Bolloré
Encyclopedia
Bolloré is a French
investment and industrial holding group headquartered in Puteaux
, on the western outskirts of Paris
, France
. The company, a paper-energy-plantations-logistics conglomerate, employs 28,000 people around the world.
In 2004, the Bolloré group ranked amongst the top 200 European companies. Whilst the company is listed on the Euronext
exchange in Paris
, the Bolloré family retains majority control of the company through a complex and indirect holding structure.
The company is led by Vincent Bolloré
.
, 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 now stands at 26%, and the group has 3 seats on the Havas board as of June 2006. Vincent Bolloré
is Havas' President.
Also in 2005, Bolloré expanded its media interests by launching the Direct 8 television station.
Towards the end of 2005, Bolloré began building a stake in the independent British media planning and buying
group Aegis
. As of 19 July 2006, this stake stands at 29%. Bolloré's attempts to obtain board representation have so far been repelled.
On June 6, 2006, Bolloré launched Direct Soir, a free newspaper.
Bolloré manufactures the Bolloré Blue Car
, a small electric car, as a showcase for the company's range of electric power cells.
On February 17, 2009, Bolloré held talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales
about the use of its lithium
reserves for electric vehicle
batteries.
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.
, has introduced its own electric vehicle concept, the Pininfarina B0
(that's "B Zero," not "B Oh"). 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 is slated for limited production in 2009.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
investment and industrial holding group headquartered in Puteaux
Puteaux
Puteaux is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine department from the center of Paris....
, on the western outskirts of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The company, a paper-energy-plantations-logistics conglomerate, employs 28,000 people around the world.
In 2004, the Bolloré group ranked amongst the top 200 European companies. Whilst the company is listed on the Euronext
Euronext
Euronext N.V. is a pan-European stock exchange based in Amsterdam and with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In addition to equities and derivatives markets, the Euronext group provides clearing and information services...
exchange in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the Bolloré family retains majority control of the company through a complex and indirect holding structure.
The company is led by Vincent Bolloré
Vincent Bolloré
Vincent Bolloré is a French industrialist, corporate raider and businessman.He heads the family investment group Bolloré and is ranked 736th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with an estimated fortune of US$1.7 billion...
.
History
- Created in 1822, in Ergué-GabéricErgué-GabéricErgué-Gabéric is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. It lies on the Odet river.-Population:-Sights:The church of Saint Gwenhael has an organ by Thomas Dallam II and his son Toussaint....
, near Quimper, BrittanyBrittanyBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
; - Jean-René Bolloré who obtained a medical doctorate in 1863 was Director of the paper manufacturers, ODET.
- Gwenn-Aël Bolloré was Vice-President of the Papeteries Bolloré from 1952 to 1974.
Recent history
In late 2004 the Bolloré group began taking an interest in the advertising sector, and started building a stake in HavasHavas
Havas is the second largest advertising group in France and is a "Global advertising and communications services group" and the sixth-largest global advertising and communications group worldwide, operating on the communications consulting market through three main operational divisions:*Euro RSCG...
, becoming its single largest share-holder. In a boardroom coup
Boardroom coup
A boardroom coup is the sudden overthrow of the management or governing body of a corporation by an individual or small group of individuals, usually from within the company.-Notable examples:...
Alain de Pouzilhac was deposed as President and CEO on July 12, 2005. The Bolloré stake in Havas now stands at 26%, and the group has 3 seats on the Havas board as of June 2006. Vincent Bolloré
Vincent Bolloré
Vincent Bolloré is a French industrialist, corporate raider and businessman.He heads the family investment group Bolloré and is ranked 736th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with an estimated fortune of US$1.7 billion...
is Havas' President.
Also in 2005, Bolloré expanded its media interests by launching the Direct 8 television station.
Towards the end of 2005, Bolloré began building a stake in the independent British media planning and buying
Media planning
Media planning is generally the task of a media agency and entails finding the most appropriate media platforms for a client's brand or product...
group Aegis
Aegis Group plc
Aegis Group plc is a global media and digital marketing communications group. Aegis plc has two operating businesses, Aegis Media and Aztec, the scan-based market and consumer insights company...
. As of 19 July 2006, this stake stands at 29%. Bolloré's attempts to obtain board representation have so far been repelled.
On June 6, 2006, Bolloré launched Direct Soir, a free newspaper.
Bolloré manufactures the Bolloré Blue Car
Bolloré Blue Car
The Bolloré Blue Car is a small electric car designed by the battery manufacturer batScap, a joint venture between Bolloré and EDF from Quimper, France....
, a small electric car, as a showcase for the company's range of electric power cells.
On February 17, 2009, Bolloré held talks with Bolivian President Evo Morales
Evo Morales
Juan Evo Morales Ayma , popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and activist, currently serving as the 80th President of Bolivia, a position that he has held since 2006. He is also the leader of both the Movement for Socialism party and the cocalero trade union...
about the use of its lithium
Lithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
reserves for electric vehicle
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
batteries.
Activities
The Group's principal activities are as follows:-- TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS: freight forwarding by sea, land and air, port, handling and shipping services, operation of shipping lines;
- 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
- OTHER INTERESTS: real estate and banking sectors,
- MEDIA AND ADVERTISING: owns 28% of group Havas, the worlds 4th largest media and communications company and 29.85% in Aegis PLC a top London based Media Agency.
- TELECOMMUNICATION: owns 90% of Bolloré telecom, a French WiMAXWiMAXWiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...
operator
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 GroupDassault Group
Dassault Group, is a French group of companies led by Serge Dassault.Managing directors are Claude Dassault and Olivier Costa De Beauregard.- Subsidiaries :*Dassault Aviation;...
and Bolloré. The former has a vehicle called the Cleanova
Cleanova
Cleanova are a set of plug-in hybrid vehicles by the Société de Véhicules Electriques , a joint venture between Dassault and Heuliez. Cleanova II is based on Renault Kangoo....
, which employs the body of the Renault Kangoo van, while Bolloré’s Bluecar has been developed with Italian styling house Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
and is due to go on sale commercially in 2009.
Pininfarina B0
PininfarinaPininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
, has introduced its own electric vehicle concept, the Pininfarina B0
Pininfarina B0
The Pininfarina Bluecar is an electric car, designed by Pininfarina in collaboration with Bolloré, which was introduced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is not a concept car, but a production car that went on sale in 2009.The car incorporates a lithium polymer battery matched up with a...
(that's "B Zero," not "B Oh"). 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 is slated for limited production in 2009.