It will be this evening which has the most satisfied

Perdriel-Orange-Prisa or Bergé-Niel-Pigasse: this afternoon, strong of its right of veto, the society of editors of the world (SRM) is called to decide between the two offers. In fact, it will designate the new shareholders of the world, each of the two trios of candidates who have already announced that he would if the RS was pronounced against him. Except rebound at the end of the Supervisory Board which will meet next Monday, the happy elected shall enter into exclusive negotiations with the Executive Board of the world.

Yesterday, for both sides, it was the day (J) of the great oral. In a true exercise of seduction each attempted to persuade journalists to the daily life of the evening that his project was the best.

First to be heard: the trio formed by Claude Perdriel, owner of the "Nouvel Observateur", the Spanish group Prisa, already shareholder of the world to more than 15, and the telecom operator Orange. This triumvirate proposes to re-capitalize the world in the amount of EUR 100 million. To tilt the SRM in his favour, Claude Perdriel played at bottom "experience of press" map - favourable to the "balances and never against the companies of editors". "I was pleased me closer to orange", he pointed out in an attempt to break down the reticence to an often disputed alliance. However, according to a member of the assistance, he would have said to be a "relationship mixed d ' Alain Minc for which I have an interest." On the merits, the pattern of the "Nouvel Obs" extolled the supremacy of the paper on the web. But even before to be chosen, a subject of discord already appears between the members of the trio: Perdriel is that "The world" is a daily evening newspaper while Juan Luis Cebrian, Prisa, pattern created stupor by showing willingness to make a morning newspaper (see below).

"Means crisis."

In late afternoon, it was the turn of Pierre Bergé, Xavier Niel, the pattern of Free, and Matthieu Pigasse, General Manager of the Bank Lazard, come defend their offer before Mrs. In total, competitor trio has planned to invest 110 million.

To seduce the journalists he played yesterday on the chord of editorial independence. "We are independent, and them is the dependency" have dropped Pierre Bergé. For the trio "BNP", the world faces a crisis of resources and the problem is that the content offered to readers, is not rich enough. Questioned about the editorial project, Xavier Niel had replied in a large show of seduction: "It's you", without return in detail. Only indication: Free pattern said supporter of decompartmentalize "The world" paper and its Web site, but not under duress.

The only common point between the offers of the two rival consortia, it is that they would "all bring the sale price of the world 1 euro", observed yesterday, after the two hearings, a journalist. It will be this evening which has the most satisfied. According to several journalists, to the applaudimètre, Bergé, Niel and Pigasse offer would have prevailed yesterday.