As the fiftieth anniversary of Editions L’Harmattan approaches, an institution specializing in human sciences and the French-speaking world that he co-founded in 1975, Denis Pryen was preparing to celebrate the surprising sustainability of his small independent house. But the party is not looking good: it is in court where the 85-year-old man is preparing to spend the next few months. Because he denounces the capture of his company by his own nephew, Xavier Pryen. “He became the owner of a group valued at 15 million euros without spending a single euro. He diverted the money and now wants to sell. Harmattan goes against the wall »Denis Pryen is outraged in his Parisian apartment in the Latin Quarter.
On Wednesday, November 13, the publisher sent the Paris prosecutor a complaint against This complaint is “currently in process”, reported the Paris prosecutor’s office. Accessed by the worldshe denounces “a massive and systematic company of looting of the L’Harmattan group, through actions designed, concerted and indivisible between them and carried out consciously over time, which should ultimately lead to the sale of a publishing group and activities cultural emblematic of the French publishing house. world, seriously weakened”. In addition, proceedings are also underway before the Paris commercial court. On November 15, a hearing was held, the decision of which was reserved.
Requested, Xavier Pryen and his lawyer, Mmy Marc Delassus, also named as an accomplice, did not want to speak in detail. “My absolute priority, as president of the group, vigilant of his interests and those of the teams, is to be up to the task and continue giving the necessary boost to the activity and organization of the company, in a fiery phase of reconfiguration and adaptation to the market. ”simply declares Xavier Pryen.
A unique economic model
L’Harmattan editions (with an annual turnover of about 8 million euros) were created half a century ago to support Third World movements and give voice to Southern cultures. Particularly interested in the French-speaking world, and in particular in Africa, the publishing house publishes, in large quantities, literature, works of human sciences and research works, often ultra-specialized writings, with confidential readers.
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