The decision was taken almost a month ago, discreetly, and it is only beginning to be rumored: the CGR group, whose headquarters are in La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime), is put up for sale. Its two historical shareholders, Luc and Charles Raymond, wish to part with it. Information revealed by a specialized site then relayed by several media, and which was confirmed to us this Saturday, April 2 by its general manager, Jocelyn Bouyssy. It is he who is now in charge of finding a buyer for this small empire. The CGR group is the second operator of dark rooms in Francebehind Pathé Gaumont.
Nearly 700 cinemas in France, but not only
The CGR group brings together the 73 cinemas of the same name (including two in La Rochelle, one in Angoulême) and their 700 screens, but also 17 hotels and five fast food restaurants of the same chain, Burger King. In total, nearly 3,000 people work there, including 140 at the head office in La Rochelle. The evaluation is in progress, but one thing is certain: the final buyer will have to pay around one billion euros.
You will agree, it is therefore not given to everyone. And yet, for a few days that the sale has been made known, there are many interested parties. “You can’t imagine the number of phone calls I receive”confirms Jocelyn Bouyssy. And of all these solicitations, three out of ten are not serious.” There are still a number of them. The current Director General has already identified 12 folders _“quality_“.
Among those interested, a billionaire, investment funds, a cinema group
However, this transition will take time. “The procedure is complexsays the DG. I’m going to start by meeting these people one by one, see what they come up with.” The choice will be made according to two criteria: the price of course, but also the conditions. “I would like the group to be taken over in its entirety, for all the employees to be retained, for the headquarters to remain in La Rochelle, and for this large company to remain despite everything family” speculates Jocelyn Bouyssy.
Some might have thought that the health crisis would have weakened us. It is not so, on the contrary.
Among the potential buyers, Jocelyn Bouyssy was contacted by French investment funds, a cinema group, and also a billionaire. Once the surveys are complete, he will make a kind of “short-list”: two, three or four files between which everything will be played out. We will not know the name of the chosen buyer for a yeareven a year and a half.
In any case, the CEO was not surprised by this decision, he knew that the children of the two shareholders did not wish to take over : “I suspected that it was going to happen sooner or later. It remained to be seen when”. And with all the solicitations, he’s not worried about the sale: “I am optimistic by nature anyway, but I was very surprised at the serious interest it aroused. Some might have thought that the health crisis would have weakened us. It is not so, on the contrary.”