"Journal de Genève et Gazette de Lausanne"† (back)
The late reference newspaper of French Switzerland. As of end of 1997, its two redactions were located at:

Rédaction Genève: 12, rue de Hesse case postale 5160 1211 Genève 11 Switzerland +41 22 819 88 88 red@journal-de-geneve.ch

Rédaction Lausanne: 7, rue Saint-Martin case postale 765 1001 Lausanne Switzerland +41 21 331 07 07

www.ville-ge.ch

www.ub.unibas.ch

Founded in 1826, the Journal de Genève disappeared in 1998 through a merger. It was the highest-flying newspaper in French Switzerland. An internationally reputed daily, so-well-documented, thouroughful and exhaustive that it permitted the reader to make up his own opinion, independently of the newspaper's line. The result of the merger is the daily Le Temps.

"Le Temps Stratégique"† (back)
10 rue de l'Arquebuse
1204 Genève
Switzerland
+41 22 322 34 92
www.edicom.ch
Quarterly magazine attempting to focus on "the big picture", i.e. on issues relevant in the long term. Founded in 1982 and closed in 2001. The last issue (June 2001) was the nr. 100. Reached a selling volume of 3,000 copies, which was not judged sufficient by Edipresse Ltd, the owner since 1994. Directed by Claude Monnier from foundation till closure.

"La Recherche" (back to article May 98)
57, rue de Seine
75280 Paris Cedex 06
France
+331 53 73 79 79
www.larecherche.fr
A high-level, monthly, science popularization magazine, edited by the "Société d'éditions scientifiques".

"Région et Développement" (back)
Centre de Recherche en Economie Régionale et Industrielle (CRERI)
Maurice Catin (directeur de la publication)
Université de Toulon et du Var
BP 132
83957 La Garde Cedex
France

Institut de Géopolitique des Populations (back)
Jacques Dupâquier (président)
20 rue d'Aguesseau
75008 Paris
France
This institute was founded in 1999. It organizes academic conferences and publishes a quarterly journal "Introduction à une Géopolitique des Populations".

"Le Soir" (back)
120, rue Royale
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium
+32 2 225 54 32
+32 2 225 59 14
www.lesoir.be

"Le Républicain Lorrain" (back)
3, rue Saint Eloy
57140 Woippy
France
+33 3 87 34 17 89
+33 3 87 29 33 33
www.republicain-lorrain.fr

Institut pour la Démocratie en Europe (ID Europe) (back)
197 Boulevard Saint-Germain
75007 Paris
France
T +33 149 54 01 60
e-mail: am-luttringer@i-d-europe.org
www.i-d-europe.org
Institute founded in 1996 by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, former president of France.

Association Française pour l'Avancement des Sciences (AFAS) Jean-Pierre Roucan (roucan@cimrs1.mnhn.fr) Marie-Laure Blanchet (secrétariat) Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie 75930 Paris Cedex 19 France T +33 1 40 05 82 01

(back to Paris conference of Sep 00) (back to article in Sciences Jan 01)

Association founded in 1872.

Association Euroscience (back to Geneva conf of Sep 1999) (back to Freiburg conf of Jul 2000)
Françoise Praderie, Secretary General
Observatoire de Paris
61, avenue de l'Observatoire
75014 Paris
France
francoise.praderie@obspm.fr

International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations (ISCSC) (back to Newark conf of May 01)
ISCSC website: http://tecn.rutgers.edu/ISCSC/iscsc/
Dr. Wayne Bledsoe, president (as of April 2001)
Department of History University of Missouri
Rolla Rolla, MO 65409-1260
(USA)
e-mail: wbledsoe@umr.edu
The International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations was formally established in 1961 at a meeting in Salzburg, organized by historian Othmar Anderle and attended by fellow historians Arnold J.Toynbee and Rushton Coulborn. Sociologist Pitirim Sorokin was the Society's first president. The ISCSC edits the "Comparative Civilization Review".

History of Science Society (HSS) (back to review of Dec 99)
Executive Office: Johnson Hall, Room 236
University of Washington
Box 351330
Seattle, WA 98195-1330
United States
tel: (206) 543-9366
hssexec@u.washington.edu
http://depts.washington.edu/hssexec/
The History of Science Society was incorporated in 1924 in America to secure the future of Isis, the review that George Sarton (1884-1956) had founded in Belgium in 1912. Sarton had migrated to the United States during the First World War. The History of Science Society issues the quarterly Isis as well as a quarterly Newsletter. It claims to be the world's largest and oldest society dedicated to the history of science&technology and their interactions with society.

"NewScientist"	(back to Sardar article)
151 Wardour Street	(back to Fara article)
London W1F 8WE United Kingdom T +44 207 331 27 01 www.newscientist.com

A quality weekly science popularization magazine.

Charles Veillon SA† (back)
Vente par correspondance
Route de Buyère 2
1017 Lausanne-Bussigny
Switzerland
T +41 21 706 92 17
veillon@veillon.ch
www.veillon.ch
The Veillon Company is dying. The firm specializes in selling clothes per post in French Switzerland. However, it missed the turning point of internet selling, it fell victim to larger competitors (LaRedoute, Neckermann, Quelle, Otto) because of the opening of the borders, all this in a shrinking market (a correspondance selling market made smaller by hard-discounters shops like Zara and H&M).
With a turnover of 162 million CHF in 2002, Veillon had cumulated a total loss of 20 millions by the end of the year. In 2003, the total loss was widened by 6 million. From 530 employees in 2000, Veillon will have only 120 left in 2004, working in the new merged Ackermann.
On October 23th, 2002, it announced the outsourcing of its logistics to Ackermann, a Swiss competitor, based in Entlebuch, Lucerne, and 194 layoffs. The number of layoffs was finally reduced to 170 following grueling negociations with the workers. On June 10th, 2003, Veillon announced its merger with Ackermann for January 2004, and the firing of 160 more employees. Only 120 employees shall remain in 2004, managing only the catalogue under their previous brandname Veillon, and the customer service. Logistics, IT and accounting will be done by Ackermann.
The Veillon Fondation was created by the owners of the Veillon Company, to support cultural work in French Switzerland.


Editions Arléa SARL (back)
Claude Pinganaud, Anne Bourguignon
16, rue de l'Odéon
75006 Paris
France
www.arlea.fr
T +331 43 26 98 18
F +331 44 07 04 88

The Editions Arléa SARL were founded in 1986 by Jean-Claude Guillebaud, a journalist and collection director at French publisher Le Seuil since 1977. Le Seuil had suggested this move. The aim was to gain more publishing freedom without engaging and "risking" the Le Seuil brand name. Arléa could rely on the same powerful distribution network (diffuseur) as Le Seuil while working under another brand name.

The newly founded Arléa settled in the locals it had acquired, the rooms of a a previous bookshop at Rue Odéon 8 in the pleasant publishers' and bookshop's 5th district of Paris. The new bookshop was christened "Les Fruits du Congo" in honour of one of the first author to be published by Arléa. The decorative motives around the bookshop's door and show window was adopted by the young Arléa to become its logo.

Arléa has moved later into its present offices, at rue Odéon 16. It no longer has a show window, but it has maintained its logo. The bookshop at Odéon 8 is now a passementerie.

Arléa started with a capital of 240,000 French Francs (FF) and with a current account of 240,000FF as well. The 8 shareholders brought each 30,000FF to the capital and 30,000FF to the current account. The amount paid to the capital was irrevocable, whereas the amount in the current account might be withdrewn, provided it did not jeopardize the society's survival. Thus the 8 founders each held an 1/8th of Arléa. Among these initial 8 founders were Jean-Claude Guillebaud, Claude Pinganaud and Le Seuil.

After a few years, C.Pinganaud having withheld his current account remained an owner at 1/16 only. Jean-Claude Guillebaud took more distance to the society, in order to devote himself to his new essay writing career. He ceded his shares to his wife Catherine Guillebaud, who was anyway the CEO of Arléa.

Arléa SARL went through a series of crises.

In March 2000, Arléa came to the brink of disaster.

Total sales amounted to FF4.5mio in 1996, FF4.2mio in 1997, FF4.0mio in 1998, FF3.5mio in 1999. In 1997 and 1998, cumulated losses reached FF0.5mio. The tiny profit of 0.12mio in 1999 did not suffice to really improve the situation. Worsening it all, Arléa's bank reduced year after year the credit limit for the society, due to the more severe credit risk approach overwhelming the banking world. As of March 2000, Arléa's current account was slightly in the black, but only due to an emergency help from the Le Seuil publisher. Arléa, it was feared, would not survive beyond the year 2000.

External consultants estimated the company's value at FF0.4mio at this time, mainly due to the books' copyrights. Arléa reached an agreement with its authors relinquishing up to FF0.7mio in rights arrears. This theoretically brought Arléa's value up to FF1.1mio.

In April 2000, a wealthy contact poured FF0.2mio into Arléa as a loan. In June 2000, this contact agreed to raise his committment to FF0.4mio and to convert it into a share of Arléa (not payable back). Another contact agreed to pay FF0.6mio to enter into Arléa's capital.

Altogether, Arléa had received FF1.0mio of fresh liquidity influx. It was saved for a while.

However, the profitability picture did not improve over the following years. In 2004, the situation was just about as desperate as it had been in 2000. The company had €0.16m in arrears to pay to the printer and €0.20m to its authors, without any chance to ever get this money. The publishing house Arléa was just about dying. It desperately looked for support all around. None of the negocations bore fruits, however, and Claude Pinganaud, Arléa's manager, had to start the procedures to liquidate his company.

In a last-ditch attempt, Claude Pinganaud sent a letter in July 2004 to the main French economy barons asking for help. A miracle happened then. LVMH, the giant luxury group, replied positively within a few days.

Claude Pinganaud met Nicolas Bazire, LVMH nr 2, on August 24, 2004. LVMH offered to acquire Arléa. The deal was clinched.

Over the following weeks, Arléa had to undergo extensive inquiry by specially mandated auditors Ernst&Young, in order to make sure that no dirty transactions hid in its books.

In October 2004, LVMH purchased Arléa. All problems were solved at once, like in a fairy tale. The powerful group purchased Arléa and all its debts, which were quickly paid back. LVMH let the whole team untouched, the salaries were left intact, the offices did not change. Not only did LVMH save Arléa, it also left a total editorial freedom to the publisher...

When an anguished C.Pinganaud presented the sad results of Arléa for the year 2005 (a loss of €100,000) to Nicolas Bazire (1957-), LVMH no2, he fretted what Bazire's reaction would be. But Bazire shrugged. He just said: "that is ok, let's talk about your program for next year". C.Pinganaud couldn't believe his ears.

Almost too good to be true at first sight, the story may be comprehended much better by looking at the figures.

LVMH is the world's number one luxury products company, with sales at €13.9bn in 2005 and a gross profit of €2.7bn. LVMH stands for Louis Vuitton / Moët Hennessy. The group owns such prestigious brands like "Christian Dior", "Lacroix", "Kenzo", "Louis Vuitton", "Céline", "Moët & Chandon", "Pommery", "Hennessy" and "Château d'Yquem". The French group is specialised in perfumes, fashionable bags and quality wines.

Bernard Arnault (1949-), who owns a controlling stake in LVMH, is France's richest person, with an estimated net worth of $21.5 billion US dollars, according to a Forbes report of March 2006. He also is the world's no7 richest person.

Arléa has a turnover of €0.8mio, with a loss of €0.1mio in 2005. Thus it accounts for a mere 0.006 percent and 0.004 percent of LVMH volumes... In other words, Arléa is a negligible quantity, financially speaking, for LVMH. Its loss does not weigh in any way on LVMH results. On the prestige side, however, Arléa plays a much more interesting role in enhancing the quality, fineness and distinction of the LVHM portfolio.

LVMH has a media tentacle already: DI Group (derived from Desfossés International) is a division of Bernard Arnaud Group owning and managing the financial newspaper La Tribune (previously La Tribune de l'Economie). DI Group is led by Nicolas Bazire.

Claude Pinganaud shall retire in February 2009. Josiane Dobigny, head accounter and chief secretary, shall retire as well some time until that date. What shall happen then to Arléa? Shall it be merged with another publisher purchased by LVMH inbetween? Shall it be closed altogether? The question is still open as per December 2007.


Les Editions L'Harmattan (back)

Editions L'Harmattan 16 rue des Ecoles 75005 Paris France T +33 1 40 46 79 11 www.editions-harmattan.fr

Diffusion L'Harmattan 5-7 rue de l'Ecole Polytechnique 75005 Paris France T +33 1 40 46 79 11?

Les Editions L'Harmattan bear the name of a desert wind, which blows in Mauritania, towards the south-west. This wind steadily threatens to bury the capital city under sand. L'Harmattan was founded by Denis Pryen in 1990(?). It boasts an exceptional number of book titles and publication rythmus.
In Dec 2003, L'Harmattan had 14,396 titles on offer, distributed in 422 collections authored by 9,042 writers! This feat derives from L'Harmattan's innovative business model. It lets the main part of the work to the authors themselves. These have to correct writing mistakes, prepare printproofs and send the proofs themselves to the printing press. This lowers massively the books' production costs. Which allows to publish a large number of books each year, even books with very weak sales. This allows L'Harmattan to accept much more confidential book than other publishers. However, this has the shortcomings to reduce the printed quality.
Capital: €1 million. €5,5 million sales. 40 employees.


"Fenêtre sur l’Europe" (back to article of Aug 14, 2007)
3 Allée de la Treille
77400 St Thibault-des-Vignes
France
redaction@fenetreeurope.com

According to its website as of August 2007, "Fenêtre sur l'Europe" (Windows upon Europe) is a not-for-profit association founded in 2000 in order to inform as large a public as possible about European news. Based in St-Thibault les Vignes, a town of 6,400 in the Seine-et-Marne departement (dept number 77), 20 km east of Paris, France. The site www.fenetreeurope.com holds more than 6,000 articles, feature articles and videos. Some 250,000 pages are being visited every month.

"Fenêtre Europe" announces as members of the board of directors:
Jean-michel Floc'hlay, Didier Besseyre, Christian Carlo, Xavier Grosclaude, Philippe Laurette, Roland Meynadier, Michel Theys, Alain Vautravers, Claude Vigier, Piotr Wichman.
and as members of the editorial board: Jean-michel Floc'hlay Raphaël Mahfoudh Dalar Arslanyan
and as communication manager: Xavier Grosclaude


"Le Sud Ouest" (retour)

Bordeaux, France-based daily covering the southwestern part of France, i.e. the sector of Angoulême, Périgueux, Bordeaux, Biarritz. Circulation: 320,000 copies Rédaction Sud Ouest 1 place Jacques Lemoîne 33094 Bordeaux Cedex France contact@sudouest.com T 00335 56 00 33 33 www.sudouest.com

"Le Figaro" (back)

Leading French national daily newspaper, center-right Circulation: 440,000 copies (340,000 paid + 70,000 free, 2005) Le Figaro Redaction 14, boulevard Haussmann 75438 Paris Cedex 09 France direction.redaction@lefigaro.fr T 00331 57 08 50 00 www.lefigaro.fr

"Le Monde" (back)
Leading French national daily newspaper, center-left
Circulation: 350'000 copies (paid copies)
Rédaction Le Monde
80, boulevard Auguste Blanqui
75707 Paris Cedex 13
France
mediateur@lemonde.fr
T 00331 57 28 20 00
www.lemonde.fr


"La Liberté" (back)
Swiss daily newspaper, Fribourg, 30'000 copies
Rédaction La Liberté
Bd Pérolles 42
1700 Fribourg
Switzerland
redaction@laliberte.ch
T 0041 26 426 44 11
www.laliberte.ch


"Sciences et Avenir" (retour)
French science popularization magazine
Circulation: 250'000 copies
Rédaction Sciences et Avenir
33 rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
redaction@laliberte.ch
T 00331 55 35 56 46
www.sciencesetavenir.com


"Valeurs Actuelles" (back)
Center-right national daily
Circulation: 80'000 copies
Rédaction Valeurs Actuelles

Paris

French