergie.JPG

The Group's principal activities are as follows:

• Plastic Film & Special Papers: polypropylene film for capacitors and packaging, special papers and cigarette paper packs;
• Energy Distribution: distribution of petroleum and coal products;
• Special Terminals: design, production, integration and distribution of intelligent systems and terminals for access control;
• Plantations: rubber and palm oil production in Africa and Asia
• Media & Advertising: owns 60% of the media and communications company Havas, whose CEO—Yannick Bolloré—is also the chairman of Vivendi SA in which Bolloré SA holds a circa 25% stake.
• Telecommunication: owns 90% of Bolloré Telecom, a French WiMAX operator

Bolloré is 63% owned by Financière de l'Odet, the holding company controlled by the Bolloré family. Vincent Bolloré announced that his son, Cyrille Bolloré, would take over the CEO position of Bolloré after the April 15, 2019 shareholders meeting. This was done days before Vincent Bolloré himself "was charged by French police in a bribery case relating to operations in Africa."{{cite news|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=14 March 2019|access-date=26 March 2019|author=Angelina Rascouet|title=Billionaire Bollore Hands Reins of Empire to Son Cyrille|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-14/billionaire-bollore-hands-over-reins-of-empire-to-son-cyrille|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326204410/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-14/billionaire-bollore-hands-over-reins-of-empire-to-son-cyrille|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/move-over-velib-autolib-is-on-its-way-17274 |title=Move Over Velib, Autolib Is On Its Way |publisher=BikeRadar |date=2008-06-30 |access-date=2012-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214051903/http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/move-over-velib-autolib-is-on-its-way-17274/ |archive-date=2012-02-14 |url-status=dead }}{{update after|2009}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm#id_12040 |title=EERE News: EERE Network News |publisher=Apps1.eere.energy.gov |access-date=2012-06-14 |archive-date=2011-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529013518/http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm#id_12040 |url-status=dead }}[https://pininfarina.it/index/storiaModelli/B0.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005071729/http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/B0.html|date=October 5, 2008}}{{update after|2009}}

{{See also|Bolloré Bluecar|Autolib'}}

File:Autolib' Station, Paris, Boulevard Diderot 02.jpg

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 was also used in the Bluecity London car sharing scheme, which existed from 2017 to 2020.{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Rebecca|title=Bluecity is expanding its electric car sharing service across London after successful Hammersmith and Fulham pilot|url=https://www.cityam.com/266620-bluecity-expanding-its-electric-car-sharing-service-across/|website=City A.M.|date=2017-06-14|access-date=23 August 2017|archive-date=2017-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823204919/http://www.cityam.com/266620/bluecity-expanding-its-electric-car-sharing-service-across|url-status=dead}}

File:Mivb Bolloré Bluebus SE, Simonis, lijn 13 naar UZ-VUB.jpg, Belgium.]]

Bolloré Bluebus 22 is a 6-metre-long electric microbus with a capacity of 22 passengers. Two copies of this electric vehicle transportation arrived mid-April 2015 to Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin.{{cite web|url=https://www.avem.fr/2015/05/29/deux-bluebus-debarquent-a-mulhouse/|title=Deux Bluebus débarquent à Mulhouse|first=Association|last=AVEM|date=28 May 2015|access-date=1 June 2015|archive-date=1 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601005225/http://www.avem.fr/actualite-deux-bluebus-debarquent-a-mulhouse-5689.html|url-status=live}}

Bolloré Bluebus SE is a full-sized (12-metre) low-floor electric citybus that has been produced since 2015. Several Bluebus SE are in commercial use in Paris and in Brussels. In early 2022 RATP, the public traffic provider of Paris, suspended all 149 Bluebus 5SE after a series of busses catching fire.{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220429-paris-suspends-electric-bus-fleet-after-fires | title=Paris suspends electric bus fleet after fires | date=29 April 2022 | access-date=7 May 2022 | archive-date=7 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507163246/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220429-paris-suspends-electric-bus-fleet-after-fires | url-status=live }}

Hanergy has teamed with Bollore Group to build solar electric vehicles.

According to a 2018 New York Times report, the company's air, sea, and land transportation network constitutes a "virtual stranglehold" on West African transport.{{cite news|author=Liz Alderman|date=25 April 2018|title=Vincent Bolloré, French Billionaire, Faces a Rare Corruption Inquiry|newspaper=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/business/vincent-bollore-french-billionaire-corruption-inquiry.html|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326212018/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/business/vincent-bollore-french-billionaire-corruption-inquiry.html|url-status=live}} Bolloré controls 18 ports along the western coast of the continent.{{Cite web|title=SPECIAL REPORT: How Vincent Bolloré won control of Ghana's biggest port|url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/13322/SPECIAL_REPORT_How_Vincent_Bollor%C3%A9_won_control_of_Ghana%E2%80%99s_biggest_port|access-date=2021-04-01|website=www.africa-confidential.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331172930/https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/13322/SPECIAL_REPORT_How_Vincent_Bollor%C3%A9_won_control_of_Ghana%E2%80%99s_biggest_port|url-status=live}} In 2022, Bolloré Africa Logistics was sold to the MSC Group.

There are ongoing investigations into the role of drastically discounted Havas communications services accorded to Guinean candidate Alpha Condé and Togan president Faure Gnassingbé during their presidential campaigns in the awarding of key port concessions in Conakry, Guinea and Lomé, Togo to Bolloré SA. After winning the election, Condé awarded a port-contract to Bolloré, terminating that of the competing Necotrans company. In a settlement, Bolloré paid €2 million to Necotrans without admitting guilt.{{Cite web|date=2018-04-24|title=French CEO Bolloré questioned over west Africa corruption allegations|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/20180424-bollore-questioned-corruption-togo-guinea|access-date=2021-04-01|website=RFI|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506210659/https://www.rfi.fr/en/20180424-bollore-questioned-corruption-togo-guinea|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2018-04-24|title=French tycoon Vincent Bolloré detained over suspected Africa corruption|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180424-france-business-africa-tycoon-bollore-togo-guinea-conakry-held-suspected-corruption|access-date=2021-04-01|website=France 24|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308085904/https://www.france24.com/en/20180424-france-business-africa-tycoon-bollore-togo-guinea-conakry-held-suspected-corruption|url-status=live}}

In January 2021, Vincent Bolloré and two other Bolloré executives pleaded guilty at a Paris court for supplying €370,000 worth of communication services to Gnassingbé.{{Cite web|last=Ledy|first=Nephthali Messanh|date=2021-02-26|title=Bolloré reconnaît avoir payé des dépenses de communication de Faure Gnassingbé|url=https://www.financialafrik.com/2021/02/26/bollore-reconnait-avoir-paye-des-depenses-de-communication-de-faure-gnassingbe/|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Financial Afrik|language=fr-FR|archive-date=2021-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415030515/https://www.financialafrik.com/2021/02/26/bollore-reconnait-avoir-paye-des-depenses-de-communication-de-faure-gnassingbe/|url-status=live}} A 2021 Ghanaian ministerial committee investigation concluded that Bolloré secured an under the table deal with the John Mahama administration for building a new container terminal at Tema with terms strongly favouring the company at the expense of the Ghanaian government.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-31|title=How a French billionaire gained control of Ghana's largest port: report|url=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-a-french-billionaire-gained-control-of-ghanas-largest-port-report|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Face2Face Africa|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331202531/https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-a-french-billionaire-gained-control-of-ghanas-largest-port-report|url-status=live}}

On March 18, 2025, a complaint was filed against the Bolloré group at the Paris National Financial Prosecutor's Office. This complaint was filed by the Restitution for Africa collective, which is made up of eleven NGOs present in six African countries: Togo, Guinea, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and the DRC, for alleged charges of "concealment" and "money laundering" in the context of its logistics activities in Africa and the management of its ports.{{cite web |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250319-justice-plainte-in%C3%A9dite-contre-le-groupe-bollor%C3%A9-et-ses-activit%C3%A9s-en-afrique |title=Justice: plainte inédite contre le groupe Bolloré et ses activités en Afrique |work=Radio France International|date=19 March 2025 |access-date=19 March 2025}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.bollore.com/fr/ Bolloré Group]
• [http://www.bollore-africa-logistics.com/ Bolloré Africa Logistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526191013/http://www.bollore-africa-logistics.com/ |date=2016-05-26 }}

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