Cornet Vincent Segurel is advising the Rossel Group on its proposed acquisition of the Sud Ouest Group (GSO)

Corporate Law – M&A – Private Equity

Press releases — 4 September 2026

The Lemoîne family, the majority shareholder of Groupe Sud Ouest—publisher of the daily newspaper of the same name—has entered into exclusive negotiations with Groupe Rossel with a view to selling its majority stake. This merger would create a major player in the regional media sector in France, with combined revenue of more than 400 million euros.

Announced on September 3, 2026, this project involves the Rossel Group, through its subsidiary Rossel France, acquiring control of the Sud Ouest Group (GSO). It remains subject to consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies, and, if confirmed, its completion would be subject to the usual regulatory conditions. The transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of 2026.

A family-owned and independent media group since its founding in 1887, owned by the Hurbain family, the Rossel Group has built its growth around print media and local news. In France, it publishes, among others, La Voix du Nord, Le Courrier picard, L’Union, Paris-Normandie, and 20 Minutes, as well as broadcast media and radio stations.

For its part, the Sud Ouest Group comprises five daily newspapers: Sud Ouest, Charente Libre, La République des Pyrénées, Dordogne Libre, and L’Éclair. In addition, it publishes three weekly newspapers in the Gironde region, the business publication Placéco, the magazine Terre de Vins, an audiovisual division (Écrans du Monde, TV7, TVPi), as well as the agencies Eliette (communications and content) and Côte Ouest (events). Its diversified operations now account for 30% of its business, centered on broadcasting, events, and marketing and communications services.

If the negotiations are successful, the new entity would have a presence in southwestern France, the Hauts-de-France region, Normandy, and northeastern France, with 3.4 million daily print readers (ACPM) and a combined digital audience of nearly 230 million monthly visits. It would become a major player in regional news in France.

A multidisciplinary team from the law firm Cornet Vincent Ségurel, led by Thomas Deschryver, a partner, is advising the Rossel Group on all corporate, antitrust, tax, labor, and IP/IT aspects of this transaction.

Advisors

Lawyers for the Buyer: Cornet Vincent Ségurel

Coordination: Thomas Deschryver, Mélanie Gabreau
Corporate M&A: Benjamin Chevalier, Alexis Marchand, Clara Servan, Alexandra Thil, Louis Harbonnier
Antitrust: Amélie Poulain, Julien Fraccarollo, Anne-Flore Leroy, Antoine Rauwel
Tax Law: Nicolas Palos, Bennert Alderlieste
Employment Law: Caroline Henot, Régis Debroise
IP / IT : Jérémie Courtois, Charline Quenez, Constance Beyeler

Lawyers for the Sellers: Reinhart Marville Torre

Corporate M&A: Hadrien Bourrellis, Walid Bourahtouf
Antitrust: Alexandre Rios

M&A Advisor to the Sellers: Evercore (Charlotte Lefort, Adrien Prothery).